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Original poster

can my mum see her hospital notes whilst on the ward?

187 replies

hospitalstay · 07/12/2022 16:01

My mum is in hospital and wanted to see her ward notes for example to see what pain killers she is on and how her leg injuries (which occurred since arrival on the ward) had been logged. She has been told she is not allowed to look until after she is discharged via a 40 day turnaround request. Does anyone know if this is correct? Surely there should be paperwork she can sign to enable her to look whilst on the ward if she is certified as of sound mind (which she certainly is). Thanks

OP posts:
Battlecat98 · 07/12/2022 16:03

That is correct however a ward doctor or sister could verbally give her this information, I would.

MardyHa · 07/12/2022 16:05

Had same problem, ignored it by taking a quick picture on my phone when they weren’t looking. I also did the same with my parent and luckily so as they were on a medication they were known to already had a delayed reaction to.

Nursemumma92 · 07/12/2022 16:06

Yes as PP has said this is correct but she can ask a member of staff what painkillers she is on and what injury she has sustained on the ward.
Hope she has a speedy recovery.

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TinFoilHatty · 07/12/2022 16:09

Is this a new thing? When my late Mum was in hospital in Autumn 2019 we leafed through her folder in the holder at the end of her bed often Blush

PollyAmour · 07/12/2022 16:11

TinFoilHatty · 07/12/2022 16:09

Is this a new thing? When my late Mum was in hospital in Autumn 2019 we leafed through her folder in the holder at the end of her bed often Blush

The folder at the end of the bed won't contain her medical notes though.

paintitallover · 07/12/2022 16:15

It's seems petty to me. Also , although I annoyed a nurse by looking at my DH's, it enabled me to tell them that the condition he was in for was wrongly recorded on his notes.,Although thankfully he didn't have the wrong operation.

MardyHa · 07/12/2022 16:19

PollyAmour · 07/12/2022 16:11

The folder at the end of the bed won't contain her medical notes though.

Show quote history

Interesting - there was a lot of information on mine and it was there that I could see what I was in for, what I was prescribed and when etc etc - I was also told I wasn’t allowed to look at them, although thankfully I ignored that. It wasn’t my full NHS record but it was a seemingly detailed (although wrong in places) record of my current stay.

Original poster
hospitalstay · 07/12/2022 16:20

Just to clarify I mean the "folder" at the end of the bed not her past medical records. They have hidden the folder away as saw her try to look at it!! Anyone know if this is allowed if paperwork signed for permission to view?

OP posts:
MardyHa · 07/12/2022 16:25

hospitalstay · 07/12/2022 16:20

Just to clarify I mean the "folder" at the end of the bed not her past medical records. They have hidden the folder away as saw her try to look at it!! Anyone know if this is allowed if paperwork signed for permission to view?

I would stay quiet and wait for a change of shift and someone to leave it there again.

Timepasse · 07/12/2022 16:37

I’m a nurse, I can’t imagine not telling a patient what painkillers or any other drugs they are on if asked.

Heatherjayne1972 · 07/12/2022 16:48

I had a look at the notes on the end of the bed when was in. Just waited for a quiet moment when the staff were not around

can’t think of any reason why a sane adult would be refused a look at their own notes about their own condition/ meds etc

uncomfortablydumb53 · 07/12/2022 17:13

I've always read mine at every admission, handover when shifts change was my usual time

TinFoilHatty · 07/12/2022 17:43

There was quite a bit of info in the folder: meds administered, BP recordings and other obs, the RESPECT form possibly, physio notes, other stuff too, I am sure.
I don't mean a great bundle of stuff from years and years ago, just the blue folder that had paperwork inserted.

Anyway. I hope your Mum is okay, OP. Sorry, I forgot to say that.

Greybeardy · 07/12/2022 17:54

They are correct, but even if she were to look I bet there won’t be much in there - lots of places are moving to/have moved to online everything. They should be able to tell her what meds she’s on.

Singinghollybob · 07/12/2022 19:22

If you want to read your medical notes, you need to nake a formal written application to the hospital. You cannot read whatever notes you want to, when you want to.

Singinghollybob · 07/12/2022 19:25

When I say you cannot, I mean obviously if there's a folder with information at the end of your bed, no one may stop you if they don't see you. But it's not allowed and staff will likely take it away. As I say, you need to go through the formal process to get access to any notes written about you.

8misskitty8 · 07/12/2022 19:27

You aren’t allowed to read the notes in the folder at the end of your bed.
If caught they get removed !
I had a look at mine while getting an op 8 years ago and the ward nurse took them away.

DealOrNoelsDeal · 07/12/2022 19:33

Folder at the end of the bed are the nursing notes. They contain observations (blood pressure etc) and pharmacists notes. Sometimes fluid and dietary intake/output. They are not her full medical history notes which will be stored somewhere near the big desk where all the staff sit looking at their mobiles and ignoring the ringing ward phone.

Sadly you both have no right to read the notes but can request to see them formally and can meet with someone to go through them at a later date. However a patient has every right to now what they are being treated for and what they are being treated with. Request a meeting if she isn’t being given this information.

MichelleScarn · 07/12/2022 19:37

The meds are easy, just ask when they're given. Am more confused that she doesn't know how her leg was injured. Was she not awake, did it happen during surgery?

Laney79 · 07/12/2022 19:39

Why is it not allowed? Surely these notes are about the patient and if it's the patient looking at them then there's no data protection issue?

Dinneronmybfpillow · 07/12/2022 19:41

Medical records need to be requested formally so that 3rd party information can be redacted (information given/recorded from anyone who is not employed by the trust ie. relatives or other agencies).

blackalert · 07/12/2022 19:48

They are not her full medical history notes which will be stored somewhere near the big desk where all the staff sit looking at their mobiles and ignoring the ringing ward phone.

That is just unnecessarily bitchy.

Somuchgoo · 07/12/2022 20:01

I had this when my 3yo was in hospital. I wanted to check the notes to find out why there were stitches and a 3 inch scar on her back...

I knew that they had to halt surgery on her spine because she became ill with meningitis in theatre, but I thought they'd discovered it before they'd actually started. Because if the outside, no one talked me through it, and a couple of weeks later, when the dust settled, I suddenly wondered why she had a bunch of stitches there.

I asked if I could have a look at the notes, and was told no, and that I'd have to make a request after we left. As it happened, they resolved my query by looking themselves, and I got my answer.

I have no idea why they take issue with it. I can see situations with kids where it may not be appropriate for the parents (or child) to see their notes, but in the main, it's their data and shouldn't be withheld without good reason. For an adult patient it's even more ridiculous.

Lemonlady22 · 07/12/2022 20:07

Most ‘notes’ are computerised now, long gone are the days of a doctor writing in a folder at the end of the bed, and then putting them in a trolley at the nurses station. The notes at the end of the bed are being phased out, even patients obs are being done one a laptop, drug rounds are done on a computer too, it’s the way most big hospitals are now

mincepiepie · 07/12/2022 20:51

Why can't you see your own notes. I find this really disturbing.

Is this typical practice in other countries or just the UK.

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