This list has been updated since its first release in January of 2007 and now includes a large number of Interventional imaging procedures. In all, over 900 procedures have been added making almost 4000 procedures in total..The other main change is the inclusion of a field to indicate whether a procedure is considered to be interventional to support the collection of data for the KH12 returns.

Users are commended to read the associated implementation guidance and editorial principles.

The list is being made available in four variants:

1) With maps to SNOMED CT and with limited term history information
This version is for those organisations who are migrating from a previous version of the list and use the data in an integrated environment (with systems using SNOMED CT)

2) Without maps to SNOMED CT but with limited term history information
This version is for those organisations who are migrating from a previous version of the list and do not use the data in an integrated environment (with systems using SNOMED CT)

3) A simple list of the latest current descriptions without SNOMED CT mappings and without term history information
This version is for those organisations using the list for the first time and do not use the data in an integrated environment (with systems using SNOMED CT)

4) A simple list of the latest current descriptions with SNOMED CT mappings and without term history information
This version is for those organisations using the list for the first time and use the data in an integrated environment (with systems using SNOMED CT)

Due to licensing arrangements, the versions which include SNOMED CT maps are only available from NHS Connecting for Health Data Standards and Products electronic distribution service (also known as TRUD). They can be obtained electronically by registering on line at www.uktcregistration.nss.cfh.nhs.uk. 
All versions are of course available from this source, as is the supporting documentation.

The versions without SNOMED CT mappings will also be made available from various websites including, the Royal College of Radiologists (PACS and teleradiology forum) and NHS Connecting for Health.

The work has been delivered to strict Editorial policies and is supplied in the form of a spreadsheet and is released with accompanying implementation guidance.

Most issues are covered in the Editorial Principles Document and the Implementation Guidance, including how to make requests for change, but further information is available from the Data Standards and products helpdesk ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ) – please include the words ‘Clinical Imaging’ in any enquiry.

Future releases

The next release of the code set will be in April 2008 and should contain 100% accurate maps to OPCS-4 via the intermediate relationship with SNOMED CT.
The release timetable thereafter will be every six months to coincide with the update schedule of SNOMED CT.

The last date for requests for change is December 29th 2007.

Download documents:

SNOMED CT Clinical Imaging Procedures Subset Management Group - Terms of Reference download

National Interim Standard Descriptions for Clinical Imaging Procedures to support PACS/RIS implementations -Editorial Principles   download

National Interim Descriptions for Diagnostic Imaging Procedures download

Management arrangements for SNOMED CT Clinical Imaging Procedures subset and 'Interim representation' download

Implementation Guidance for the Interim National Clinical Imaging Procedure code Set download

Background

On January 26th 2007 a set of procedure codes and descriptions for use in the representation of Clinical Imaging Procedures was released by NHS Connecting for Health as released.

This effort was the result of several years of informal development and a further 2 years under the direct management of NHS Connecting for Health Data Standards and Products Service.

The work has been overseen and endorsed by a management group consisting of key stakeholders including the following:

• Royal College of Radiologists
• including numerous RCR special interest groups
• British Nuclear Medicine Society
• British Medical Association
• Royal College of General Practitioners
• Society of Radiographers
• Department of Health
• NHS Connecting for Health
• Regional NHS representatives
• System suppliers
• Representatives of home countries