How should users manage entering unknown or estimated dates of birth?
Default dates of birth have been in use for many years now. However, there are many ‘standards’ in use. The Information Quality Assurance Programme (IQAP) has been working in this area to source and review existing protocols. Agreement has been reached with the Department of Health that good practice will be to use 01/01/YYYY for dd/mm/yyyy for when a DOB is unknown. Department of Health will endorse this as policy. Further IQAP guidance: Guidance on the use of Default Dates of Birth (PDF 102Kb).
