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Version: 1.0.0 | Published: 8 Oct 2024 | Updated: 228 days ago

Patient Medical Card Registration (NI)

Dataset

Documentation

Description:
In order to access primary care services in Northern Ireland, patients need to register with a GP practice. Registrations can be divided into different types: first registrations, transfers from other parts of the UK, migrant registrations and service related registrations. Individual registrations will be deducted from the index of registered patients for a number of reasons including notification of death, emigration, returning to their home country, moving to Great Britain etc. There may be a lag between a patient presenting themselves at a GP Practice and completion of registration. This lag may be greater for patients who have to provide additional documentation as proof of entitlement to services. Similarly for deductions, there may be a lag in removing individuals from the index of registered patients. Given the sensitive nature of the data, this dataset is primarily used to identify patient populations and facilitate linkage to other datasets. Some variables may be provided in aggregated format, for example age may be replaced with age band and postcode replaced with higher level geographical classifications. GP Cypher codes and Practice numbers will not be provided.

Coverage

Spatial:
United Kingdom,Northern Ireland
Typical Age Range:
0-150
Follow Up:
Other
Pathway:
This dataset reflects the registration process - initial registration, change of circumstances and deduction from register.

Provenance

Origin

Purposes:
Administrative
Sources:
Other
Collection Situations:
Primary care - Clinic

Temporal

Accrual Periodicity:
Irregular
Start Date:
01 April 2015
Time Lag:
2-6 months

Accessibility

Access

Access Service:
Remote access can now be granted via an HSCNI tenancy of the UK Secure e-Research Platform (UK SeRP), the HBS still offer the physical safe setting in Belfast for local research.
Delivery Lead Time:
Not applicable
Jurisdictions:
GB-NIR
Data Controller:
Business Services Organisation (BSO)
Data Processor:
HSC Honest Broker Service

Usage

Data Use Limitations:
Research use only
Data Use Requirements:
Project-specific restrictions
Resource Creators:
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT The authors would like to acknowledge the help provided by the staff of the Honest Broker Service (HBS) within the Business Services Organisation Northern Ireland (BSO). The HBS is funded by the BSO and the Department of Health (DoH). The authors alone are responsible for the interpretation of the data and any views or opinions presented are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of the BSO.

Format and Standards

Vocabulary Encoding Schemes:
LOCAL
Languages:
en
Formats:
  • text
  • csv

Observations

Statistical Population
Population Description
Population Size
Measured Property
Observation Date
Persons
Approximately 2 million patients registered with a GP annually
2000000
Count
22 June 2021