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NHS UK Read Codes

Read important information on the retirement of Read Version 2 and Clinical Terms Version 3.

Products from the UK Terminology Centre have one of these statuses:

  • In Development
  • Technology Preview
  • Draft for Trial Use
  • Supported Product
  • Deprecated
  • Retired

Read the IReS Terminology Product Development Lifecycle (external PDF) for explanations of these statuses.

Items in this category Jump to summaries

Legally restricted patient confidential reference data

NHS Data Migration

NHS Read Browser

NHS UK Read Codes Clinical Terms Version 3

NHS UK Read Codes Clinical Terms Version 3, Cross Maps

NHS UK Read Pathology Bounded Code List

PBCL Read Code to SNOMED Code Translation Table

Item summaries

Legally restricted patient confidential reference data

The technical preview code list was originally drafted to support a refresh of the ISB 1572 Sensitive Data standards and for no other purpose.

The legal basis for patient identifiable data and sensitive information changed with the introduction of the Health and Social Care Act 2012. However, the legal and policy context and interpretation for sensitive and/or legally restricted data has not been fully established due to the changes in legislation since the original standard was released.

As a result, this supporting code list has remained static since April 2016. NHS Digital will update the codes once an updated policy and instruction is provided by our commissioners.


  • Releases (3)
  • Licences (4)

NHS Data Migration

Releases of this item contain products intended to support the GP Summary Care Record, Systems of Choice and Data Migration programmes. Specifically:

  • many:one ‘forward’ crossmaps from the England and Scotland releases of Read Version 2 to Clinical Terms Version 3, from Read Version 2 to SNOMED CT, and from Clinical Terms Version 3 to SNOMED CT
  • many:one ‘backward’ crossmaps from Clinical Terms Version 3 to Read Version 2
  • tables assigning NHS Care Record Elements to all Read Version 2, Clinical Terms Version 3 and SNOMED CT codes - these mapping tables are distributed in a non-standard file format, together with supporting documentation

Releases also include experimental SNOMED CT Navigational Subsets by which simulacra of the Read Version 2 and Clinical Terms Version 3 taxonomies may be recreated as views on the full SNOMED CT content.

Read important information on the retirement of Read Version 2 and Clinical Terms Version 3.

Following consultation, the final release of the Read Version 2 to SNOMED CT mapping tables was April 2020. Releases of this item are now unmaintained static data.

Unscheduled releases may occur until April 2023, but only in order to resolve critical clinical safety issues.

Status: Deprecated


  • Releases (1)
  • Licences (2)

NHS Read Browser

NHS UK Read Codes release data (all versions) in browsable form. This includes English and Scottish variations of the Tri set browser. One directional cross maps from all versions of Read to ICD-10 and OPCS-4 can be viewed on an individual basis in the browser.

The last scheduled release of Read Version 2 and Clinical Terms Version 3 was April 2018. In line with the retirement of Read Version 2 and Clinical Terms Version 3, we no longer support or maintain this product.

Status: Deprecated


  • Releases (1)
  • Licences (3)

NHS UK Read Codes Clinical Terms Version 3

The final release of this item was on 19 March 2018. Basic maintenance support will be provided until April 2020.

Read important information on the retirement of Read Version 2 and Clinical Terms Version 3.

Status: Deprecated


  • Releases (2)
  • Licences (1)

NHS UK Read Codes Clinical Terms Version 3, Cross Maps

The final release of this item was on 19 March 2018. Basic maintenance support will be provided until April 2020.

Read important information on the retirement of Read Version 2 and Clinical Terms Version 3.

Status: Deprecated


  • Releases (1)
  • Licences (3)

NHS UK Read Codes Version 2

The final release of this item was on 1 April 2016.

Read important information on the retirement of Read Version 2 and Clinical Terms Version 3.

Status: Deprecated


  • Releases (0)
  • Licences (3)

NHS UK Read Pathology Bounded Code List

The Pathology Bounded Code List (PBCL) was developed to provide a defined or bounded subset of Read codes for use in laboratory to GP messaging. Use of the PBCL ensures that there is common understanding by both sending and receiving clinicians of the laboratory investigations and results.

The PBCL continues to be supported following the final release of Read CTV3 in April 2018 but will only be updated on an ad hoc basis where there is an identified national need. Subscribers will be notified in advance of any changes.

Read important information on the retirement of Read Version 2 and Clinical Terms Version 3.


  • Releases (3)
  • Licences (1)

PBCL Read Code to SNOMED Code Translation Table

A set of map tables translating the Read Codes in the PBCL EDIFACT laboratory report message to SNOMED CT codes to support transmission, reception, storage and retrieval of primary care pathology results.

Status: Supported


  • Releases (5)
  • Licences (2)

The Read Codes Drug and Appliance Dictionary

The final release of this item was on 1 April 2016.

To download releases of this item, email a request to information.standards@nhs.net.


  • Releases (0)
  • Licences (0)

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