# Minor breaking change - separate given names

**URL:** <https://developer.community.nhs.uk/t/minor-breaking-change-separate-given-names/12973>\
**Category:** Healthcare Worker API\
**Tags:** fhir\
**Created:** [23 June 2026 12:24 UTC](https://developer.community.nhs.uk/t/minor-breaking-change-separate-given-names/12973 "2026-06-23T12:24:15Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![tony.heap](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/nhsdigitaldeveloper/user_avatar/developer.community.nhs.uk/tony.heap/32/47_2.png) [@tony.heap](https://developer.community.nhs.uk/u/tony.heap)\
**Post date:** [23 June 2026 12:24 UTC](https://developer.community.nhs.uk/t/minor-breaking-change-separate-given-names/12973/1 "2026-06-23T12:24:16Z")

</div>

This is an advance warning of a minor breaking change we’re planning to make to the [Healthcare Worker (HCW) FHIR API](https://digital.nhs.uk/developer/api-catalogue/healthcare-worker-fhir).

We’re planning to change to the way we return healthcare worker **names** from the API.

Currently, they are returned as a single string within the `given` array in the FHIR response, for example:

```auto
"name": [
  {
    "use": "usual",
    "family": "Smith",
    "given": [
      "Jane Allison"
    ],
    "prefix": [
      "Ms"
    ]
  }
]

```

Going forward, they will be returned as separate strings within the `given` array, for example:

```auto
"name": [
  {
    "use": "usual",
    "family": "Smith",
    "given": [
      "Jane",
      "Allison"
    ],
    "prefix": [
      "Ms"
    ]
  }
]

```

This change better reflects how the data is held in the underlying SDS datastore and better reflects the intended FHIR format of the `given` array.

We’ll be making the change on or after Friday 14 August 2026, and we’ll let you know when it’s done.

Depending on your implementation, you might need to make some changes to your software to account for it.

If you have any questions or concerns about this change, leave a comment below or [contact us](https://digital.nhs.uk/developer/help-and-support).