Definitions & Standards
National Data Standards are essential in order for the health and healthcare data held by ISD Scotland to be of high quality. They ensure that the data are collected throughout Scotland according to the same classifications and rules and the data is interchanged between systems consistently, robustly and securely.
ISD Data Dictionary
The Data Dictionary is the main online source for health and social care data definitions and standards. The Dictionary is managed by ISD Scotland and as new definitions and standards are agreed they will be published on this site.
SMR Data Manual
As part of the ISD Data Dictionary, the SMR Data Manual is an online guide to the definition, collection and interpretation of the SMR dataset in the NHSScotland.
SMR Validation Manual
Also part of the ISD Data Dictionary, the SMR Validation Manual contains all the validation rules related to SMR records.
QDV Newsletters
These electronic newsletters contain important information about changes to data recording, validation and issues arising from quality assessment. An archive of all QDV Newsletters can be accessed through the ISD Data Dictionary.
Definitions Liaison Group
This group discusses definitional and data recording queries raised by NHS boards in the NHSScotland. An archive of queries (back to 1996) can be found on the ISD Data Dictionary.
