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I sent a more detailed reply to the enquirer off-list, but as one or two replies are being circulated, it is perhaps worth mentioning some points more generally. I can't give exact references for everything as I'm not in the right office at present, but searches on www.doh.gov.uk/ should help. The DOH circular HSC 1999/053 'For the record' [http://www.doh.gov.uk/nhsexec/manrec.htm] has much useful information and general guidance, but it is directed to Trusts and Hospitals, not GPs. The appropriate circular for GPs is HSC 1998/217 'Preservation, retention and destruction of GP General Medical Services records relating to patients' [available at www.doh.gov.uk/coinh.htm]. This may be a little out of date in respect of electronic records, but it is the primary guidance applicable for GP records. The officer charged with liaison with the PRO in respect of GP records is the Department of Health's Departmental Records Officer (contact details certainly in HSC 1999/053 and probably in HSC 1998/217). One obvious source of information is the NHS Information Authority, created to deal with matters relating to IT (and specifically electronic patient records) in the NHS, as outlined in the NHS document 'Information for Health' (a key document in this area). Elizabeth Boardman Archivist Oxfordshire Health Archives Brasenose, Oriel and St. Hilda's Colleges