The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) has urged leaders in the social care sector to publicly commit to improving the creation, management, and access to care records.

This call, launched on 25 June 2026, is part of the "Better Records Together" campaign and invites local authorities and health bodies to implement five key measures, including applying ICO standards and allocating adequate resources. A study by the authority revealed that 89% of people who accessed their records expressed concerns, 71% experienced poor communication, and 69% faced excessive delays, with some waiting up to sixteen years. In response, the ICO has initiated a pilot monitoring program of 19 organisations for 2025 and 2026 and announced it will prioritise enforcement actions against persistent delays in responding to access requests.

In this context, the authority recalled having already issued reprimands against Glasgow City Council and Edinburgh City Council in February 2025.

In September 2025, Bristol City Council received a formal notice regarding delays in processing social care data related to children.

The Scottish charity Birthlink was fined £18,000 (approximately €21,240) in July 2025 for destroying approximately 4,800 personal records.