Case-mix: position of operations on records

The data provided by HES gives us information in terms of finished consultant episodes (FCEs). But quite often a patient may have a continuous stay in hospital which includes more than one FCE (a Continuous Inpatient Spell, or CIPS). We are often interested in analysing by CIPS, so decisions have to be made about how to identify and select the diagnostic information contained on the separate FCEs in a CIPS.

It is useful, therefore, to know for each operation:

  • how many CIPS records comprise just one FCE,
  • how many CIPS records comprise several FCEs (a "multiple FCE spell"),
  • whether a particular operation is recorded in the main position, or elsewhere, and whether it is recorded on the first FCE, the last FCE, or on an intermediate FCE, and on combinations of these.

These tables show, for each operation, how frequently that operation appears in different positions on a record, for both FCEs, and CIPSs.

Enter an OPCS4 operation code or type in an operation to search the database. You can also choose whether you want to restrict your search by gender and admission type (whether elective or emergency). Alternatively you can ask for a fuller report showing all figures.

OPCS4 operation code:
or Operation text search: how does this work?
Type of admission:
Full report? YesNo
Years: -



Big Data Institute

Unit of Health Care Epidemiology


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The work was funded at various times by the Department of Health, the NHS National Co-ordinating Centre for Research Capacity Development, the Department of Health's National Institute for Health Research, the Department of Health's National Centre for Health Outcomes Development, and the Nuffield Department of Population Health.

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