Scottish Government Records Management: NHS Code Of Practice (Scotland) Version 2.1 January 2012

Adult

6 years after date of last entry or 3 years after death if earlier

All types of records relating to Children and young people (including children's and young person's Mental Health Records)

Retain until the patient's 25th birthday or 26th if young person was 17 at conclusion of treatment, or 3 years after death.

If the illness or death could have potential relevance to adult conditions or have genetic implications, the advice of clinicians should be sought as to whether to retain for a longer period.

Mentally disordered person (within the meaning of any Mental Health Act )

20 years after date of last contact between the patient/client/service user and any health/care professional employed by the mental health provider, or 3 years after the death of the patient/client/service user if sooner and the patient died while in the care of the organisation.

N.B.NHS organisations may wish to keep mental health records for up to 30 years before review. Records must be kept as complete records for the first 20 years in accordance with this retention schedule but records may then be summarised and kept in summary format for the additional 10-year period.

Social services records are retained for a longer period. Where there is a joint mental health and social care record, the higher of the two retention periods should be adopted.

When the records come to the end of their retention period, they must be reviewed and not automatically destroyed. Such a review should take into account any genetic implications of the patient's illness. If it is decided to retain the records, they should be subject to regular review.

A&E records (where

these are stored

separately from the

main patient record)

Retain according to the standard minimum retention period appropriate to the patient/specialty (see above table at pages 46-47)

A&E registers (where they exist in paper format)

8 years after the year to which they relate.

Likely to have archival

value - see footnote

Abortion - Certificates set out in Schedule 1 to the Abortion (Scotland)

Regulations 1991

3 years beginning with the date of the termination

Admission books

(where they exist in

paper format)

8 years after the last entry

Likely to have archival

value - see footnote

Ambulance records - patient identifiable

Component (including paramedic records made on behalf of the Ambulance Service)

7 years

Asylum seekers and

refugees ( NHS personal health record - patient held record)

Special NHS record - patient held, no requirement on the NHS to retain.

Audiology records

Retain according to the standard minimum retention period appropriate to the patient/specialty (see above table at pages 46-47)

Birth registers (ie register of births kept by the hospital)

2 years

Likely to have archival

value - see footnote

Body release forms

2 years

Breast screening X-rays

8 years

Cervical screening

slides

10 years

Chaplaincy records

2 years

Likely to have archival

value - see footnote

Child and family

guidance

Retain according to the standard minimum retention period appropriate to the patient/specialty (see above table at pages 46-47)

Child Protection

Register (records relating to)

Retain until the patient's 26th birthday

Clinical audit records

5 years

Clinical psychology

30 years

Clinical trials of

investigational

medicinal products - health records of

participants that are the source data for the trial

For trials to be included in regulatory submissions: At least 2 years after the last approval of a marketing application in the EU. These documents should be retained for a longer period, however, if required by the applicable regulatory requirement(s) or by agreement with the Sponsor. It is the responsibility of the Sponsor/someone on behalf of the Sponsor to inform the investigator/institution as to when these documents no longer need to be retained. For trials which are not to be used in regulatory submissions: At least 5 years after completion of the trial. These documents should be retained for a longer period if required by the applicable regulatory requirement(s), the Sponsor or the funder of the trial, In either case, if the period appropriate to the specialty is greater, this is the minimum retention period.

Likely to have research value see footnote

Counselling records

30 years

Likely to have research/ historical value see footnote

Death - Cause of, Certificate counterfoils

2 years

Death registers - i.e. register of deaths kept by the hospital, where they exist in paper format

2 years

Likely to have archival

value - see footnote

Dental epidemiological surveys

30 years

Dental and auditory screening records

Adults: 11 years

Children: 11 years, or up to 25th birthday, whichever is the longer

Diaries - health visitors and district nurses

2 years after end of year to which diary relates.

Patient relevant information should be transferred to the patient record.

It is not good practice to record patient

identifiable information

in diaries.

Dietetic and nutrition

Retain according to the standard minimum retention period appropriate to the patient/specialty (see above table at pages 46-47)

Discharge books

(where they exist in paper format)

8 years after the last entry

Likely to have archival

value - see footnote

Disposal of Foetal Tissue (under 24 weeks) Records

30 years

District nursing records

Retain according to the standard minimum retention period appropriate to the patient/specialty (see above table at pages 46-47)

Donor records (blood

and tissue)

30 years post transplantation

Likely to have research/ historical value see footnote

Family planning

records

10 years after the closure of the case

For children retain until their 25 ^th Birthday

Forensic medicine

records (including

pathology, toxicology,

haematology, dentistry, DNA testing, post mortems forming part of the Procurator Fiscal's report, and human tissue kept as part of the forensic record) See also Human tissue, Post

mortem registers

Records should be retained for 30 years.

The exception is for post mortem records which form part of the Procurator Fiscal's report, where approval should be sought from the PF for a copy of the report to be incorporated in the patient's notes, which should then be kept in line with the specialty, and then reviewed.

In cases where criminal proceedings are anticipated documentation is not normally entered in to the patient records.

Likely to have research/ historical value see footnote

Genetic records

30 years from date of last attendance.

Likely to have research/ historical value see footnote

Genito Urinary Medicine ( GUM)

Store according to the standard minimum retention period appropriate to the patient/specialty (see above table at pages 46-47)

GP records, including

medical records

relating to HM Armed Forces

Retain for the lifetime of the patient and for 3 years after their death.

Records relating to those serving in HM Armed Forces - The Ministry of Defence (MoD) retains a copy of the records relating to service medical history. The patient may request a copy of these under the Data Protection Act ( DPA), and may, if they choose, give them to their GP. GPs should also receive summary records when ex-Service personnel register with them. What GPs do with them is a matter for their professional judgement, taking into account clinical need and Data Protection Act requirements- they should not, for example, retain information that is not relevant to their clinical care of the patient.

GP records of serving military personnel in existence prior to them enlisting must not be destroyed. Following the death of the patient the records should be retained for 3 years.

*Electronic Patient Records ( EPRs)- GP only- must not be destroyed, or deleted, for the foreseeable future

*The rationale for this is explained in ' SCIMP Good Practice Guidelines for General Practice Electronic

Patient Records - section 6.1' (currently under review)

Health visitor records

10 years

Records relating to children should

be retained until their 25th birthday

Homicide/ 'serious

untoward incident' records

30 years

Likely to have research/ historical value see footnote

Hospital acquired

infection records

6 years

Human fertilisation

records, including

embryology records

Treatment Centres

1. If a live child is not born, records should be kept for at least 8 years after conclusion of treatment

2. If a live child is born, records shall be kept for at least 25 years after the child's birth

3. If there is no evidence whether a child was born or not, records must be kept for at least 50 years after the information was first recorded

Storage Centres

Where gametes etc have been used in research, records must be kept for at least 50 years after the information was first recorded.

Research Centres

Records are to be kept for 3 years from the date of final report of results/conclusions to Human Fertilisation and Embryology

Authority ( HFEA)

Likely to have research value see footnote

Human tissue (within the meaning of the Human Tissue (Scotland) Act 2006) (see Forensic medicine above)

For post mortem records which form part of the Procurator Fiscal's report, approval should be sought from the Procurator Fiscal for a copy of the report to be incorporated in the patient's notes, which should then be kept in line with the specialty, and then reviewed.

Likely to have research value see footnote

Intensive Care Unit charts

Retain according to the standard minimum retention period appropriate to the patient/specialty (see above table at pages 46-47)

Joint replacement records

For joint replacement surgery the revision of a primary replacement may be required after 10 years to identify which prosthesis was used.

Only need to retain minimum of notes with specific information about the prosthesis.

Likely to have research value see footnote

Learning difficulties -(records of patients with)

Retain for 3 years after the death of the individual.

