The NHS Dictionary of Medicines and Devices (dm+d) is a dictionary of descriptions and codes which cover product information about medicines and devices in use across the NHS.
It is the recognised NHS standard (SCCI0052) for uniquely identifying and communicating medicinal product and medical device information used in patient care across clinical IT systems.
The NHSBSA authors and maintains dm+d with the support of NHS England (NHSE), on behalf of the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC).
dm+d:
- is refreshed weekly
- holds product information for over 700 suppliers and wholesalers
- contains data including Drug Tariff reimbursement, product availability, pricing information, Systematized Nomenclature of Medicine Clinical Terms (SNOMED CT), British National Formulary (BNF) and Global Trade Item Numbers (GTINs)
dm+d for pharmaceutical suppliers and manufacturers
dm+d data model and governance
dm+d has five basic components and each are represented as a box in dm+d’s data model diagram (PDF: 493KB).
Each component describes a product at different levels of granularity to support various use cases. This makes up dm+d’s model.
A more in-depth description of dm+d’s data model can be found in the NHS dictionary of medicines and devices Data Model (Word: 258KB).
The Content Committee is responsible for content within dm+d, including maintaining the editorial policy and evaluating and approving any major changes. Clinical and professional representatives can also be called upon to act in an advisory capacity to support the Programme Board and Content Committee.
dm+d resources
Editorial policy (Word: 642KB)Technical specification of data files (Word: 240KB)Data model (Word: 258KB)
Contact us
For enquiries about changes or additions to dm+d data or editorial policy content requests:
Email: dmdenquiries@nhsbsa.nhs.uk
For support, implementation and technical queries about the dm+d XML files and TRUD, integrating dm+d using the NHS England Terminology Server, and for enquiries about the SNOMED CT UK Drug Extension:
Email: information.standards@nhs.net
For queries relating to dm+d changes as part of the UK Medicines Terminology Futures (development changes) work:
Email: nhsdigital.ukmeds@nhs.net
For routine and standard enquiries, email: dmdenquiries@nhsbsa.nhs.uk
For non-routine issues, read Raising dm+d issues.