Digital Mapping Information

Viewing data on a map can reveal hidden patterns and trends that otherwise would not be obvious. It has the potential to present a comprehensive understanding of an area.

You can access digital mapping information in three ways:

NHS organisations can decide whether to receive data with a value added service from Dotted Eyes, or raw data for free from the Ordnance Survey. The underlying data is the same.

The NHS Digital Mapping Agreement

The NHS Information Centre is responsible for coordinating the sign-up process for the NHS Digital Mapping Agreement with Dotted Eyes. We do this nationally on behalf of NHS organisations throughout England. This is a 4 year agreement expiring at the end of April 2012.

What is the agreement?

The NHS Digital Mapping Agreement gives NHS organisations across England the opportunity to sign up for access to high quality digital mapping products.

Changes to the service under the Public Sector Mapping Agreement

The Public Sector Mapping Agreement (PSMA) will make a range of Ordnance Survey data available free at the point of use for the public sector. This means from 1 April 2011, many of the Dotted Eyes products will be significantly cheaper than currently advertised.

Members will effectively be paying for a value added service, based upon Ordnance Survey data, to be delivered by Dotted Eyes. Only Ordnance Survey derived products are covered by the agreement.

What happens after the NHS Digital Mapping Agreement ends on 30 April 2012?

The NHS Digital Mapping Agreement comes to an end on 30 April 2012. It will not be reprocured as the Public Sector Mapping Agreement (PSMA) will serve as its replacement. After this date, members have to make their own choices about how they acquire digital data. However, the NHS Digital Mapping Agreement products include an element of Dotted Eyes Intellectual Property. After the end date, they will incur a cost to any organisation who has not transitioned to the PSMA.

Organisations wishing to join the NHS Digital Mapping Agreement between now and April 2012 are completely at liberty to do so. What is important is to make all organisations aware of the options before entering into any contractual agreement.

An additional benefit of PSMA is that the NHS now has access to a far wider, and more detailed suite of digital mapping. PSMA licensing encourages data sharing within the public sector, so working with Local Authorities or other partners will be easier.

The Public Sector Mapping Aggreement

A significant amount of Ordnance Survey data is now available free of charge, and free of restrictive licensing, through the OS OpenData initiative. Where the underlying products are included in the NHS Digital Mapping Agreement, any Ordnance Survey royalty fees have been removed.

What is the PSMA?

From 1 April 2011, the Public Sector Mapping Agreement will make more Ordnance Survey data available free at the point of use for the public sector. PSMA licensing encourages data sharing within the Public Sector, so working with Local Authorities or other partners will be easier.

  • A new 10 year agreement for the public sector in England and Wales.
  • The PSMA provides access to core geographic datasets from Ordnance Survey.
  • The PSMA datasets are free at the point of use for all eligible public sector bodies.

Key benefits

Geographical data is at the heart of the delivery of many public services. The Public Sector Mapping Agreement (PSMA) will help to deliver significant efficiency savings and improvements in public service delivery, for the benefit of communities in England and Wales.

  • Offers a common location data framework for joining up policy and providing services
  • Reduces duplication
  • Allows you to make informed decisions, which result in time and cost savings and efficiency improvements
  • Better planning to meet e-governance targets and initiatives
  • Improves cross-public sector partnerships
  • Having all members under the same terms means there are no limits to sharing data between organisations, as part of delivering your public sector ‘core business' activities. This includes sharing data with your contractors and other parties who are working with you on a particular project.
  • The NHS now has access to a far wider, and more detailed suite of digital mapping. PSMA licensing encourages data sharing within the public sector, so working with Local Authorities or other partners will be easier.

Find out more

New National Address Gazetteer being developed

The Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) has reached an agreement to set up a joint venture between Ordnance Survey and the Local Government Group to create a new single source of address data.

A note about software

To make full use of the digital mapping data, organisations also need appropriate digital mapping software which is capable of opening, reading, displaying and analysing the data. Please note that the agreement does not include the provision of digital mapping software. We can give an indication of the range of mapping software on the market but in the interests of impartiality, we cannot make recommendations or endorsements.

Want to know more?

For more information, please get in touch with our Contact Centre at enquires@ic.nhs.uk or 0845 300 6016.