diff --git a/core/src/main/java/uk/ac/ucl/rits/inform/datasinks/emapstar/controllers/LocationController.java b/core/src/main/java/uk/ac/ucl/rits/inform/datasinks/emapstar/controllers/LocationController.java
index 482bf5a46..742847ad0 100644
--- a/core/src/main/java/uk/ac/ucl/rits/inform/datasinks/emapstar/controllers/LocationController.java
+++ b/core/src/main/java/uk/ac/ucl/rits/inform/datasinks/emapstar/controllers/LocationController.java
@@ -199,7 +199,7 @@ class DepartmentController {
     }
 
     /**
-     * Get or create minomal department entity.
+     * Get or create minimal department entity.
      * @param msg minimal department message
      * @return saved department entity
      */
@@ -257,7 +257,10 @@ private static boolean updateFieldIfNull(String currentData, String newdata, Con
     void processDepartmentStates(DepartmentMetadata msg, Department department, Instant storedFrom) throws IncompatibleDatabaseStateException {
         Instant validFrom = msg.getSpecialityUpdate() == null ? msg.getDepartmentContactDate() : msg.getSpecialityUpdate();
         DepartmentState currentState = new DepartmentState(
-                department, msg.getDepartmentRecordStatus().toString(), msg.getDepartmentSpeciality(), validFrom, storedFrom);
+            department, msg.getDepartmentRecordStatus().toString(),
+            msg.getDepartmentSpeciality(), msg.getDepartmentType(),
+            msg.getIsWardOrFlowArea(), msg.getIsCoreInpatientArea(),
+            msg.getSiteLocation(), validFrom, storedFrom);
 
         if (departmentStateRepo.existsByDepartmentIdAndSpecialityAndValidFrom(department, msg.getDepartmentSpeciality(), validFrom)) {
             logger.debug("Department State already exists in the database, no need to process further");
@@ -274,9 +277,11 @@ void processDepartmentStates(DepartmentMetadata msg, Department department, Inst
             invalidatePreviousStateIfChanged(msg.getPreviousDepartmentSpeciality(), currentState, possiblePreviousState.get());
         } else if (msg.getPreviousDepartmentSpeciality() != null) {
             // if the previous department speciality is not in the database
-            DepartmentState previousState = new DepartmentState(
-                    department, msg.getDepartmentRecordStatus().toString(), msg.getPreviousDepartmentSpeciality(),
-                    msg.getDepartmentContactDate(), storedFrom);
+            DepartmentState previousState = new DepartmentState(department,
+                msg.getDepartmentRecordStatus().toString(),
+                msg.getPreviousDepartmentSpeciality(), msg.getDepartmentType(),
+                msg.getIsWardOrFlowArea(), msg.getIsCoreInpatientArea(),
+                msg.getSiteLocation(), msg.getDepartmentContactDate(), storedFrom);
             previousState.setStoredUntil(currentState.getStoredFrom());
             previousState.setValidUntil(currentState.getValidFrom());
             departmentStateRepo.saveAll(List.of(previousState, currentState));
diff --git a/emap-checker.xml b/emap-checker.xml
index 1e27d302e..a526209c9 100644
--- a/emap-checker.xml
+++ b/emap-checker.xml
@@ -107,8 +107,10 @@
     <!-- Checks for Size Violations. -->
     <!-- See http://checkstyle.sf.net/config_sizes.html -->
     <module name="MethodLength"/>
-    <module name="ParameterNumber"/>
-
+    <module name="ParameterNumber">
+      <property name="max" value="10"/>
+      <property name="tokens" value="METHOD_DEF"/>
+    </module>
     <!-- Checks for whitespace -->
     <!-- See http://checkstyle.sf.net/config_whitespace.html -->
     <module name="EmptyForIteratorPad"/>
diff --git a/emap-interchange/src/main/java/uk/ac/ucl/rits/inform/interchange/location/DepartmentMetadata.java b/emap-interchange/src/main/java/uk/ac/ucl/rits/inform/interchange/location/DepartmentMetadata.java
index ad6fb9c72..7a06350ca 100644
--- a/emap-interchange/src/main/java/uk/ac/ucl/rits/inform/interchange/location/DepartmentMetadata.java
+++ b/emap-interchange/src/main/java/uk/ac/ucl/rits/inform/interchange/location/DepartmentMetadata.java
@@ -42,6 +42,15 @@ public class DepartmentMetadata extends EmapOperationMessage implements MinimalD
     private String departmentSpeciality;
     private Instant specialityUpdate;
     private String previousDepartmentSpeciality;
+
+    /**
+     * Variables added to make location processing more robust.
+     */
+    private String departmentType;
+    private Boolean isWardOrFlowArea;
+    private Boolean isCoreInpatientArea;
+    private String siteLocation;
+
     /**
      * Not used in processing, but useful to debugging ordering.
