Consultation Records Management: NHS Code of Practice

The deadline for responses to this consultation is 30 September 2005.

The guidance contained in Health Service Circular 1999/053 For the Record - Managing Records in NHS Trusts and Health Authorities, has been reviewed taking into account recent developments in records management requirements and to reflect the increased use of electronic records in the NHS. Consequent to this review, it is proposed that the 1999 guidance should be replaced with a new Records Management: NHS Code of Practice, covering all types of NHS records regardless of the media on which they are held.

The intended purpose of the Code of Practice (CoP) is to help the NHS to meet its legal obligations in the management of its records. For this to be achieved, it is important that the presentation and content of the CoP should be credible to records management professionals and also provide useful guidance for all records managers. The Department of Health is therefore undertaking a consultation exercise on the attached draft CoP and its supporting annexes, and is inviting comments on these documents from any interested parties.

Further details