Macmillan (cancer care) patient records - community and acute

Retain according to the standard minimum retention period appropriate to the patient/specialty (see above table at pages 46-47)

Maternity (all obstetric and midwifery records, including those of episodes of maternity care that end in stillbirth or where the child later dies)

25 years after the birth of the last child

Medical illustrations (see Photographs below)

Retain according to the standard minimum retention period appropriate to the patient/specialty (see above table at pages 46-47)

Mentally disordered persons (within the meaning of any Mental Health Act )

Retain according to the standard minimum retention period appropriate to the patient/specialty (see above table at pages 46-47)

Microfilm/microfiche records relating to patient care

Retain according to the standard minimum retention period appropriate to the patient/specialty

(see above table at pages 46-47)

Likely to have archival

value - see footnote

Midwifery records

25 years after the birth of the last child

Mortuary registers (where they exist in paper format)

10 years

Likely to have research/ historical value see footnote

Music therapy records

Retain according to the standard minimum retention period appropriate to the patient/specialty (see above table at pages 46-47)

Neonatal screening records

25 years

Notifiable diseases book

6 years

Occupational Health Records (staff)

6 years after termination of employment

Ophthalmic records

Adults: 7 years

Children: 7 years, or up to 25th birthday, whichever is the longer

Health Records for

classified persons under medical surveillance

50 years from the date of the last entry or age 75, whichever is the longer

Likely to have research/ historical value see footnote

Personal exposure of an identifiable employee

monitoring record

40 years from exposure date

Likely to have research/ historical value see footnote

Personnel health records under occupational surveillance

40 years from last entry on the record

Likely to have research/ historical value see footnote

Radiation dose records for classified persons

50 years from the date of the last entry or age 75, whichever is the longer

Likely to have research/ historical value see footnote

Occupational therapy records

Retain according to the standard minimum retention period appropriate to the patient/specialty (see above table at pages 46-47)

Oncology (including

radiotherapy)

30 years

N.B. Records should be retained on a computer database if possible.

Also consider the need for permanent preservation for research purposes.

Likely to have research value see footnote

Operating theatre

registers

8 years after the year to which they relate

Likely to have historical

value - see footnote

Orthoptic records

Retain according to the standard minimum retention period appropriate to the patient/specialty (see above table at pages 46-47)

Out of hours records ( GP cover), including video, DVD and voice recordings (clinician to patient)

Where the primary purpose of the voice recording is for patient triage and the output is recorded within the patients paper or electronic record (which is then retained according to the standard minimum retention period for the patient/specialty at pages 46-47) the audio recording need only be retained for 7 years

Outpatient lists (where

they exist in paper format)

2 years after the year to which they relate

Parent held records

There should be a copy kept at the NHS organisation responsible for delivering that care and compiling the record of the care.

The records should then be retained until the patient's 25th birthday, or 26th birthday if the young person was 17 at the conclusion of treatment, or 3 years after death

Accreditation documents; records of Inspections

10 years or until superseded

Batch records results

10 years

Bound copies of reports/records, if made

30 years

Correspondence on patients

This should be lodged in the patient's record, if feasible. However this is often beyond the control of the laboratory, particularly for case referred distantly, and ensuring entry into the patients notes is not primarily the responsibility of laboratory staff. Otherwise, keep for at least 30 years; this may be most conveniently done in association with stored paper or scanned copy of the relevant specimen request and/or report kept by the relevant laboratory.

Day books and other records of specimens received by a laboratory

2 years from specimen receipt

Equipment/instruments maintenance logs, records of service

inspections

Lifetime of instrument; minimum of 10 years

Procurement, use, modification and supply records relevant to production of

products (diagnostics)

or equipment

Comprehensive records relevant to procurement, use, modification and supply: 10 years.

External quality control

Records

Subscribing laboratories or individuals, 5 years to ensure continuity of data available for laboratory accreditation purposes. Records will be kept for longer periods by organisations providing external quality assessment schemes.

Internal quality control

Records

10 years

Lab file cards or other

working records of test

results for named patients

1 year from specimen receipt if all results transcribed into a separately issued and stored formal report. Otherwise, they should be kept as for worksheets over. The diversity of these types of working records is very wide; within specialties and departments, consideration should be given to the potential audit or medico- legal value of storing such working records for 30 years, as for other primary records.

