Introduction
The Picture Archiving Communications System (PACS) has been in place since 2006. Modality images have been permanently stored on PACS as follows:
- 16th January 2006 - Radiology Images.
- September 2007 - MRI Images.
- January 2007 - Nuclear Medicine Images.
- July 2008 - Mammography Images.
- July 2008 - Dental images (OPG and intraoral).
All images on PACS are retained indefinitely.
Pre 2006, images were not digitised and this policy relates to these x-ray images.
A Record is anything that contains information which has been created/gathered by an employee.
Images generated by the Department pre 2006 are considered Transitory; they are not part of the Permanent Patient Record. The contribution of the Department of Radiology to the Permanent Patient Record represents the Radiology Report which is a typed document on the Radiology Information System (CRIS) generated by an employee (usually a Radiologist, Reporting Radiographer or Sonographer ) on the basis of an analysis of the Transitory Record.
Nevertheless the Transitory Record is of value and every effort should be made to retain the Transitory Record for as long as reasonably possible, noting that throughout the retention period there is a duty to take due care of the Transitory Record. This must be balanced against the need to provide a responsive, manageable archive for the Transitory Record (Film Library) which is efficient and cost effective.
Policy Details
| Download: | PDF version |
| Compiled by: | Dr M F Creagh, Clinical Director |
| Ratified by: | Management Board and Trust Board, and Records Management Committee |
| Date Ratified: | July 2017 |
| Date Issued: | August 2017 |
| Review Date: | July 2020 |
| Target Audience: | All staff |
| Contact name: | Dr J Hibbert, Andrew Moth, Alanna Marvin |
See also:
- Retention and Destruction of Health Records (excluding X-ray films) and
- Records Management Policy, for staff guidance.