To think the NHS is far too secretive about our health records?

105 replies

whyisthissodifficultffs · 19/09/2026 20:16

I’m trying to access my records as part of a complaint I’m considering making. I want to access them before making the complaint.

I have our trust’s hospital connected app (it’s called my chart). I have submitted a request through there.

Last night it bounced back saying I needed to provide certified ID, and a signed subject access request form.

Now, I understand that these are confidential records. However, I have verified my ID to sign up to the app. I’ve submitted my request through the app. Why do they make things so difficult?!

The entire thing has really annoyed me, to be honest. It’s my medical information and I feel like it’s being held hostage from me. I have a right to access this.

AIBU to think they need to start being more open?

OP posts:

Teddybear23 · 24/09/2026 08:51

Agree. As long as you can prove it's you, which the app can, then it should not be so difficult. I requested a copy of my neck x-ray from radiology but they told me I need to contact the medical legal department and provide lots of id etc.

Teddybear23 · 24/09/2026 08:54

Catza · 19/09/2026 21:23

It may not take that long. The legislation says information has to be provided within 28 days. How soon you get it depends on how easy it is to procure and compile. I appreciate you are frustrated but nobody is "dicking around" and delaying anything. There are real people putting together your information and there may be dozens if not hundreds of patients waiting for the same.
I am not sure why you think this is some conspiracy that NHS is engaging in deliberately. There is a reasonable explanation for why it may take some time (but not necessarily full 28 days).

Edited

Show quote history

I had a CT scan a few weeks ago, I was told the results would take at least 6 weeks!
I live in Manchester.

Teddybear23 · 24/09/2026 08:58

Marymanna · 20/09/2026 00:03

Ive been frustrated about this before as well. My DS had some tests at Guys hospital and they said it should take 2-4 weeks to get the report. I normally get cc'd a copy of them. DS had a consultant follow up 8 weeks later in our local hospital as was due to have surgery based on these results.

7 weeks later and still no test results. I spoke to the consultants secretary and she didnt have them. So I called the department that did the tests and they said they had sent the report to the consultant. Went back to the secretary who still didnt have them. Went back to the testing department and asked if they could send again or send them to me directly. They said they couldnt send them to me but only to the requesting consultant (even though i had always been cc'd before).

Guys said the only thing i could do was to do a SAR to access the report so I could then send it to the consultant in time for my appointment. It arrived just in time. Absolutely ridiculous. So I sent the results to the consultant.

Went to the consultants appointment and they still said they didnt have them! Luckily I had foreseen this and printed out a copy to take with me otherwise it would have been a wasted appointment, and likely delayed the surgery as well.

It was literally just a Word attachment on an email. How is it that difficult to email a document from one hospital to another? The fact I had to do a SAR to get the information was ridiculous. If I hadnt it would have been a wasted appointment and a waste of NHS resources. Just seems crazy that as the parent of the child that the tests/surgery is about and I am his parent and carer I am not allowed to be given his test results. And a waste of NHS time when all they needed to do in the first place was email me or cc me on the email.

I have sent information to doctors several times before an appt (private) to save time during the appt but they always claim to have not received them, I too always print out a copy. I've no idea how they can be so incompetent.

KiwiFall · 24/09/2026 09:10

If only a couple of weeks ago there may be a preliminary report but not a full report. When this has been reported on a copy will go to your GP. You can then ask your GP for a copy which they may provide.

Even though at A&E it will still be technically under a consultant. Even if you didn’t see them yourself. The EDN should have the consultant and the requesting doctors names. You can ring the hospital and ask for their secretaries. Although the secretaries would need the consultants authorisation to release what is said in the report. When the report is available the consultant should write to you and your GP with the results. You may not get the full report but a brief summary in a letter. The GP again would get the full report.

PALS will have contacted the consultant you were under to ask for their comments so that’s what they will be waiting for.

If you have completed a subject access request then again this goes to the consultant for sign off.

Again I would be surprised if a radiologist consultant has fully reviewed and done the report in a couple of weeks.

mumumental · 24/09/2026 09:26

What a drama.

Flip

1 2 3 4 5

Swipe left for the next trending thread