Read Code support for West Lincolnshire

West Lincolnshire 2004

When Anna Pastuszko joined West Lincolnshire PCT* as a PRIMIS+ facilitator in 2000, she quickly identified a need to help the GP practices in her area with Read coding.

By providing the latest information and updated training on Read codes, and by developing 'preferred' Read code lists along with other PRIMIS+ facilitators across Lincolnshire, Anna set up the help that the practices required. Although successful, this method of supporting practices' needs proved very labour intensive, particularly as Anna looks after the interests of 40 GP practices with nine different clinical systems.

Anna then began to develop a suite of web pages on Read codes, which would ensure that everyone within her area could get information whenever they needed it, without having to wait for the next training day. Based within the West Lincolnshire PCT's website, Anna's Read code pages are informative, easy to use and kept fully up-to-date. The introductory page flags up new changes or updates, and when changes do occur, all practice managers and nominated data quality leads are automatically informed via an email-based mailshot. The website includes information on:

• The importance of data quality

• Read code structures

• Preferred Read codes

• PRIMIS+

• Clinical systems in the PCT

• Other useful information

* Since this case study was first produced, West Lincolnshire PCT was amalgamated into Lincolnshire Teaching PCT, following the 2006 PCT restructuring.