Coding Diagnoses Problematic when no Read v2 codes are available

The diagnoses coming out of the hospital change over the years (with changes to the International Classification of Diseases). Psychiatry seems particularly prone to change. Which means often appropriate READ2 codes are not available, and have to look for the next best option. 

For example- “Functional Neurological Disorder” has no code in READ2. Some practices have chosen to use the code for “Somatoform Disorder” and add explanatory Freetext. Other Practices will also have to select their own substitute, so uniformity across Practices cannot be presumed. This will impact on data extraction exercises.

Indeed relying on the depreciated READ2 terminology,  which was last updated in April 2018 is becoming increasingly troublesome. Psychiatry usually code diagnoses based on International Classification of Diseases (ICD), the eleventh revision (ICD-11) was released in May 2019 which will eventually replace ICD-10.  ICD-10 and ICD-11 have been mapped to SNOMED CT.

Another example of not having appropriate READ2 codes is when new laboratory tests are developed and there is no adequate way of ‘coding’ these. Until SNOMED CT is widely adopted situations like these are likely to become more frequent. SCIMP are hopeful that widespread adoption of SNOMED CT in Scotland will help address this important issue.