Part I PERIOD FOR WHICH MEDICAL RECORDS MUST BE RETAINED
| Type of patient | Minimum period of retention |
|---|---|
(a) Patient who was under the age of 17 at the date on which the treatment to which the records refer was concluded. | Until the patient’s 25th birthday |
(b) Patient who was aged 17 at the date on which the treatment to which the records refer was concluded. | Until the patient’s 26th birthday |
(c) Patient who died before attaining the age of 18. | A period of 8 years beginning on the date of patient’s death |
(d) Patient who was treated for mental disorder during the period to which the records refer. | A period of 20 years beginning on the date of the last entry in the record |
(e) Patient who was treated for mental disorder during the period to which the records refer and who died whilst receiving that treatment. | A period of 8 years beginning on the date of the patient’s death |
(f) Patient whose records relate to treatment by a general practitioner. | A period of 10 years beginning on the date of the last entry in the record |
(g) Patient who has received an organ transplant | A period of 11 years beginning on the date of the patient’s death or discharge whichever is the earlier |
(h) All other cases. | A period of 8 years beginning on the date of the last entry in the record |