NOV_UPDATE_TEST_2_Outpatient referrals, April 2012 onwards

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Local health board provider
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Next update expected:23 October 2025

Updates

23rd October 2025
Dataset first published.

Main information

Designation
Management information
Data provider
Digital Health and Care Wales (DHCW)
Data source
Outpatient Referral Dataset (OPR)
Time period covered
January 2012 to December 2025

Overview

Summary of dataset and variables

This table provides the total outpatient referrals made each month.

‘GP referrals’ cover both referrals from General Medical Practitioners and General Dental Practitioners.

Resubmissions of the Referrals data in the Outpatient Referrals Dataset (OPR DS) occur each month. As a result, data in the release and Stats Wales is revised to reflect this. Please see the latest release for the impact of the revisions.

Data collection or calculation

Please find this information in the related statistical release, as per the given weblink.

From 1st April 2019, health service provision for residents of Bridgend local authority moved from Abertawe Bro Morgannwg to Cwm Taf. The health board names changed, with Cwm Taf University Health Board becoming Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board, and Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Health Board becoming Swansea Bay University Health Board. For more information, refer to the statement from the Minister for Health and Social Services (see ‘Related Reports’).

New treatment function codes were introduced in April 2016 but were not used consistently across all Local Health Boards initially; for example, patients receiving vascular surgery may have been recorded in either “General Surgery” or “Vascular Surgery” treatment functions. To reduce uncertainty and make counts more reliable, the new treatment function codes were removed temporarily and treatment functions were recorded under the more general headings until consistent recording of the treatment functions was confirmed across all Local Health Boards. This was actioned back to April 2016.

Statistical quality

Please find this information in the related statistical release, as per the given weblink.

Please note that the data included in this dataset covers a time period during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, which affected both how some NHS services were offered as well as people's choices regarding health services. See the latest release for more information.

Hywel Dda did not submit any data for mental health treatment codes from August 2020 due to the Mental Health Migration project. In the months following the pandemic, this accounted for between 90 to 180 referrals, but before the pandemic, this would have accounted for around 240 referrals a month.

‘Clinical Neurophysiology’ was previously known as 'Obstetrics (for patients using a bed)'. Prior to April 2016, some outpatient referrals were incorrectly recorded under this treatment function. In other instances, the definition of 'patients using a bed' may have been misinterpreted.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Cwm Taf Morgannwg set up a new service code to capture antibody testing and research. This resulted in a rise in the number of referrals for infectious diseases in July 2020.

Related reports

Published by

Organisation
Welsh Government
Contact email
stats.housing@gov.wales