Question for GPs: Why is my practice using internal 'F' codes for a physical eye condition, and flagging it as a 'new episode' every year? (UK)
I am a patient trying to understand how my records are being coded.
The issue:
I have an existing, diagnosed physical eye condition. I have noticed that my GP practice does not use standard SNOMED CT codes for this. Instead, they repeatedly use internal codes that start with the letter 'F', which is the ICD-10 chapter for mental and behavioural disorders (F01-F99). Every time they use this internal code, they also mark it as a "New Episode" and under a new name.
So my physical eye condition was was marked in 2025 under F4B6 internal code "New Episode" and in 2026 again F4B71 "New Episode" every time under new name.
I have not been able to map F4B6 to any national code (e.g., standard SNOMED CT terminology).
My questions for GPs or practice managers are:
- Why would a GP practice use an internal code with an F prefix (the mental health chapter) to record a review of a long-term physical eye condition?
- What is the clinical or administrative purpose of marking this as a "New Episode" every year, rather than as an ongoing review for a chronic condition?
- What is the definition of the internal code F4B6- F4B7 in your practice's clinical system (e.g., EMIS or SystmOne)? I would like to request this from my practice.
I also would like to find out how to see my Summary History (with diagnoses - Major and active problems as well as additional section. They share it for referrals but I have no access to check if they share correct information and not using outdated diagnoses.
I am concerned that this coding practice is misleading. Any insight from healthcare professionals would be very helpful. Thank you.