Mortuary Registers

30 years

Near-patient test data

Result in patient record, log retained for lifetime of instrument

Pathological

archive/museum

catalogues

For as long as the specimens are held or until the catalogue is updated, subject to consent where required, (with maintained and accessible documentation of consent)

Photographic records

Where images represent a primary source of information for the diagnostic process, whether conventional photographs or digital images, they should be kept for at least 30 years.

Records of telephoned Reports

Note of the fact and date/time that a telephone or fax report has been issued should be added to the laboratory electronic records of the relevant report, or to hard copies and kept for a minimum of 5 years. Where management advice is discussed in telephone calls, a summarised transcript should be retained long term, as for the retention of other correspondence. Clinical information or management advice provide by fax, in addition of pure transmission of report, should also be kept as correspondence in the patient note and/or stored with a laboratory copy of the specimen request/report for 30 years.

Records relating to cell/tissue transplantation

Records not otherwise kept or issued to patient records that relate to investigations or storage of specimens relevant to cell/tissue transplantation, including donated organs from deceased individuals should be kept for at least 30 years or the lifetime of the recipient, whichever is the longer.

Records relating to investigation or storage of specimens relevant to organ transplantation, semen or ova

30 years if not held with health record

Reports and copies (physical or electronic)

6 months or as needed for operational procedures. Where copies represent a means of communication or aide memoire, for example at a multi-disciplinary meeting or case conference, they may be disposed of when that function is complete. Copies of reports sent by fax, with accompanying details of the date and times of transmission, and the intended recipient, should be retained in conjunction with the matching specimen reports and stored long-term by the laboratory. Any such copies generated to substitute for an original report ( e.g. if an original is misplaced) should be retained as for the original.

Reports, copies

Post mortem reports

The report should be lodged in patient's record; in the case of Procurator Fiscal reports this is dependant on the PF's approval. Electronic or hard copy should be kept at least 30 years with maintained accessibility. In addition to accessible indexing of paper copies, there must be continuation of access to e-copies when laboratory, computer systems are upgraded or replaced. This guidance applies equally to rapid, short reports that maybe prepared for the PF, summarising cause of death and to the final reports of post-mortem examinations.

Request forms that are not a unique record

Request forms should be kept until the authorised report, or reports on investigation arising from it, have been received by the requestor. As this period of time may vary with local circumstances, no minimum retention time is recommended, request forms need not to be kept for more than one month after the final checked report has been despatched. For many uncomplicated requests, retention of 1 week will suffice.

Request forms that contain clinical information not readily available in the health record

30 years

Where the request form is used to record working notes or as a worksheet, it should be retained as part of the laboratory record.

Standard operating procedures

(both current and outdated protocols)

30 years

Surgical (histological) reports

Copy lodged in patients notes. Electronic or hard copy to be kept for at least 30 years by the laboratory with maintained accessibility of e- copies when laboratory, computer systems are upgraded or replaced.

Body fluids/aspirates/swabs

Keep for 48 hours after the final report has been issued by the laboratory, unless sample deterioration precludes storage.

Blocks for electron microscopy

30 years

Electrophoretic strips and immunofixation plates

Keep for 5 years, unless digital images are taken, if digital images of adequate quality for diagnosis are taken, then the original preparations may be discarded after 2 years. The images should then be stored under "photographic records" bearing in mind the need to maintain the ability to read archived digital images when equipment is updated.

Foetal serum

Because of its rarity and value for future research, wherever possible foetal serum should be kept for at least 30 years.

Frozen tissue for immediate histological assessment (frozen section)

Stained microscope slides should be kept for a minimum of 10 years.

Frozen tissues or cells for histochemical or molecular genetic analysis

10 years and preferably longer if storage facilities permit.

Grids for electron microscopy

Requirements in different specialties differ. Grids prepared for human tissue diagnosis ( e.g. renal, muscle, nerve, or tumour) should be kept for 10 years; preferably longer if practicable. Grids prepared for virus identification may be discarded 48 hours after the final report has been issued, provided that all derived images are retained and remain accessible for at least 30 years.

