HC Deb 05 July 1999 vol 334 cc398-9W
Jane Griffiths

To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the formal review of Read Codes 3 will take place. [89651]

Mr. Denham:

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for High Peak (Mr. Levitt) on 14 April 1999, Official Report, columns 270–71.

The independent evaluation of the Read Codes is taking place in the following three stages.

  1. (i) An assessment of the need for clinical terminology and the robustness of Clinical Terms Version 3 against alternatives;
  2. (ii) Development of a methodology for evaluating clinical codes in use;
  3. (iii) A process of continuous evaluation in live use in clinical practice.

The first stage has been completed, and copies of the report are available in the Library. A contract has been awarded after open competition to First Consulting Group for the second stage. The methodology for the evaluation of clinical terminology will be developed by September 1999. It will then be rigorously trialled in the National Health Service in preparation for stage 3.

Jane Griffiths

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many general practitioner practices are using Read Codes Version 3. [89647]

Mr. Denham

Records indicate that 41 software system suppliers to the National Health Service have licences giving them access to Version 3 of the Read Codes (CTV3). Suppliers are building systems to support CTV3 to underpin the development of the Electronic Patients Record in full. Current software in common use by general practitioners is based on earlier versions of the Read Codes.

The NHS Executive intends to mandate the use of a coded clinical terminology (currently Clinical Terms Version 3 (Read Codes)) which is a central plank of the NHS Information Management and Technology Strategy "Information for Health", published in September 1998. This is a pre-requisite for the development of the Electronic Health record which is the cornerstone of the strategy.

Jane Griffiths

To ask the Secretary of State for Health on what basis Mr. Roger Browell was selected for the Phase 1 Read Codes Review [89656]

Mr. Denham

Roger Browell was selected for the Phase 1 Read Codes evaluation via the Strategic Assignment Consultancy Service (SACS) of the Central Computer and Telecommunications Agency (CCTA).

SACS is an established service whereby CCTA procures consultants with a wide experience of Information Services and Information Technology. CCTA was asked to procure an independent consultant with no previous input to the work area in order to maintain independence.

Jane Griffiths

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS trusts are using Read Codes Version 3 on a hospital-wide basis; and in which hospitals. [89646]

Mr. Denham

Licensing records indicate that 41 software system suppliers to the National Health Service and 149 NHS trusts have access to Version 3 of the Read Codes. Records also indicate that the Version 2 terms in a Version 3 file format is used in Scotland and by one system supplier with several sites in England.