      */
diff --git a/emap-interchange/src/test/resources/DepartmentMetadata/acun_dept.yaml b/emap-interchange/src/test/resources/DepartmentMetadata/acun_dept.yaml
index ff889578d..b0e854559 100644
--- a/emap-interchange/src/test/resources/DepartmentMetadata/acun_dept.yaml
+++ b/emap-interchange/src/test/resources/DepartmentMetadata/acun_dept.yaml
@@ -8,4 +8,8 @@ departmentRecordStatus: "ACTIVE"
 previousDepartmentSpeciality: "Dental - Oral Medicine"
 departmentContactDate: "2012-02-09T00:00:00Z"
 specialityUpdate: "2022-02-09T00:00:20Z"
-combinedUpdate: "2022-02-09T00:00:20Z"
\ No newline at end of file
+departmentType: "2"
+isWardOrFlowArea: true
+isCoreInpatientArea: true
+siteLocation: "EMH"
+combinedUpdate: "2022-02-09T00:00:20Z"
diff --git a/emap-interchange/src/test/resources/DepartmentMetadata/local-only/dental_department_only.yaml b/emap-interchange/src/test/resources/DepartmentMetadata/local-only/dental_department_only.yaml
index f74c366b6..35c7eb22a 100644
--- a/emap-interchange/src/test/resources/DepartmentMetadata/local-only/dental_department_only.yaml
+++ b/emap-interchange/src/test/resources/DepartmentMetadata/local-only/dental_department_only.yaml
@@ -8,4 +8,9 @@ departmentRecordStatus: "ACTIVE"
 departmentContactDate: "2018-08-22T00:00:00Z"
 departmentSpeciality: "Dental - Oral Medicine"
 specialityUpdate: "2020-09-22T13:47:56Z"
+departmentType: "2"
+isWardOrFlowArea: true
+isCoreInpatientArea: true
+siteLocation: "UCLH"
 combinedUpdate: "2020-09-22T13:47:56Z"
+
diff --git a/emap-interchange/src/test/resources/DepartmentMetadata/local-only/medsurg_active_pool_bed.yaml b/emap-interchange/src/test/resources/DepartmentMetadata/local-only/medsurg_active_pool_bed.yaml
index 41cf2670a..99c5cbbfb 100644
--- a/emap-interchange/src/test/resources/DepartmentMetadata/local-only/medsurg_active_pool_bed.yaml
+++ b/emap-interchange/src/test/resources/DepartmentMetadata/local-only/medsurg_active_pool_bed.yaml
@@ -7,5 +7,9 @@ departmentId: "1"
 departmentSpeciality: null
 departmentRecordStatus: "DELETED_AND_HIDDEN"
 departmentContactDate: "2005-12-08T00:00:00Z"
+departmentType: "2"
+isWardOrFlowArea: true
+isCoreInpatientArea: true
+siteLocation: "UCLH"
 combinedUpdate: "2021-04-23T09:00:00Z"
 
diff --git a/emap-interchange/src/test/resources/DepartmentMetadata/local-only/no_department_history.yaml b/emap-interchange/src/test/resources/DepartmentMetadata/local-only/no_department_history.yaml
index bbe538032..d7b8c0436 100644
--- a/emap-interchange/src/test/resources/DepartmentMetadata/local-only/no_department_history.yaml
+++ b/emap-interchange/src/test/resources/DepartmentMetadata/local-only/no_department_history.yaml
@@ -7,4 +7,8 @@ departmentId: "1020100002"
 departmentSpeciality: null
 departmentRecordStatus: "ACTIVE"
 departmentContactDate: "2022-12-08T00:00:00Z"
+departmentType: "12"
+isWardOrFlowArea: true
+isCoreInpatientArea: false
+siteLocation: "UCLH"
 combinedUpdate: "2022-12-08T00:00:00Z"
diff --git a/emap-interchange/src/test/resources/DepartmentMetadata/local-only/paediatric_department_only_1.yaml b/emap-interchange/src/test/resources/DepartmentMetadata/local-only/paediatric_department_only_1.yaml
index b396e601f..a7f1faa24 100644
--- a/emap-interchange/src/test/resources/DepartmentMetadata/local-only/paediatric_department_only_1.yaml
+++ b/emap-interchange/src/test/resources/DepartmentMetadata/local-only/paediatric_department_only_1.yaml
@@ -9,4 +9,9 @@ departmentRecordStatus: "ACTIVE"
 departmentContactDate: "2021-08-25T23:00:00Z"
 # missing previous department will be null
 specialityUpdate: "2021-08-26T11:28:51Z"
-combinedUpdate: "2021-08-26T11:28:51Z"
\ No newline at end of file
+departmentType: "12"
+isWardOrFlowArea: true
+isCoreInpatientArea: false
+siteLocation: "UCLH"
+combinedUpdate: "2021-08-26T11:28:51Z"
+
diff --git a/emap-interchange/src/test/resources/DepartmentMetadata/local-only/paediatric_department_only_2.yaml b/emap-interchange/src/test/resources/DepartmentMetadata/local-only/paediatric_department_only_2.yaml
index 7872eae2e..351787ec3 100644
--- a/emap-interchange/src/test/resources/DepartmentMetadata/local-only/paediatric_department_only_2.yaml
+++ b/emap-interchange/src/test/resources/DepartmentMetadata/local-only/paediatric_department_only_2.yaml
