NCCQ UK THEORY PAST PAPER UPDATED ACTUAL
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
Question: 1.
The requirement for national collection of the use of fifth characters appears in which four ICD-10 4th
Edition chapters? Either chapter numbers (Arabic or Roman numeral) or full titles are acceptable. [3 Marks]
Answer:
Chapter IX (9) Diseases of the circulatory system Chapter X (10) Diseases of the respiratory system Chapter
XIII (13) Diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue Chapter XIX (19) Injury, poisoning
and certain other consequences of external causes
Question: 2.
The circumstances surrounding reactions to drug/medication are classified in two ways within ICD-10
Tabular List, Volume 1. Name both ways. [2 Marks]
Answer:
Poisoning (improper use) Adverse effect (proper use)
Question: 3.
What must a coder do if a surgical eponym is used in the medical record to de-
scribe a proce-
dure? [3 Marks]
Answer:
The coder must analyse the procedural information and ensure that code assignment fully reflects the
procedure performed. Where the coder is unsure what procedure the eponym describes, they must
seek advice from the responsible consultant to ensure that the correct codes are assigned.
,Question: 4.
When should site codes from Chapter Z be assigned? [1 Mark]
Answer:
They must always be assigned when this adds further information about the site on which the procedure was
performed
Question: 5.
What two conditions must be coded if a diagnosis of 'severe sepsis' alone is made by the clinician? No actual
codes are required. [2 Marks]
Answer:
(A41.9) Sepsis (unspecified) (R65.1) Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (SIRS) of infectious
origin with organ failure
Question: 6.
What is the standard regarding the use of the OPCS-4.7 code X35.1 Intravenous induction of labour? [1
Mark]
Answer:
It must never be used.
Question: 7.
On what occasion is it a mandatory requirement to assign an OPCS-4.7 general anaes-
thetic code? [1
Mark]
Answer:
When radiotherapy is delivered under general anaesthetic, a code from category Y80 General anaesthetic
must be assigned in addition to the radiotherapy delivery.
,Question: 8.
When should codes from ICD-10 category Z54.- Convalescence be assigned and how should they be
sequenced? No actual codes are required. [2 Marks]
Answer:
Never in primary. They must only be assigned in a secondary position when a patient has received
convalescence in a dedicated convalescent unit.
Question: 9.
How should an injury caused by a geriatric fall be coded? Describe the possible sequencing of these codes.
No actual codes are required. [4 Marks]
Answer:
Code classifying the injury sustained (from Chapter XIX). External cause code to describe the fall (from
categories W00-W19). (R29.6) Tendency to fall, (not elsewhere classified). In this sequence, unless the
patient remains in hospital for investigation of the falls and this becomes the primary focus of care, then this
code (R29.6) must be sequenced before the codes for the injury
Question: 10.
What must be coded when an excision and biopsy (excision biopsy) is performed on the
same site during
the same theatre
visit, and why?
No actual codes
are required. [2
Marks]
Answer:
Only assign a code(s) for the excision as a biopsy is an integral part of an excision.
, Question: 11.
When must codes from ICD-10 category Z38.- Liveborn infants according to place of birth be assigned in
the primary coding field? [1 Mark]
Answer:
If the baby is a completely well baby and has no morbid conditions that have been treated or investigated.
Question: 12.
During which procedure should OPCS-4.7 code X50.5 Evaluation of a cardiodefibrillator not be assigned
when carried out? No actual codes are required. [1 Mark]
Answer:
When testing is performed during the insertion of the cardioverter defibrillator (K59 Cardioverter
defibrillator introduced through the vein or K72 Other cardioverter defibrillator).
Question: 13.
What precise
wording, other
than 'status asth-
maticus', must
be present in the
medical records
to be able to
assign J46.X Sta-
tus asthmaticus?
[1 Mark]
Answer:
Acute severe asthma
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
Question: 1.
The requirement for national collection of the use of fifth characters appears in which four ICD-10 4th
Edition chapters? Either chapter numbers (Arabic or Roman numeral) or full titles are acceptable. [3 Marks]
Answer:
Chapter IX (9) Diseases of the circulatory system Chapter X (10) Diseases of the respiratory system Chapter
XIII (13) Diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue Chapter XIX (19) Injury, poisoning
and certain other consequences of external causes
Question: 2.
The circumstances surrounding reactions to drug/medication are classified in two ways within ICD-10
Tabular List, Volume 1. Name both ways. [2 Marks]
Answer:
Poisoning (improper use) Adverse effect (proper use)
Question: 3.
What must a coder do if a surgical eponym is used in the medical record to de-
scribe a proce-
dure? [3 Marks]
Answer:
The coder must analyse the procedural information and ensure that code assignment fully reflects the
procedure performed. Where the coder is unsure what procedure the eponym describes, they must
seek advice from the responsible consultant to ensure that the correct codes are assigned.
,Question: 4.
When should site codes from Chapter Z be assigned? [1 Mark]
Answer:
They must always be assigned when this adds further information about the site on which the procedure was
performed
Question: 5.
What two conditions must be coded if a diagnosis of 'severe sepsis' alone is made by the clinician? No actual
codes are required. [2 Marks]
Answer:
(A41.9) Sepsis (unspecified) (R65.1) Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (SIRS) of infectious
origin with organ failure
Question: 6.
What is the standard regarding the use of the OPCS-4.7 code X35.1 Intravenous induction of labour? [1
Mark]
Answer:
It must never be used.
Question: 7.
On what occasion is it a mandatory requirement to assign an OPCS-4.7 general anaes-
thetic code? [1
Mark]
Answer:
When radiotherapy is delivered under general anaesthetic, a code from category Y80 General anaesthetic
must be assigned in addition to the radiotherapy delivery.
,Question: 8.
When should codes from ICD-10 category Z54.- Convalescence be assigned and how should they be
sequenced? No actual codes are required. [2 Marks]
Answer:
Never in primary. They must only be assigned in a secondary position when a patient has received
convalescence in a dedicated convalescent unit.
Question: 9.
How should an injury caused by a geriatric fall be coded? Describe the possible sequencing of these codes.
No actual codes are required. [4 Marks]
Answer:
Code classifying the injury sustained (from Chapter XIX). External cause code to describe the fall (from
categories W00-W19). (R29.6) Tendency to fall, (not elsewhere classified). In this sequence, unless the
patient remains in hospital for investigation of the falls and this becomes the primary focus of care, then this
code (R29.6) must be sequenced before the codes for the injury
Question: 10.
What must be coded when an excision and biopsy (excision biopsy) is performed on the
same site during
the same theatre
visit, and why?
No actual codes
are required. [2
Marks]
Answer:
Only assign a code(s) for the excision as a biopsy is an integral part of an excision.
, Question: 11.
When must codes from ICD-10 category Z38.- Liveborn infants according to place of birth be assigned in
the primary coding field? [1 Mark]
Answer:
If the baby is a completely well baby and has no morbid conditions that have been treated or investigated.
Question: 12.
During which procedure should OPCS-4.7 code X50.5 Evaluation of a cardiodefibrillator not be assigned
when carried out? No actual codes are required. [1 Mark]
Answer:
When testing is performed during the insertion of the cardioverter defibrillator (K59 Cardioverter
defibrillator introduced through the vein or K72 Other cardioverter defibrillator).
Question: 13.
What precise
wording, other
than 'status asth-
maticus', must
be present in the
medical records
to be able to
assign J46.X Sta-
tus asthmaticus?
[1 Mark]
Answer:
Acute severe asthma
