Each specialty is a type of occupation code, as recognized by the Royal Colleges and Faculties [except for the specific cases noted in Data Items (A - Z)].
Specialties are divisions of clinical work which may be defined by body systems e.g. dermatology, age e.g. paediatrics, clinical technology e.g. nuclear medicine, clinical function e.g. rheumatology, and group of diseases e.g. oncology or combinations of these factors.
Each consultant should be assigned a main specialty for each health care provider worked in by the Local Health Board responsible for the contract. The current main specialty is shown on a consultant's contract, but should be checked periodically against the work a consultant is actually doing so that the statistics can relate to a consultant's current type of work.
For manpower planning purposes, a second specialty may also be recorded. This will be used to indicate the skill level of medical and dental employees.
Second specialty: the principle other specialty of a consultant, senior registrar, associate specialist or staff grade officer - provided that s/he undertakes not less than 1 notional half day (NHD) or 1 unit of medical time (UMT) per week in that specialty.
NB: These grades may have one, two or more specialties; only the main and second specialty is recorded.
Notes:
1. Where a post involves a split specialty appointment, the major specialty should be identified and used consistently (but see note 2 below).
2. For medical staff with a generalist component to their work the main specialty should be "general medicine" or "general surgery". The hallmark of a general physician or general surgeon is the continued care of unselected emergency referrals. Consultants in these disciplines may also have specialist interests. The main specialist interest should be recorded, where appropriate, as his/her second specialty.
NB: "General medicine" and "general surgery" are not acceptable as second specialties.
3. A medical officer working for two health care providers may be assigned a different specialty for each one.
4. For a senior registrar, the main specialty is that shown on the contract, regardless of the post held (which may differ from the contract/job description fixed at the start of the training period).
5. "General pathology" is not considered appropriate for consultants or senior registrars, whose main specialty should be the pathology specialty in which they spend the greatest part of their time.
* Occupation code: an alternative title for specialty code, as used in the Medical and Dental Staff Census (SBH50-59a).