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Read Code Training

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Summary

Read Code Training helps Scottish primary care staff develop the knowledge and confidence needed to code clinical information accurately and consistently within GP practice systems.

This practical course supports staff who use Read Codes in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, where Read Coding remains relevant to clinical record keeping and practice workflows. It is designed as the regional sibling to our SNOMED Coding Training, which is more relevant for practices in England.

Participants explore how Read Codes are structured, how Version 2 and CTV3 differ, and how codes are used to record processes of care, diagnoses and drug-related information. The course also covers searching techniques, resolved codes, coding accuracy and common areas of confusion when working with clinical records.

This Read Code Training course is especially useful for staff involved in coding, summarising, workflow management and maintaining accurate patient records within Scottish GP practices.

This course complements our SNOMED Coding Training, GP Note Summarising Training, Essential Medical Terminology and wider Primary Care Administration Training programmes.

For further context on clinical terminology, delegates may also find the NHS clinical terminology guidance useful.

Aims

This Read Code Training course helps Scottish primary care staff develop the knowledge and confidence needed to code clinical information accurately, consistently and safely using Read Codes and CTV3.

  • Understand the purpose and structure of Read Codes within primary care
  • Recognise the differences between Read Version 2 and CTV3
  • Understand how Read Codes support patient records, audits and reporting
  • Develop effective techniques for searching and locating appropriate codes
  • Understand the three core Read Coding chapters: Processes of Care, Diagnoses and Drugs
  • Apply coding principles to realistic primary care scenarios
  • Recognise common coding errors and how to avoid them
  • Understand when and how resolved codes may be used
  • Improve consistency and accuracy when recording clinical information
  • Develop confidence in maintaining high-quality patient records

By the end of the course, participants will be better able to make safe and accurate coding decisions that support effective patient care and record management.

Who Should Attend?

This course is designed for staff working within Scottish primary care settings who are responsible for coding, summarising or managing clinical information.

  • Clinical Coders
  • Note Summarisers
  • Medical Administrators
  • Workflow Administrators
  • Medical Secretaries
  • Practice Administrators
  • Reception Managers
  • Primary Care Support Staff
  • Staff working with Vision and other Scottish GP systems
  • Anyone responsible for maintaining accurate patient records

The course is particularly valuable for staff seeking to improve coding accuracy, consistency and confidence when working with Read Codes.

Additional Information

The full course curriculum is detailed below.

Read Code Training Course Overview

This Read Code Training course provides a practical introduction to Read Coding structures, coding principles and safe record management within Scottish primary care.

Introduction to Read Coding

  • Understanding the development and history of Read Codes
  • Exploring how Read Codes support clinical record keeping
  • Recognising the role of coding in patient care, audits and reporting
  • Understanding where Read Coding is used across the UK
  • Recognising the relationship between Read Coding and SNOMED CT

Understanding Read Code Structure

  • Understanding bytes and hierarchical coding structures
  • Exploring how codes become more specific as additional characters are added
  • Recognising the importance of coding precision
  • Understanding five-byte codes and coding hierarchy
  • Applying structure knowledge to practical examples

Read Version 2 and CTV3

  • Understanding the differences between Read Version 2 and Clinical Terms Version 3
  • Recognising strengths and limitations of each system
  • Understanding coding hierarchies and redundancy issues
  • Exploring how CTV3 addressed limitations within earlier coding structures
  • Recognising coding considerations within Scottish practices

Finding the Right Code

  • Using whole-word searches effectively
  • Searching using partial words and multiple terms
  • Understanding abbreviations, synonyms and eponyms
  • Improving search accuracy and efficiency
  • Reducing coding errors through better search techniques

Dates and Coding Decisions

  • Understanding which date should be used when coding correspondence
  • Recognising the difference between procedure dates and discharge dates
  • Applying coding dates to realistic examples
  • Reducing errors associated with hospital letters and clinical documents
  • Improving consistency across patient records

Processes of Care Codes

Read Code Training helps participants understand how Process of Care codes are used to record examinations, investigations, referrals, monitoring activities and administrative actions.

  • Occupations, histories and symptoms
  • Examinations and signs
  • Diagnostic investigations and results
  • Pathology and radiology coding
  • Preventative procedures and monitoring
  • Referrals and administration codes

Diagnosis Codes

  • Understanding diagnosis chapters and disease groupings
  • Recognising infectious diseases, endocrine disorders and cardiovascular conditions
  • Understanding symptoms, signs and ill-defined conditions
  • Recognising NEC and NOS terminology
  • Understanding hospital-derived codes and their appropriate use

Drug Codes

  • Understanding medication coding structures
  • Recognising differences between drug codes and procedure codes
  • Understanding vaccine and vaccination coding distinctions
  • Exploring drug chapter classifications
  • Understanding system-generated coding processes

Resolved Codes and Record Accuracy

Throughout this Read Code Training programme, participants explore when resolved codes may be appropriate and understand the importance of obtaining clinical approval before altering disease registers.

  • Understanding resolved codes
  • Recognising appropriate and inappropriate use
  • Understanding the impact on disease registers
  • Maintaining accurate patient histories
  • Supporting high-quality clinical records

Practical Read Coding Exercises

  • Working through realistic coding examples
  • Identifying the correct chapter and code type
  • Applying coding principles to common primary care scenarios
  • Recognising common mistakes and coding pitfalls
  • Building confidence in coding decisions

Applying Learning in Practice

  • Reviewing key learning points
  • Identifying opportunities to improve coding quality
  • Supporting consistency across teams
  • Improving patient record quality
  • Developing confidence in day-to-day coding activities

This Read Code Training course helps participants develop practical coding skills that support accurate records, safer patient care and improved information quality within Scottish primary care.

This course complements our SNOMED Coding Training, GP Note Summarising Training, Essential Medical Terminology and wider Primary Care Administration Training programmes.

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Read Code Training
SE Open - 13th May 2026

6 delegates completed evaluations, each scoring 4 domains out of 6

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