Articles / documents related to health archives and records
Useful resources produced by other bodies
HARG publicity leaflet explaining what HARG is, who can join, what its aims are, and benefits of becoing a member of HARG.
'After the hundred year rule; guidance for archivists and records managers on access to medical records under the Freedom of Information Act' (Society of Archivists Best Practice Guideline 8, written by Colin Gale and Catherine Redfern in 2004). Published here with the kind permission of the Society of Archivists.
Model Records Management policy for NHS organisations (written by Penny Baker, Libby Adams, Catherine Redfern, Victoria North and Katherine Webb in 2003). Published here with the authors permission. This is an example of a top-level policy document for corporate and clinical documents, produced to help NHS organisations in meeting their records management requirements.
'Hospital Patient Case Records: a guide to their retention and disposal' (originally written by Hamish Maxwell-Stewart, Julia Sheppard and Geoffrey Yeo in 1996 and revised by Penelope Baker, Sally Gilbert, Colin Gale and Victoria North in 2002). This was revised in November 2006 by Kath Webb and Rob Baker, in order to take account of the recently issued NHS Records Management Code of Practice and to update other references.
Medical Coding in Asylum Records in England and Wales reference guide compiled and introduction written by Katherine Webb (Borthwick Institute), April 2009.
Maximising access to historic medical records by Colin Gale and Katherine Webb, published in Archives, vol. xxxiii, No. 118, April 2008 (NB. an earlier version of this paper had been presented to the Wellcome Trust's Research Resources in Medical History Winter Conference in Edinburgh, December 2007).
UK Health Archives article by Colin Gale, written for the Australian Society of Archivists Bulletin, February 2007
Medical Archives. What they are and how to keep them: an introduction and some basic advice for individuals and institutions (2nd edition) by Barbara Craig, booklet published by Associated Medical Services, Toronto, 2000
Department of Health Records Management: NHS Code of Practice is 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 England. It includes recommended retention periods for records. It is based on current legal requirements and professional best practice, and replaces Health Services Circular 1999/053, 'For the Record'.
Information Commissioners Model NHS Publication Schemes. Under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, since 31 October 2003, every health sector public authority must have a Publication Scheme, which is a list of types of information that are / will be published, the manner in which it will be published, and whether it is free or if there is a charge. All publication schemes have to be approved by the Information Commissioner. Where a large number of public authorities all perform very similar functions the Act allows for model schemes to be developed, which can be adopted by those public authorities. Model publication schemes have been approved by the Information Commissioner for the following health sector bodies: Strategic Health Authorities, Acute Trusts, Ambulance Trusts, Primary Care Trusts, Mental Health Trusts, GPs, Pharmacists, Dentists and Opticians. There is guidance on the Model NHS Publication Schemes.
A link for where to buy Patricia Garside and Bruce Jackson's "Model Guide to Lancashire Mental Hospital Records" (European Studies Research Institute, University of Salford, 2001)
Hospital Records Database The Wellcome/National Archives Hospital Records Database provides information on the existence and location of the records of UK hospitals. It relies on the repositories holding hospital records to keep it up to date with new accruals and progress in cataloguing. Any additions, or emendations to existing information, should be sent to Archives and Manuscripts, Wellcome Library, 183 Euston Road, London NW1 2BE archs+mss@wellcome.ac.uk
The National Archives have drawn-up functional requirements for electronic records management systems.