Human DNA

4 weeks after final report for diagnostic specimens. 30 years for family studies for genetic disorders (consent required)

Microbiological cultures

24-28 days after final report of a positive culture issued. 7 days for certain specified cultures - see RCPath document

Museum specimens (teaching collections)

Permanently. Consent of the relative is required if it is tissue

Newborn blood spot screening cards

A minimum of 5 years storage is indicated for quality assurance purposes, with longer term storage recommended in accordance with the Code of Practice of the UK Newborn Screening Programme Centre (2005). See here for more information.

Paraffin blocks

Storage for at least 30 years is recommended, if facilities permit. If not, review the need for archiving at 10 years (and at similar intervals thereafter) and select representative blocks, showing the relevant pathology for permanent retention. Blocks representing rare pathologies and those (including representative normal tissue) from patients of diseases known or thought likely to have an inherited genetic pre-disposition should be particularly considered for permanent retention. Wherever possible, storage of all histology blocks should be for the full minimum of 30 years.

Plasma and serum

Keep for 48 hours after the final report has been issued by the laboratory.

Records relating to donor or recipient sera

Serum samples obtained from recipient (s) for the purposes of matching in cell/tissue transplantation, and their accompanying records, must be kept for the lifetime of the recipient.

Serum from first pregnancy booking visit

Should be kept by microbiology/virology and other relevant laboratories to provide a baseline for further serological or other tests for infections or other disease during pregnancy and the first 12 months after delivery. Because of rarity and value to future research, wherever possible, foetal serum (from cordocentesis) should be kept for at least 30 years.

Stained slides

Appropriate retention times depend on their nature and purpose. Relevant guidance on minimum retention periods can be found here.

Note that where sections are likely to contain intact human cells, or are intended to be representative of whole cells, they constitute "relevant material" under the Human Tissue act 2004; further information can be found here.

Wet tissue (representative aliquot or whole tissue or organ)

For surgical specimens from living patients, keep for 4 weeks after issue of final report. For cases in which a supplementary report is anticipated after additional tests, (such as various molecular investigations or referral for expert opinion), which may occasionally exceed this period, arrangements should exist to ensure that individual specimens are retained until the additional report has been finalised.

Whole blood samples, for full blood count

24 hours

Annual reports (where required by EU directive)

15 years

Autopsy reports, specimens, archive material and other where the deceased has been the subject of Procurator Fiscals autopsy

Procurators Fiscal have absolute dominion over autopsy reports. They are confidential to them and may not be released without their consent to any third party. It is good practice to lodge copies of the autopsy report in the deceased patient's health record but the consent of the procurator fiscal should be obtained.

Blood bank register, blood component audit trail and fates

30 years to allow full traceability of all blood products used.

The data may be held in electronic form if robust archiving arrangements are in place. For hospital laboratories the records should include:

Blood component supplier identification;

Issued blood component identification;

Transfused recipient identification;

For blood units not transfused, confirmation of subsequent disposition (discard/other use);

Lot number (s) of derived component (s) if relevant;

Date of transfusion or disposition (day, month and year).

Blood for grouping, antibody screening and saving and/or cross-matching

1 week at 4° C

Forensic material - criminal cases

Permanently - not part of the health record.

In cases where criminal proceedings can be anticipated, all recording made at the autopsy, be the hand written notes (by everyone, i.e. pathologist, technician, trainee, etc), tape recordings, drawings or photographs, are all documentary records and as such their existence must be declared (disclosed). They must be available to all involved throughout the lifetime of the case, including appeals and other re-investigations.

Refrigeration and freezer charts

15 years

Request forms for grouping, antibody screening and cross-matching

1 month

Results of grouping, antibody screening and other blood transfusion-related tests

30 years to allow full traceability of all blood products used, in compliance with the Blood Safety and Quality Regulations 2005.

Separated serum/plasma, stored for transfusion purposes

No minimum storage time is recommended for recipient patient samples. Storage of donated serum/plasma should optimally be at -30 degrees Centigrade or colder. These materials may be stored for up to 6 months, but guidelines for the timeline of sample collection prior to blood transfusion must be followed. Archived blood donor samples should be stored by blood services for at least 3 years, and preferable longer if it is practicable, in order to facilitate 'look back' exercises.

