Organisational Data Service to request information from practices

As part of the computerisation of the NHS, all sites in England and Wales which deliver ophthalmic treatment will be required to submit data to the Organisational Data Service (ODS).

Part of NHS Connecting for Health (NHS CFH), an agency of the Department of Health, ODS will send a form and pre-paid envelope to each practice within the two countries requesting the information required.

ODS is responsible for the publication of unique identifier codes for all organisations and practitioners that are used in numerous NHS functions such as processing central returns, patient administration, commissioning and message handling.

Connecting for Health say the codes will provide effective routing of electronic messaging throughout the NHS, will be allocated by the end of the year, with NHSmail accounts being allocated in early 2009.