The National Interim Clinical Imaging Procedure Code set is a list of codes and descriptions for the coded and textual representation of Clinical Imaging Procedures in electronic systems in the NHS. It supports the consistent and unambiguous representation of imaging procedures in electronic information systems so that treatment options can be based on a common understanding of what procedures have been performed or are planned and activity can be directly comparable between all service providers.

The standard supports order catalogues, image identification in Picture Archive & Communication Systems (PACS), workflow within service departments and KH12 radiation monitoring returns.

About this change

This release removes the requirement to collect Korner bandings locally.

The nationally approved coding scheme for imaging procedures (NICIP) will no longer include mappings to the Korner bandings.

There is no longer any national need to collect local information using the Korner datasets originally developed in the 1980’s. In light of there being no other known national use or case for collecting Korner data, the CIMG determined that there was no need to maintain and distribute this mapping from NICIP for existing or new codes.

It has subsequently been reported that, despite this change in national policy, some imaging departments still believe it necessary to collect the Korner data. This release confirms that there is no requirement to collect this information nationally and therefore that the national approved coding scheme for individual procedure recording (NICIP) will no longer include the Korner mappings.

It is expected that this interim standard will be replaced with SNOMED CT® (SNOMED CT) by 2015.