CDM: Our Charter and Principles

The CDM Open Data Standard Charter establishes the guiding principles and governance framework for a unified, national approach to data. Our aim is to eliminate the fragmentation of the NHS data landscape, moving away from a "jigsaw puzzle" of incompatible systems toward a transparent, interoperable, and ethically governed digital ecosystem.

Vision: To define the "National Language" of health and care data, empowering individuals and organisations to harness the full potential of information for better patient outcomes.

Mission: To maintain a robust, inclusive CDM that supports seamless data sharing and collaboration. We achieve this by harmonising existing standards (such as FHIR and OpenEHR), ensuring that while technical formats may vary, the clinical meaning remains consistent.

• Transparency: All development processes are open, documented, and subject to stakeholder scrutiny.

• Interoperability and open standards: The CDM is committed to open data standards. It is designed to work alongside international standards like FHIR (for exchange) and OpenEHR (for clinical modelling), ensuring that the NHS is never "locked in" to proprietary vendor formats.

• Inclusivity: The standard is co-produced with clinicians, data professionals, and suppliers via our Advisory Community and Groups.

• Privacy and security: We safeguard sensitive information by adhering to the highest standards of data protection and clinical safety.

• Sustainability and stability: We will use mechanisms to signal the maturity and stability of our data elements, ensuring long-term relevance.

This charter applies to all development and implementation of the CDM within NHS England. It covers:

• Data Models: Conceptual, Logical, and Physical layers.

• Reference Data: Authoritative national lists (e.g. Organisations, Medicines).

• Metadata: Ensuring data is discoverable and understood via a central catalogue.

The CDM is governed through a transparent hierarchy:

• Steering committee: Responsible for strategic decisions and final approval.

• Advisory community and groups: Our thematic working groups (SME, Technical, Supplier, and Core) that draft and validate the standard.

• Community forum: An open platform for feedback and proposed enhancements via the NHS Futures site.

Adoption of the CDM Open Data Standard is encouraged across the system to drive efficiency. We support organisations in this transition through documentation, training, and the provision of an interactive CDM Glossary.

This charter is reviewed annually. By endorsing this charter, we commit to upholding the principles of open, reliable, and patient-centered data.

Interested in helping us uphold these principles? Express your interest to join our Advisory Community and Groups