It depends on the type of health record. Different types of health records should be kept for different periods of time.
DH guidance on keeping health records
The Department of Health (DH) has produced guidance on managing health records for NHS organisations in England. This guidance covers many types of health record and specifies the length of time they should be kept for (the minimum retention period).
The guidance applies regardless of how the records are held, for example:
- paper records
- electronic records
- images
- sound
The guidance also applies to records about patients treated on behalf of the NHS in the private healthcare sector.
Below are some examples of health records and the minimum retention periods that apply to them:
GP records
- until 10 years after the patient's death or after the patient has permanently left the country, unless they remain in the European Union
- electronic patient records must not be destroyed or deleted for the foreseeable future
Vaccination records
- children and young people: until the patient is 25 (or 26 if they are 17 when treatment ends)
- other vaccination records: 10 years after treatment ends
Dental, opthalmic (eye) and auditory (hearing) screening records
- Community records:
Adults: 11 years
Children: 11 years or until the patient is 25, whichever is longer
- Hospital records:
Adults: eight years
Children: until the patient is 25 (or 26 if they are 17 when treatment ends) or, if sooner, eight years after their death
Children and young people
- all types of records: until the patient is 25 (or 26 if they are 17 when treatment ends) or, if sooner, eight years after their death
- if a child’s illness or death could be relevant to an adult condition or have genetic implications for their family, records may be kept for longer
Maternity records (including obstetric and midwifery records)
- 25 years after the birth of the last child
Records relating to people with a mental disorder (within the meaning of any Mental Health Act)
- 20 years after the last contact between the patient and any healthcare professional or, if sooner, eight years after the patient's death
Where can I get more information?
For more information, including what happens after the minimum retention period expires, see records management: NHS code of practice on the DH website. This document also explains where the requirements may vary for some types of health record, for example, GP records relating to:
- people receiving treatment for a mental disorder within the meaning of the Mental Health Act 1983
- people serving in the armed forces
- people serving a prison sentence
Read the answers to more questions about NHS services and treatments.
Further information:
