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International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems

A comprehensive classification of causes of morbidity and mortality which is published by the World Health Organization (WHO).

About this standard

Publisher
NHS England
Also known as
  • ICD-10
Reference code
SCCI0021 Amd 10/2014
Publication date
18/09/2015
Status
Active
Show definitions of statuses

Active. Active standards are stable, maintained and have been approved, assured or endorsed for use by qualified bodies.

Deprecated Deprecated standards are available for use and are maintained, but are being phased out, so new functionality will not be added.

Retired standards Retired standards are not being maintained or supported and should not be used.

Standard type
  • Information standards
Show definitions of standard types

Collections. A Collection is a systematic gathering of a specified selection of data or information for a particular stated purpose from existing records held within health and care systems and electronic devices.

Extractions. An extraction is a type of collection that is pulled from an operational system by the data controller and transmitted to the receiver without additional processing or transcription by the sender.

Information standards. Information standards are agreed ways of doing something, written down as a set of precise criteria so they can be used as rules, guidelines, or definitions.

Technical Standards and specifications. Technical standards and specifications specify how to make information available technically including how the data is structured and transported.

Contact point

Link to standard

Documentation
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Applies to
  • The following bodies must have regard to this information standard:
  • The Secretary of State
  • NHS England
  • Public bodies exercising functions in connection with health services or adult social care
  • Anyone providing publicly funded health services or adult social care commissioned by or on behalf of a public body
  • In addition, this information standard applies to:
  • NHS IT system and software suppliers who build/update software to support NHS business functions and interoperability
  • Public sector organisations providing information support to NHS healthcare providers
Impacts on
This release of ICD-10 supersedes the former Information Standards Board (ISB) approved standard, ISB 0021 Amd 86/2010 ICD-10 4th edition.
Associated medias
Conformance date
01/04/2016
Effective from
01/04/2016

Topics and care settings

Topic
  • Data definitions and terminologies
  • Reference data
Care setting
  • Ambulance (Urgent and Emergency Care)
  • Community health
  • GP / Primary care
  • Hospital
  • Maternity
  • Mental health
  • Social care
  • Urgent and Emergency Care

Dependencies and related standards

Related standards

Review Information

Scope
Health Services; NHS Services; Adult Social Care
Sponsor
  • Sean Kirwan, Department of Health

Senior Responsible Officer

Peter Counter, Chief Technical Officer, Health and Social Care Information Centre

Business Lead
  • Lynn Bracewell, Head of Terminologies and Classification Development, Health and Social Care Information Centre
Approval date
03/09/2015
Post Implementation review Date
01/10/2016

Legal basis and endorsements

Legal authority
  • Section 250 of the Health and Social Care Act 2012

    This information standard is published under section 250 of the Health and Social Care Act 2012

More information

ICD-10 permits the systematic analysis, interpretation and comparison of morbidity data collected in different areas. The specified purpose of ICD-10 is to provide a means of classifying diagnoses and is defined as a system of categories to which morbid entries are assigned according to established criteria.

About this change

This release introduces the 5th edition of ICD-10. It contains updates released by WHO but not yet implemented in the UK.

This update to the standard is a continuance of the regular review and uplift to ICD-10 in line with the recommended best practice of keeping clinical classifications aligned with advances in health care.

Page last updated: 21 June 2024