Storage of material following analyses of nucleic acids

Developing technologies mean that there are now a variety of hard copy and/or electronic outputs associated with the analysis and interpretation of diagnostic tests using nucleic acid. It is recommended that all such outputs should be stored for at least 30 years unless the information is transcribed into permanently accessible report formats authorised by senior clinical laboratory staff or pathologists. The later reports should be kept for at least 30 years, as for other pathology reports may be regarded as reporting documents. For such working documents storage for at least the instrument, with a minimum of 10 years is recommended.

Worksheets

30 years to allow full traceability of all blood products used

Patient held records

At the end of an episode of care the NHS organisation responsible for delivering that care and compiling the record of the care must make appropriate arrangements to retrieve patient-held records. The records should then be retained for the period appropriate to the patient/specialty (see Above).

Chemotherapy

2 years after last treatment

Clinical drug trials (non-sponsored)

2 years after completion of trial

GP10, TTOs, outpatient, private

2 years

N.B. Inpatient prescriptions held as part of health record.

Immunoglobulins/ blood products

30 years

To allow full traceability of all blood products used

Parenteral nutrition

2 years

Original valid prescription to be held with the health record.

Unlicensed medicines dispensing record

5 years

Destruction records

2 years after end of trail

Dispensing records

2 years

Production batch records

5 years after end of trial

Protocols

2 years

Chemotherapy, aseptics worksheets,

5 years

Extemporaneous dispensing records

5 years

Parenteral nutrition, production batch records

5 years

Production batch records

5 years

Raw material request and control forms

5 years

Resuscitation box worksheet

1 year after the expiry of the longest data item Applies only to re-packaged items.

Paediatric worksheets

As per Children and Young People (see Above)

Analysis certificates

5 years or 1 year after expiry date of batch (whichever is longer)

Environmental monitoring results

1 year after expiry date of products

As electronic record in perpetuity

Equipment validation

Lifetime of the equipment

Operators validation

Duration of employment

QC Documentation,

5 years or 1 year after expiry date of batch (whichever is longer)

Refrigerator temperature

1 year

Refrigerator records to be retained for the life of any product stored therein particularly vaccines

Standard operating procedures

15 years after superseded by revised version

As electronic record in perpetuity

Aspectic controlled drugs worksheets (paediatric)

26 years

Controlled drugs, Clinical trails

5 Years

Controlled drug destruction records (pharmacy based)/destruction of patients' own CD's

7 years

Controlled drug prescriptions ( TTOs/ OP)

2 years

Controlled drug order books, ward orders and requisitions

2 years from date of last entry

Controlled drug registers (pharmacy and ward based)

2 years from date of last entry, but best practice to keep for 7 years

Copy of signature for CD ward order or requisition

Duration of employment

Copy of signature of each authorised signatory should be available in the pharmacy department

Extemporaneous controlled drugs preparation worksheets

13 years

External controlled drug orders and delivery notes

2 years

Destruction of patients' own drugs

6 months

Dispensing errors

1 year plus current

Doctors/nurses signatures

Duration of contract plus one year

Medicines information enquiry

8 years (25 years for child obstetrics and gynaecology enquiries)

Minor clinical interventions

2 years

Recall documentation

5 years

Stock check list

1 year plus current

Superseded group directions

10 years

Superseded intravenous drug administration monographs

5 years

Photographs (where the photograph refers to a particular patient it should be treated as part of the health record)

Retain according to the standard minimum retention period appropriate to the patient/specialty (see Above)

Physiotherapy records

Retain according to the standard minimum retention period appropriate to the patient/specialty (see Above)

Podiatry records

Retain according to the standard minimum retention period appropriate to the patient/specialty (see Above)

Post mortem records (see Pathology records

Post mortem registers (where they exist in paper format)

30 years

Likely to have archival

value - see footnote

Private patient records admitted under section 57 of the National Health Service (Scotland) Act 1978 or section 5 of the National Health Service (Scotland) Act 1947 (now repealed)

It would be appropriate for authorities to retain these according to the standard minimum retention period appropriate to the patient/specialty (see above)

Psychology Records

30 years

Likely to have research/ historical value see footnote

Records/documents related to any litigation

As advised by the organisation's legal advisor. All records to be reviewed.

