On applying a DTA time within a patient record a visual DTA countdown clock starts. The clock will only stop when the record is updated that the patient has left the location in which the DTA has been applied (e.g., an emergency department (ED) or mental health assessment unit (non-acute trust)).

However, DTA time can be applied in any setting should an organisation choose to use this to measure referral to admission.

For repatriation referrals or non-12hr pathways where an organisation may wish to measure ‘days delayed’ from referral to admission, then DTA date should be selected by itself and the DTA time field be left incomplete.

Please note – users should always check data entries prior to submission.