OPCS Classification of Interventions and Procedures
The OPCS Classification of Interventions and Procedures (OPCS-4) is a Fundamental Information Standard which is revised periodically.
Description
The OPCS Classification of Interventions and Procedures ( OPCS-4) is a Fundamental Information Standard which is revised periodically. The classification is used by Health Care Providers and national and regional ORGANISATIONS.
OPCS-4 is used to support operational and strategic planning, resource utilisation, performance management, reimbursement, research and epidemiology. It is used by NHS suppliers to build/update software to support NHS business functions and interoperability.
The classification consists of two volumes; Tabular List and Alphabetical Index. It is accessible in the NHS Classifications Browser at https://classbrowser.nhs.uk which also contains links to the National Clinical Coding Standards.
National information standards and data collections, such as Commissioning Data Sets requiring OPCS-4 coding should use the latest mandated version of the OPCS-4 as given in the table below:
| Year | Version of OPCS-4* |
| Up to 31 March 2006 | OPCS-4.2 |
| 01-Apr-2006 to 31-Mar-2007 | OPCS-4.3 |
| 01-Apr-2007 to 31-Mar-2009 | OPCS-4.4 |
| 01-Apr-2009 to 31-Mar-2011 | OPCS-4.5 |
| 01-Apr-2011 to 31-Mar-2014 | OPCS-4.6 |
| 01-Apr-2014 to 31-Mar-2017 | OPCS-4.7 |
| 01-Apr-2017 to 31-Mar-2020 | OPCS-4.8 |
| 01-Apr-2020 to 31-Mar-2023 | OPCS-4.9 |
| 01-Apr-2023 to 31-Mar-2026 | OPCS-4.10 |
| 01-Apr-2026 until further notification | OPCS-4.11 |
*Tables of Coding Equivalences are issued for mapping back to previous versions and are available from Technology Reference Update Distribution (TRUD).
For further information see the NHS England website at: Terminology and Classifications.
OPCS-4 Request Submission Portal
The OPCS-4 Request Submission Portal allows stakeholders to submit change requests to the Terminology and Classifications Delivery Service all year round. A cut-off date for receipt of change requests for consideration in the next release is published on the Request Submission Portal. Requests received after the cut-off date will be considered in a subsequent release.
For further information and access to the OPCS-4 Requests Portal, see the NHS England website at: Clinical Classifications.
Chemotherapy Regimens
The listings of Chemotherapy Regimens which are mapped to OPCS-4 codes are provided as look-up tables downloadable from Delen at Publications & Resources.
Also Known As
This Supporting Information is also known by these names:
| Context | Alias |
|---|---|
| Short name | OPCS-4 |
Where Used
| Type | Link | How used |
|---|---|---|
| NHS Business Definition | Anatomical Site | references in description OPCS Classification of Interventions and Procedures |
| Attribute | CLINICAL CLASSIFICATION CODE | references in description OPCS Classification of Interventions and Procedures |
| Data Element | DIAGNOSTIC PROCEDURE (OPCS) | references in description OPCS Classification of Interventions and Procedures |
| Data Element | HIGH COST DRUGS (OPCS) | references in description OPCS Classification of Interventions and Procedures |
| Attribute | IMAGING ANATOMICAL SITE | references in description OPCS Classification of Interventions and Procedures |
| Data Element | IMAGING ANATOMICAL SITE | references in description OPCS Classification of Interventions and Procedures |
| Data Element | INTENDED PRIMARY PROCEDURE (OPCS) | references in description OPCS Classification of Interventions and Procedures |
| Attribute | LOCAL TREATMENT CATEGORY CODE | references in description OPCS Classification of Interventions and Procedures |
| Data Element | LOCAL TREATMENT CATEGORY CODE | references in description OPCS Classification of Interventions and Procedures |
| NHS Business Definition | Multi-Disciplinary Consultation (National Tariff Payment System) | references in description OPCS Classification of Interventions and Procedures |
| NHS Business Definition | Multi-Professional Consultation (National Tariff Payment System) | references in description OPCS Classification of Interventions and Procedures |
| Data Element | OPCS-4 CODE | references in description OPCS Classification of Interventions and Procedures |
| Data Element | PRIMARY PROCEDURE (OPCS) | references in description OPCS Classification of Interventions and Procedures |
| Data Element | PROCEDURE (OPCS ON NEONATAL CRITICAL CARE DAILY CARE DATE) | references in description OPCS Classification of Interventions and Procedures |
| Data Element | PROCEDURE (OPCS RECORDED ON DISCHARGE FROM NEONATAL CRITICAL CARE) | references in description OPCS Classification of Interventions and Procedures |
| Attribute | PROCEDURE SCHEME IN USE | references in description OPCS Classification of Interventions and Procedures |
| Data Element | PROCEDURE SCHEME IN USE | references in description OPCS Classification of Interventions and Procedures |
| Data Element | PROCEDURE SCHEME IN USE (COMMISSIONING DATA SET) | references in description OPCS Classification of Interventions and Procedures |
| Data Element | RADIOTHERAPY ACTUAL PROCEDURE (OPCS) | references in description OPCS Classification of Interventions and Procedures |
| Data Element | RADIOTHERAPY ANATOMICAL TREATMENT SITE (OPCS) | references in description OPCS Classification of Interventions and Procedures |
| Attribute | RADIOTHERAPY ATTENDANCE ADDITIONAL PROCEDURE | references in description OPCS Classification of Interventions and Procedures |
| Attribute | RADIOTHERAPY PLAN OTHER PROCEDURE | references in description OPCS Classification of Interventions and Procedures |
| Data Element | RADIOTHERAPY PLAN PROCEDURE (OPCS) | references in description OPCS Classification of Interventions and Procedures |
| Supporting Information | Read Coded Clinical Terms | references in description OPCS Classification of Interventions and Procedures |
| Data Element | SARCOMA TUMOUR SITE (BONE) | references in description OPCS Classification of Interventions and Procedures |
| Data Element | SARCOMA TUMOUR SITE (SOFT TISSUE) | references in description OPCS Classification of Interventions and Procedures |
| NHS Business Definition | Systemic Anti-Cancer Therapy Drug Regimen | references in description OPCS Classification of Interventions and Procedures |