Getting Hold of My Medical Records

[Feebee_71]

Hi there all,

 

I would like, purely for reasons of curiosity and to see if what I remember is accurate, to get copies of all my medical records. This involves a number of different hospitals over a period of around 40 years.

 

Which hospital should I approach first - the one local to where I lived as an infant/child or just go to each hospital I know for sure I was treated by?

 

Also, is there any specific way I should request the information given that it's medical records I want? Lastly, should I send any payment with the request or wait for them to ask for payment? This is knowing that they can charge 'up to' £50 but might ask for less!!

Feebee_71

[speedfreek]

Read the sticky http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?370178-NHS-SAR-template-and-info

 

Contact all the NHS PALS services for which ever areas you were treated by and ask them for advice.

 

Mine just emailed me over a pdf form to fill out and return. Once returned they should instruct you of cost.

 

Max whack is £50 for each request but with multiple NHS trusts you might be better off requesting a free viewing of them or even try a more targeted approach. Requesting a free viewing of your GP records at your local GP practice 1st then make specific request for things you want more on or for things you think are missing.

 

Usually takes a follow up request to get everything (well as much as possible) and you might find there absolutely nothing where you assume there would be complete records.

 

Just filled out/printed out my new/latest SAR request form to put a rocket up IAPTs' arse and will be posting recorded signed for tomorrow.

[Sali]

I think you should start with your GP. Your GP records follow you as you move around the country (or they should do). They will contain a summary of any hospital treatment you have had over the years together with correspondence. I'm sure I've read another post stating that you can do this in the surgery, rather than pay for copies to be sent to you.

 

I suspect - although I really don't know - that you would have to apply individually to each hospital for your data and I'm sure they'd charge you each time. However, your GP or PALS at your local hospital should be able to give you all the details, including any data request form.

 

I don't think hospitals are obliged to keep records of any treatment you may have received as an adult over 8 years ago, but it depends how rigorous the administration team is in their pruning.

 

Good luck. I don't think it's a path I'd take unless I had some kind of grievance. Maybe I'm just not curious enough.

[Feebee_71]

Thanks for the replies.

 

I will approach my GP surgery first and see what I can get from them. Thankfully I've lived in the same area all my life and so it would probably only be 3 hospitals I need to contact (2 general and 1 specialist). If needs be I'll just have to send a request to them one at a time and pick one each month!!

 

Feebee_71

[speedfreek]

Thanks for the replies.

 

I will approach my GP surgery first and see what I can get from them. Thankfully I've lived in the same area all my life and so it would probably only be 3 hospitals I need to contact (2 general and 1 specialist). If needs be I'll just have to send a request to them one at a time and pick one each month!!

 

Feebee_71

 

Same area = 1 PCT and 1 request to the PALS team for form and send off to the DATA Controller!

 

Have a look at the PDF I got off my local PCT it asks for dates and hospitals etc.

 

Letters and guides in that sticky tbf

[Feebee_71]

Thanks speedfreak, sadly the 2 general hospitals are actually in 2 different PCT areas (one outer London borough and the other a home county) and the specialist hospital is in central London!!

 

I will start with my current GP and local PCT

 

Feebee_71

[Nystagmite]

When I did this, I wrote a letter to the manager of the GP surgery (I was told I had to do this) and the request was then sent to the relevant hospital.

[stu007]

Hi have a look at this link: http://www.nhs.uk/NHSEngland/thenhs/records/healthrecords/Pages/what_to_do.aspx

 

and go down the page to 'How can I access my medical records'

 

it states:

 

'If you want to view your health records, you may not need to make a formal application. Nothing in the law prevents healthcare professionals from informally showing you your own records. You can make an informal request during a consultation, or by phoning the surgery or hospital to arrange a time to see your records.

 

If you want to make a formal request to see your health records under the Data Protection Act (1998), apply in writing to the holder(s) of the records. If you want to see your GP records, write to your GP or the surgery manager. If you want to see your hospital records, write to the hospital’s patients services manager or medical records officer.'

[Feebee_71]

Thanks both.

 

Feebee_71