What is clinical coding and why is it important in the NHS?

Clinical coding is the process of translating patient diagnoses, treatments, and procedures into standardised classification systems such as ICD-10 and OPCS-4. In the NHS, accurate clinical coding is essential for Payment by Results (PbR) funding, clinical audits, national reporting, and healthcare planning. High-quality coding ensures patient activity is recorded correctly and supports safe, data-driven care delivery.