How long are medical records kept?
Health authorities are required to keep confidential records for the minimum time possible that is practical.
Records must be kept relating to a child up to the age of twenty one. Adult records must be kept for at least three years, usually for seven.
Many hospitals will have records going back for much longer than seven years; in particular if a person hasn’t moved away from the area or has been using service for a long period of time.
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