Likely to have research/ historical value see footnote

Records of destruction of individual health records (case notes) and other health related records contained in this retention schedule (in manual or computer format)

Permanently

Likely to have research/ historical value see footnote

Research records

1. Other than clinical trials of investigational medicinal products, health records of participants that are the source data for the research

30 years

See Footnote Review patient identifiable records every 5 years to see if they need to be retained or if their identifiably could be reduced.

2. Research records and research databases (not patient specific)

For clinical trials of investigational medicinal products, at least 2 years after the last approval of a marketing application in the EU. These documents should be retained for a longer period, however, if required by the applicable regulatory requirement(s) or by agreement with the sponsor. It is the responsibility of the sponsor/someone on behalf of the sponsor to inform the investigator/institution as to when these documents no longer need retained.

For research records other than for clinical trials of investigational medicinal products, as above.

Likely to have research value see footnote

Scanned records relating to patient care

Retain in main records and retain for the period of time according to the standard minimum retention period appropriate to the patient/specialty (see above)

School health records (see Children and young people)

Retain in Child Health Records

Speech and language therapy records

Retain according to the standard minimum retention period appropriate to the patient/specialty (see above)

Telemedicine records (clinician to patient)

Retain according to the standard minimum retention period appropriate to the patient/specialty (see above)

Transplantation records

Records not otherwise kept or issued to patient, records that relate to investigations or storage of specimens relevant to organ transplantation should be kept for 3 years

Likely to have research value see footnote

Ultrasound records ( e.g. vascular, obstetric)

Retain according to the standard minimum retention period appropriate to the patient/specialty (see Above)

Video records/voice recordings (clinician to patient) (see also Telemedicine records and Out of hours records)

6 years subject to the following exceptions:

Children and Young People - records must be kept until the patient's 25th birthday, if the patient was 17 at the conclusion of treatment until their 26th birthday, or until 3 years after the patient's death if sooner.

Maternity - 25 years

Mentally disordered persons - records should be kept for 20 years after the date of last contact between patient/client/service user and any healthcare professional or 3 years after the patient's death if sooner.

Cancer patients - records should be kept until 6 years after the conclusion of treatment, especially if surgery was involved. The Royal College of Radiologists has recommended that such records be kept permanently where chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy was given.

The teaching and historical value of such recordings should be considered, especially where innovative procedures or unusual conditions are involved. Video/video-conferencing records should be either permanently archived or permanently destroyed by shredding or incineration (having due regard to the need to maintain patient confidentiality)

Ward registers, including daily bed returns (where they exist in paper format)

2 years after the year to which they relate

Likely to have archival

value - see footnote

X-Ray films (excluding PACS images)

The minimum retention period for these can continue to be determined locally by the NHS organisation responsible. In setting the minimum retention period, appropriate recognition should be given to current professional guidance, clinical need, special interest groups, cost of storage and the availability of storage space.

X-Ray - PACS images

Policy reviewed and agreed with radiology clinical lead and National Clinical Advisory Group. Also reviewed by Clinical Change Leadership Group.

Local site:

Originating site remains at 18 months storage.

Primary archive site:

All data compressed to Royal College of Radiologists profile at 36 months from date of ingest. At 7 years data is aggressively compressed to 50:1

Backup site:

Partial DR site 12 months of rolling lossless, full data base storage plus all data are copied to tape immediately.

As eHealth strategic developments progress, this guidance, along with that for other record types affected, will be reviewed.

X-Ray registers (where they exist in paper format)

30 years

Likely to have archival

value - see footnote

X-Ray reports (including reports for all imaging modalities)

To be considered as part of the patient record. Retain according to the standard minimum retention period appropriate to the patient/specialty (see above)