Draft changes in the OPCS procedure coding classification are open for consultation in England

OPCS-4 is used to classify interventions and procedures performed within the NHS, supporting both statistical reporting and reimbursement mechanisms. It is updated on a three-year cycle to ensure alignment with evolving clinical practices.

On June 30, 2025, the Terminology and Classifications Service at NHS England released a draft summary of core changes between OPCS-4.10 and OPCS-4.11. All users of the classification are invited to review and provide feedback on these changes by the deadline of August 1, 2025.

NHS England receives OPCS-4 requests for change via the Requests Submission Portal. A total of 698 requests for change were evaluated for OPCS-4.11. 

The proposed changes comprise the following:

• Introduction of 64 new three-character (category) codes and 568 new four-character (subcategory) codes;
• Removal of 4 three-character codes and 54 four-character codes;
• Revisions to descriptions for 60 three-character and 435 four-character codes;
• Multiple updates to the chapter and code-specific notes.

The finalised changes will be published on November 1, 2025, and OPCS-4.11 will come into force on April 1, 2026.

See the full details here.

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