Written question asked by Paul Burstow (Liberal Democrat) on Wednesday, 17 October 2001, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Friday, 26 October 2001. It was answered by Hazel Blears (Labour) on Friday, 26 October 2001 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Dept of Health

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what is the target date for the SNOMED system to produce automatic mappings to ICD and OPCS codes. - (Holding answer 22 October 2001).

Answer: Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the target date for the SNOMED system to produce automatic mappings to ICD and OPCS codes. [9402] Ms Blears: [holding answer 22 October 2001]: The development of SNOMED CT includes (for United Kingdom users) mapping tables from SNOMED CT to ICD10 and OPCS4 codes. It is intended that these tables will be fully populated for inclusion in the `First Release' scheduled for January 2002. A feasibility study is being carried out as part of SNOMED development work to investigate automated cross mapping. Full automation from terms to codes requires additional contextual information held in the clinical record. As such automation will be dependent upon establishing the rules base and sophisticated electronic records.

Secondary information