Records Management Code of Practice for Health and Social Care

The Code of Practice is a guide to the required standards of practice in the management of data, information and records for those who work within or under contract to NHS organisations in Scotland. It is based on current legal requirements and professional best practice.


Document Control Sheet

Title: Records Management Code of Practice for Health and Social Care
Date Issued: 16 August 2024
Effective From: 30 August 2024
Version Number: Version 4.0
Document Type: Code of Practice
Document status: Final
Author: Natali Higgins, Programme Lead – Records Management Code of Practice
Owner: Digital Health & Care Division, Scottish Government
Contact: DHCIG@gov.scot
Target Audience:
  • Records Management Leads,
  • Information Governance Leads,
  • Data Protection Officers,
  • Caldicott Guardians and
  • Senior Information Risk Owners
All with responsibility to ensure this is cascaded as appropriate.
Supersedes
  • Scottish Hospital Service Destruction of Hospital Records (SHM 58/60)
  • Disposal of Records That Have Lost Their Value (ECS (A) 21/1969)
  • Guidance for The Retention and Destruction of Health Records (MEL (1993) 152)
  • The Management; Retention and Disposal of Administrative Records (HDL (2006) 28)
  • Scottish Government Records Management: NHS Code of Practice (Scotland) Version 1.0 2008 (CEL 28 (2008))
  • Scottish Government Records Management: NHS Code of Practice (Scotland) Version 2.0 March 2010 (CEL 31 (2010))
  • Scottish Government Records Management: NHS Code of Practice (Scotland) Version 2.1 January 2012
  • Scottish Government Records Management: Health and Social Care Code of Practice (Scotland) 2020 (Version 3.0)

Distribution list: open access to this document is available via the Digital Health and Care Website https://www.digihealthcare.scot/resources/

Contact

Email: DHCIG@gov.scot

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