§ Mr. Austin MitchellTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received about the coding system used to store clinical information, known as the Read codes, from(a) NHS consultants and (b) the National Audit Office. [14768]
§ Mr. HoramThe Read codes are maintained and developed by the national health service centre for coding and classification (NHS CCC) which is part of the information management group of the NHS executive. The NHS CCC is a regular contact with approximately 700 NHS consultants through its various working groups and advisory panels.
Hospital consultants are represented by the joint consultants committee, the British Medical Association and the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges and their faculties in the United Kingdom.
158WMy right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health has received no recent communication from the JCC on the subject of the Read codes. The only previous communication was on 15 June 1994 in which the JCC was
pleased to support the continued development and use of coded Read terms as the preferred clinical dictionary to underpin all clinical systems and electronic communications in NHS".Copies of this letter will be placed in the Library.
The National Audit Office is currently conducting an investigation concerning the Read codes. Its investigation is not yet complete and its report is awaited.