Could you please give guidance on Read codes for SARs under GDPR; first to code the SAR, then to code ‘patient advised ready to collect’.

Many thanks for contacting SCIMP about how best to code Subject Access Requests (SARs). Read codes have been depreciated and are no longer being updated, as a result there are no Read codes that are suitable for these specific administrative process.

Codes that SCIMP would suggest best suited are:

First to code the SAR:

Secondly to code ‘patient advised ready to collect:

9lA.. 00 Copy of clinical record given to patient

Some practices utilise an Excel worksheet to keep requests like these tracked. Other practices capture SAR requests in the Docman record. This can be useful so the process can be tracked and any queries handled by reference, this allows updates such as “ready for collection” to be captured.

If you do need to copy the paper record as part of the SAR it is suggested to add this to Docman as a single multi page document, with the date as per the latest entry. This can be helpful, if in future a further SAR requesting another copy of the paper record is received.

It is also important to check for valid consent for SARs, with the patient, as at times the request submitted is incomplete, inaccurate or out of date.