Can I see my Medical Records?

[FieryP125]

I need my Medical Records to appeal agaisnt a decision ( long story )

When I mentioned it to my Doctor, he said they can write to him and he will answer back in letter format.

What I really want is to obtain my Medical Records and hand them to my legal respresentative.

So in short, do I have the right to obtain / view my records and keep copies of them?

Many thanks

[China Doll]

Your legal representative can do it for you. They have to request the notes in writing with a signed statment from you saying that you agree to this. They/you will probably have to pay a fee of about £25 or so.

This is the procedure where I work. I'm not 100% on the figure.

[ljdksa]

yes, you are entitled to

[woofgang]

GP or hospital records? Either way there has to be a requesting process and there will probably be a fee. Records may be edited to protect other people or (more rarely) the patient. You need to make the request formally to the practice manager or if its hospital records, then ask the pals department at the hospital what the process is. Not sure about having copies.
Medical records are often not easy to understand unless you have been taught how.

[bednobs]

yes you can, and you can be charged a "reasonable amount" for the photocopying

[Jemisa]

You can see your medical records but not take them from the premises. You need permission from your Dr and need to make an appt as to when.
jem

[woofgang]

actually you can see them even if the doctor doesn't permit!

[ladyalex]

As I understand it, you have a right to READ your medical notes.
This would usually be arranged by the Practice Manager and you would be able to read them in the Practice. Usually with the Practice Manager or another member of staff in attendance to ensure that you did not 'tamper' with the notes in any way.

If you wish to have copies of your notes, then you are going to have to request this in writing and pay for them at £x per page copied.

[FieryP125]

So I am allowed to take copies off the premises?

[ladyalex]

If they agree and you pay for them , you are.

[bednobs]

yes

[FieryP125]

Thanks guys

[Andyvon]

Fiery - I used to act as a patient advocate dealing with my local NHS. Basically, you have the legal right to see your records - but in practise you won't be able to see them!

Don't think you can have your files plonked on a table in front of you for you to browse through all your records at your leisure. Firstly, you must fill out a request form to view a specific document which you have to detail by title and date. Obviously, if you don't know a letter or report has been written or received then you won't be able to see it as you don't know it exists!
Secondly, my local PCT usually made us wait about 2 months before we could go to view a document. We then had to view the document - and that one alone - in the presence of a member of staff. They also charged £1 per document viewed! If a report consisted of five pages then it cost £5 to see. Many patients were deterred because they just couldn't afford £1 every turn of the page!

For political purposes New Labour came out with this idea of everyone having the right to see their medical records. However, neither they nor the medical profession had any intention of you actually seeing your records! They made sure by putting so many obstacles in the way the situation remains almost as it did before. Think about it! If anyone could actually see their records GPs would be inundated with patients just browsing through their files! The doctors would never want that!

Unless you can specify particular documents for your appeal and are prepared to wait I'm afraid you probably won't see anything. Also, the medical profession hate appeals and you will not be flavour of the month. The list of lies and coverups that I've seen and heard from NHS managers and doctors would shock many people here - although maybe not you Fiery. They all cover each others' backs and managers and doctors will do anything not to prove another doctor wrong.

Good luck wit

[Andyvon]

I finished by saying good luck Fiery - but I don't think you#ll get anywhere. You will be fighting the whole system.

[anneasquith]

i contacted medical records department at a hospital i was treated at, i was permitted to read them but in a room where other people were working. ( scotland )

[woofgang]

Here is hampshire's policy leaflet onnviewing the record. It's fairly standard for the nhs. You DO NOT have to identify individual documents, although it might help if you can identify a particular time period if appropriate as paper medical records can be huge and complex. There are particular issues relating to the records of people with extreme mental health problems I accept and yes as in any organisation, sometimes cover up is attempted, but it's not impossible.

[woofgang]

Link!
http://www.hampshire....dical-records-leaflet

[Andyvon]

The people I was helping were in the mental health system Woofgang. However, they were not 'extreme problems' by any measure and we did have to specify every document title and date.

[woofgang]

Then they were in breach of NHS regs
"Are individuals entitled to apply for access to their complete health record?

Answer
Individuals are entitled to apply for access to their total health record as it stands at the time the request was received. The information provided may, however take account of any amendment or deletion which is made to the record in the period between the request having been received and dealt with, being an amendment or deletion that would have been made regardless of the receipt of the request."

also
Does the applicant need to specify what period they are requesting access to?

Answer
No reason need be given for an application and staff should be ready to assist applicants in making subject access requests. "

link
http://webarchive.nat...ardians/FAQ/DH_065886