Geographical Boundaries
What information do we have?
The NHS Information Centre keeps a record of both administrative and health geographical boundary information. We also hold information relating to NHS organisations such as name changes, coding, and hierarchical relationships.
Access the data
- Names and code listings (Office for National Statistics website)
- Code history database (ONS website)
- If you would like bespoke data extracts, contact the Population Geography team via enquiries@ic.nhs.uk.
Access related information
- Beginners Guide to UK Geography (ONS website)
Useful information about how health geography relates to other UK geographies - English health geography background (ONS website)
Changes to NHS Geography
Today in England there are ten Strategic Health Authorities and 151 Primary Care Organisations. In light of the Department of Health White Paper 'Liberating the NHS', a number of changes will take place to the structure of the NHS over the next few years. Primary Care Organisations and Strategic Health Authorities will cease to exist in their current form and further details on their replacements are not known at this time.
ONS Naming and Coding Changes
The new GSS Coding and Naming policy for some statistical geographies began on 1 January 2011. Where new codes have been allocated they should now be used in all exchanges of statistics and published outputs that normally include codes.