The Records Management: NHS Code of Practice has been published by the Scottish Government eHealth Directorate as a guide to the required standards of practice in the management of 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.
The guidance was drafted in collaboration with a working group made up of representatives from the Scottish Government Health Directorate, Scottish NHS archivists, NHS Health Records Managers, patient groups and GP Practices. As part of its work, the working group commissioned a public consultation on the retention and disposal of health records in 2005. The results of that consultation have informed the drafting of this guidance. The draft was updated and issued for consultation during Autumn 2007. The guidance has subsequently been reviewed and updated following the recommendations contained within the Strathmartine Report published in 2008 and requests from the service to incorporate the guidance and retention schedules for both Health Records and Administrative Records in to a single document.