Diagnostic Imaging Data Set
Detailed information collected about diagnostic imaging tests carried out on NHS patients.
Contents
- Documentation
About this standard
- Publisher
- NHS England
- Also known as
- DIDS
- Reference code
- DAPB1577 Amd 25/2025
- Publication date
- 23 October 2025
- Publication version
- 2.0.0
- Status
- Active
Show definitions of statuses
Active. Active standards are stable, maintained and have been approved, assured or endorsed for use by qualified bodies.
Deprecated Deprecated standards are available for use and are maintained, but are being phased out, so new functionality will not be added.
Retired standards Retired standards are not being maintained or supported and should not be used.
- Standard type
- Collections
- Information standards
Show definitions of standard types
Collections. A Collection is a systematic gathering of a specified selection of data or information for a particular stated purpose from existing records held within health and care systems and electronic devices.
Extractions. An extraction is a type of collection that is pulled from an operational system by the data controller and transmitted to the receiver without additional processing or transcription by the sender.
Information standards. Information standards are agreed ways of doing something, written down as a set of precise criteria so they can be used as rules, guidelines, or definitions.
Technical Standards and specifications. Technical standards and specifications specify how to make information available technically including how the data is structured and transported.
- Collection level
Record level
- Frequency
Dataset publication or collection occurs once a month.
- Contact point
enquiries@nhsdigital.nhs.uk
Using this standard
- Associated medias
- Applies to
- Directly provided and/or commissioned providers of NHS imaging diagnostic tests
- All radiology departments
- Community-based providers of diagnostic services
- Independent sector providers / social enterprises
- Impacts on
- System suppliers of Radiology Information Systems should work with their customers to determine the impact of this information standard and any required changes.
- Effective from
- 1 April 2026
Topics and care settings
- Topic
- Referrals
- Tests and diagnostics
- Care setting
- Community health
- Hospital
Dependencies and related standards
- Dependencies
No known dependencies.
- Related standards
- Commissioning Data SetsISB0092
- Interim Clinical Imaging Procedure CodesISB0148
- Health and Social Care Organisation Reference DataDAPB0090
- NHS Number for General PracticeISB0149-01
- NHS Number for Secondary CareISB0149-02
- SNOMED CTSCCI0034
- Commissioning Data Sets
Review Information
- Scope
- NHS Services
- Approval date
- 15 August 2025
- Post Implementation review Date
- 15 October 2025
- Technical Committee
Data Assurance Board (DAB)
Legal basis
- Link to Information Standards Notice (ISN)
- View the information standards notice
Information Standards Notices (ISNs) are published to announce new or changes to information standards published under section 250 of the Health and Social Care Act 2012
- Legal authority
Section 250 of the Health and Social Care Act 2012
This information standard, published under section 250 of the Health and Social Care Act 2012, as amended by the Health and Care Act 2022.
NHS standard contract
This collection is published under the NHS Standard Contract.
More information
The Diagnostic Imaging Dataset (DIDS) is a central collection of detailed information about diagnostic imaging tests carried out on NHS patients, extracted from local Radiology Information Systems (RISs), and submitted monthly. The DIDS captures information about referral source and patient type, details of the test (type of test and body site), demographic information such as GP registered practice, patient postcode, ethnicity, gender, and date of birth, plus items about waiting times for each diagnostic imaging event, from time of test request through to time of reporting.
Page last updated: 16 December 2025