OPCS-4
name	The Office of Population Censuses and Surveys Classification of Surgical Operations and Procedures, 4th Revision.
summary	Classification of Surgical Operations and Procedures: records details of operations "OPCS-4 is the fourth revision of the classification devised for translating or classifying all operations and surgical procedures that may be carried out on a patient during an episode of health care." [NHS] NHS Connecting for Health has responsibility for OPCS-4 codes. They are Crown Copyright.
clinical focus	Surgical operations and procedures
developed and maintained by	NHS Classifications Service / National Interventions Classification Project
introduced	OPCS-4: 1990
current version	4th revision
background / derivation	"A statistical classification of surgical operations was introduced in the UK in 1944." "Over subsequent decades it was periodically revised, culminating in the introduction of the OPCS-4 classification which was fully implemented across the NHS in 1990."
in use	UK NHS. Classification system to be used by NHS England Connecting for Health Care Records Service.
access	"NHS bodies are not required to apply for a licence and are permitted to reproduce OPCS-4 codes for administrative purposes within the NHS only." "For non-NHS users a licence is required for OPCS-4 in electronic format. In order to issue a licence, the NHS Connecting for Health requires a letter or fax from the organisation confirming the intended use of the codes. "
tools	OPCS-4    NHS Classifications Service
references
[]   [] " "
contact	NHS Classifications Service NHS Connecting for Health Princes Exchange Princes Square Leeds, LS1 4HY UK W: Contacts
links	Link    OPCS-4 (connectingforhealth.nhs.uk)
acknowledgements
page history
Entry on OpenClinical: 09 August 2006 Last main update: 15 August 2006