The NHS England Records Management Code of Practice 2021 provides guidance on how to keep records, including how long to keep different types of records. It was updated in May 2023.
The table below has been taken from this policy.
| Record type | Retention period | Disposal action | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dental records - clinical care records | 11 years | Review, and destroy if no longer required | Based on Limitations Act 1980. This applies to all dental care settings and the BSA. This also includes FP17 or FP17O forms. |
| Dental records - finance related | 2 years | Review, and destroy if no longer required | These include PR forms. NHS BSA may retain financial records for a minimum of 6 years. |
Retention of PR forms has been kept at 2 years; NHS Regulations (Schedule 3; Part 5) include a retention period of 2 years beginning with the date on which a course of treatment or orthodontic treatment is terminated or complete.