Data protection and the storing of patient notes – a new ruling from the Information Commissioner’s Office.
It has been the Osteopathic Practice’s policy to destroy patient notes if a patient has not attended for treatment for over 12 years, and children’s notes were retained indefinitely.
The Information Commissioner’s Office (the public body responsible for ensuring data protection compliance) has informed our Osteopathic governing body that patient records must not be kept for longer than is necessary.
Osteopaths are now no longer able to keep patient notes indefinitely if a patient has not attended for treatment.
Following new Osteopathic best practice guidelines, patient records can only be kept for 8 years following their last treatment and children’s records until the child reaches 25 years of age.
If you have not attended for over 8 years you will need to fill in a new patient questionnaire if your original notes have been destroyed.