@@ -9,4 +9,8 @@ previousDepartmentSpeciality: "Paediatric - Respiratory Medicine"
 departmentRecordStatus: "ACTIVE"
 departmentContactDate: "2021-08-25T23:00:00Z"
 specialityUpdate: "2021-09-06T06:42:26Z"
-combinedUpdate: "2021-09-06T06:42:26Z"
\ No newline at end of file
+departmentType: "12"
+isWardOrFlowArea: true
+isCoreInpatientArea: false
+siteLocation: "UCLH"
+combinedUpdate: "2021-09-06T06:42:26Z"
diff --git a/emap-interchange/src/test/resources/DepartmentMetadata/local-only/paediatric_department_only_3.yaml b/emap-interchange/src/test/resources/DepartmentMetadata/local-only/paediatric_department_only_3.yaml
index 1834085f7..0cd332acf 100644
--- a/emap-interchange/src/test/resources/DepartmentMetadata/local-only/paediatric_department_only_3.yaml
+++ b/emap-interchange/src/test/resources/DepartmentMetadata/local-only/paediatric_department_only_3.yaml
@@ -9,4 +9,8 @@ previousDepartmentSpeciality: "Paediatric - Infectious Diseases"
 departmentRecordStatus: "ACTIVE"
 departmentContactDate: "2021-08-25T23:00:00Z"
 specialityUpdate: "2021-10-08T23:00:20Z"
-combinedUpdate: "2021-10-08T23:00:20Z"
\ No newline at end of file
+departmentType: "12"
+isWardOrFlowArea: true
+isCoreInpatientArea: false
+siteLocation: "UCLH"
+combinedUpdate: "2021-10-08T23:00:20Z"
diff --git a/emap-star/emap-star/src/main/java/uk/ac/ucl/rits/inform/informdb/movement/DepartmentState.java b/emap-star/emap-star/src/main/java/uk/ac/ucl/rits/inform/informdb/movement/DepartmentState.java
index ebc08edd5..46092781e 100644
--- a/emap-star/emap-star/src/main/java/uk/ac/ucl/rits/inform/informdb/movement/DepartmentState.java
+++ b/emap-star/emap-star/src/main/java/uk/ac/ucl/rits/inform/informdb/movement/DepartmentState.java
@@ -54,6 +54,27 @@ public class DepartmentState extends AuditCore<DepartmentState> {
      * \brief Current speciality of the department.
      */
     private String speciality;
+
+    /**
+     * \brief Report Group Nine (departmentType) value associated with this department.
+     */
+    private String departmentType;
+
+    /**
+     * \brief Predicate determining whether the Department is a ward or flow area.
+     */
+    private Boolean isWardOrFlowArea;
+
+    /**
+     * \brief Predicate determining whether the Department is a core inpatient area.
+     */
+    private Boolean isCoreInpatientArea;
+
+    /**
+     * \brief hospital location where this department is situated.
+     */
+    private String siteLocation;
+
     /**
      * Create valid department state.
      * @param department parent department
@@ -61,11 +82,21 @@ public class DepartmentState extends AuditCore<DepartmentState> {
      * @param validFrom  time that the message was valid from
      * @param storedFrom time that emap core stared processing the message
      * @param speciality name of the current speciality of this department
+     * @param departmentType Report Group Nine value associated with this department
+     * @param isWardOrFlowArea is this department a ward or flow area
+     * @param isCoreInpatientArea is this department a core inpatient area
+     * @param siteLocation hospital location where this department is situated.
      */
-    public DepartmentState(Department department, String status, String speciality, Instant validFrom, Instant storedFrom) {
+    public DepartmentState(Department department, String status,
+    String speciality, String departmentType, Boolean isWardOrFlowArea,
+    Boolean isCoreInpatientArea, String siteLocation, Instant validFrom, Instant storedFrom) {
         departmentId = department;
         this.status = status;
         this.speciality = speciality;
+        this.departmentType = departmentType;
+        this.isWardOrFlowArea = isWardOrFlowArea;
+        this.isCoreInpatientArea = isCoreInpatientArea;
+        this.siteLocation = siteLocation;
         setValidFrom(validFrom);
         setStoredFrom(storedFrom);
     }
@@ -78,6 +109,10 @@ private DepartmentState(DepartmentState other) {
         departmentId = other.departmentId;
         status = other.status;
         speciality = other.speciality;
+        departmentType = other.departmentType;
+        isWardOrFlowArea = other.isWardOrFlowArea;
+        isCoreInpatientArea = other.isCoreInpatientArea;
+        siteLocation = other.siteLocation;
     }
 
     @Override