To ask if archive health care records

[User4544]

Can be separated or would they all be located at the same time?

I work in the Health Records department of an NHS Trust but sorry, I don't understand your question! If you can rephrase it, I'll be happy to help.

There is a finite amount of shelving in a hospital records room.

Every hospital has its own way of dealing with records that haven't been pulled off the shelves in however many years (normally 5 or 10).

The files are 'weeded' to pull inactive files off the shelves and they are sent to archive storage, which is usually a secure warehouse off the hospital site.

Should the patient return after the file has gone to archive, the staff can request it is returned.

There are porters and file transports which can go bsck and forth and an archived file can be returned within a couple of hours.

Most patients have a computerised record, so until the file is returned, a temporary file can be made up and any new notes csn go into that until the old file is brought to the ward/A&E

Thank you both. I asked for records they should still have them as I’m not yet 25 however they have given me some archive records mostly letters but not records of the actual appointments am I to assume they have been lost? The letters dates back from quiver ten years ago.

Generally consultants will write a letter as a summary of the appointment. There may not be a separate account of the appointment as such.

What is it you actually need?

Are you looking for actual appointment records?

Do you need to prove you've been to a hospital appointment?

Do you need to prove you were treated or seen by a particular consultant?