Flagged Records

In the majority of cases, the patient’s full demographic information is returned. However, patient records on the PDS can be flagged for different reasons. There are three different types of flags:

The Business Flag indicates that the PDS National Back Office is investigating the record as it maybe, for example, a possible duplicate or confusion. A record that has key discrepancies and has been escalated for national resolution will be flagged in this way for the duration of the investigation.

All of the patient information displays, and you can see a message advising you to verify the demographic details with the patient.

If a Business flag is returned, select the OK button to continue. Any changes you make update the PDS in the normal way.

If in doubt about any details in the split screen please defer synchronisation and contact the local NHAIS Agency.

Sensitivity Flags are patient records for people whose personal details require extra protection from unauthorised access. The PDS only displays the patient’s name, sex, date of birth and death. Local procedures should be followed for dealing with sensitive records. You must have the appropriate RBAC rights to view sensitive records.

If a Sensitivity flag is returned and there are differences between the local and national record, you see a truncated "Please resolve the PDS/Vision 3 mismatches" screen. You are not shown the address, telephone or primary care details that are recorded on the PDS. Any changes you make update Vision 3 locally but do not update the PDS.

An invalid record is one that has been logically deleted on the PDS. For example, it may have been issued in error.

Vision 3 users cannot currently trace a record of this type as NHS Number tracing is not currently available.

If however a number in use locally has been invalidated nationally (due to the resolution of a data quality investigation) then upon synchronisation the PDS indicates that a Patient’s NHS number is invalid, a warning displays informing you that "This Patient’s record is incorrectly identified. The NHS number will be removed from the local system. Please contact the Vision helpline for assistance.". The record is decoupled from PDS.

Users should contact their local NHAIS Agency to obtain the new NHS Number for the patient.