Terminology Advice & Support

The Terminology Service offers advice and support in ICD10, OPCS4, Read and SNOMED.

Helpdesk

We operate a dedicated helpdesk to answer queries and offer advice on ICD10, OPCS4, Read and SNOMED. You can also book courses or obtain general advice on Terminology through this service.

When contacting the TAS helpdesk the following information is required: -

Your name

Hospital/organisation

Contact telephone/email

Type of query ? ICD, OPCS, Read, SNOMED

Applicable scheme ? e.g. SMR01, SMR02, SMR00 e.t.c.

Details of the query: - The discharge summary/notes/letter you are coding from should be available. For procedures, have the operation notes and the diagnosis as well.

If it is an information request, is it a press enquiry or a parliamentary question and when is the data required?

Queries are not usually answered straight away as they are crosschecked with previous queries and databases. This takes time so it is often easier to call you back. If it is expected that the query is going to take more than 24 hours to answer, as it has to be passed on to another tutor/clinician, you will be informed as to when to expect an answer.

Please be aware, answers to coding queries are for that particular query and cannot automatically be transferred to other instances, e.g. type of scope used, type of injection, virus etc. as the situation may be different.

If you contact the TAS helpdesk via the email address please provide the information detailed above. The email inbox is checked daily (Tuesday-Thursday) but if your enquiry is urgent please phone the helpdesk directly. 

0131 275 7283,  Tue-Thurs 9-5pm,  or email terminologyhelp@isd.csa.scot.nhs.uk

If your enquiry is urgent during this time please contact the team directly 0131 275 7283. Outwith these times please contact Janice Watson, Terminology Services Manager 0141 282 2271.

The Terminology Service co-odinate requests for new codes for OPCS, Read and SNOMED in Scotland that are passed to the appropriate organisation for consideration. Please complete the request form and email to the helpdesk .

RIS Code Requests

The Terminology Service provide a code request service for new Radiology Information System codes. Please consult the new code request procedure and then complete the request form, if appropriate, and email to the helpdesk. The national catalogue is now available online. Should you require the version containing SNOMED codes please contact the helpdesk .

Training

To support NHS staff in using these nationally agreed coding systems our highly experienced clinical coding tutors and terminology advisors can provide a variety of training courses to suit your needs. Other courses can be built to suit your needs on request. Please contact the helpdesk should you wish further information.

Dates and venues  of upcoming courses is available for viewing.

Course title	Aimed at	Duration
Introduction to ICD10/OPCS4	Overview only of ICD10/OPCS4 e.g. analysts, health board staff	2 days
ICD10 Foundation Course	New coders	5 days
OPCS4 Foundation Course	New coders	3 days
Refresher course, ICD10 and OPCS4	Experienced coders	3 days
Mental Health Foundation course	New coders in Mental Health	3 days
Overview of OPCS4	For coders in non-acute hospitals	1 day
Neoplasms workshop	Experienced coders	1 day
Orthopaedics workshop	Experienced coders	2 days
Anatomy & Physiology	New coders, analysts, health board staff	2 days
Medical Terminology	New coders, analysts, health board staff	1/2 day
Introduction to Read	New Coders in Primary Care	1/2 day
Read in Child Health	Coders in Child Health	1/2 day
Introduction to SNOMED	Various	1/2 day
Health Language Tools	Various	Various