New HSC Data Dictionary helps improve how health and social care information is understood
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July 21, 2026
Led by the HSC Data Institute, a new Health and Social Care (HSC) Data Dictionary is now publicly available for the first time, helping to bring greater consistency to how health and social care information is defined and used across Northern Ireland.
Clear and consistent information is essential for improving health and social care services. The introduction of a single, standardised regional HSC Data Dictionary brings together authoritative definitions of data and clinical terms used across services in Northern Ireland. These definitions include agreed names and terminology, helping ensure that
information is interpreted consistently across different organisations and systems resulting in improved data quality and integrity across HSCNI.
Aligning definitions and codes, ensuring everyone uses the same language when working with data, enables more reliable analysis, clearer reporting, better understanding of services, and more informed decisions that benefit patients, service users and staff.
The HSC Data Dictionary is intended for use across all areas of health and social care, supporting a shared approach to managing and understanding information. Previously, access to the HSC Data Dictionary was limited to HSCNI staff. It is now available to members of the public, researchers, industry partners and other stakeholders, allowing them to view and search the definitions used across health and social care services.
Providing access via the Digital Health & Care Northern Ireland website provides greater openness and helps people better understand how health and social care information is defined and used across Northern Ireland.
The HSC Data Institute is currently arranging demonstrations for the HSCNI groups it supports and maintains, to help embed consistent use of the dictionary across the system. If you wish to arrange a demonstration you can contact the Data Institute – DataInstitute@hscni.net
Development of the HSC Data Dictionary is ongoing, with new definitions added as they are reviewed and approved.
The HSC Data Dictionary is available at: View the HSC Data Dictionary
If you cannot find a definition or have a request for a new definition to be considered, enquiries can be sent to: HSCDataStandards@hscni.net
Page last updated: 21 July 2026