Access to adopted child's medical records??

[GlosChops]

AS3 has been with us for over a year and we are having such a faff with the GP surgery since his adoption order went through and his name changed and he got a new NHS number; you'd think we were the only people to have ever adopted a child!

To cut a long story short they have finally agreed (after SUCH a rigamarole to get his repeat medications re-issued) to allow me access to order his meds and book his appointments (which I had BEFORE the AO went through anyway but then disappeared) but they will not grant permission to access his full medical records. In terms of an explanation I have had a policy read out to me over the phone whereby they just kept repeating "decisions being made in the best interest of the child" and finally I had a conversation with a GP this week who explained that it is to do with safeguarding and for data processing to ensure all identifying information about birth family is removed from his new record.

I totally understand this (and the NHS website has given me some good background understanding of this too now) but it does seem to strike me as strange since we have met both birth parents and have SO much information about them from the adoption process. But, yes - fair enough. Redact that information and then surely we can have access to it?!

Just wondering really what everyone else's situation is with this? We know he has allergies and repeat prescriptions for meds but have only really been given verbal (sometimes questionable) information about this from the FC. Surely it is in the best interest of the child for his continuous healthcare that we have a better understanding of his medical history from the first few years of his life?

My plan at the moment is to contact the practice manager and take it up with them, and to suggest they do some work on their managing of the registration of adoption children for the future as the GP I spoke to admitted that they are completely in the dark about what's supposed to happen.

Did you meet with the paediatrician responsible for LAC during matching? Usually in that meeting you’d be given his medical history and a copy of his leaving care medical which would include anything relevant.

Accessing pre-adoptions medical records can be tricky because they likely include information relating to birth parents/siblings that you aren’t entitled to. They need a blanket policy because while you have met the birth family and have information from them, many adoptive parents don’t have that. I’d contact the local authority ask ask to meet the paediatrician that did the leaving care medical.

Thanks JellyCat, this is really helpful as I think I've just got myself in such a tizzy because the surgery have just handled it all really clumsily. All I was originally asking for was to be have him linked back on my NHS App so I can order his meds and make appointments but the woman who spoke to me was SO bullish telling me it was highly unlikely this would be granted left me feeling really aggrieved!
It's only since then that I've started to think about having full access and questioning why it wouldn't be possible. I DO totally understand the reasoning. The surgery just seemed so clueless about everything it left me feeling really unconfident.
We didn't meet the paediatrician but we did get a "medical report" which has loads of relevant information; I suppose I'm just still a bit dubious about some of the allergies the FC told us about which we took on board in good faith but I doubt they were ever included in his medical records. When we spoke to the Agency Medical Advisor ahead of panel they certainly didn't seem to be aware of them.
Gah - it's just one of those things where I suppose you might always feel like there's just that missing piece of the puzzle - but he'll be able to access it himself when he's old enough.
I suppose I should be thankful they are at least allowing me access to book his appointments again - it sounded at one point like that might not even happen!!

That’s ridiculous, I find the medical professions so uninformed about adoption - I still have medics asking me if my kids have been placed long term - 7 years after the adoption order.

If you’re concerned there’s something that should have carried over I’d ask the medical advisor to check, or do a subject access request which you’re entitled to do as his parent. They can then redact as need be. It might not fix the feeling that something’s missing - I think that’s just part of adoption - but it might help reassure you that all the bases are covered.

My surgery let me come in and read everything, and copied all the papers I wanted.

In there I found the minutes of the meetings held firstly to remove the children and then to agree they should be adopted. I had supposedly been given everything by social services when I requested the files from them but these papers were not in there. They were the most useful of all.

I don't see why it is in the child's best interests not to let you see your child's records. I can see why it is in the birth parents' interests, but that's a different matter.

Are you a member of Adoption UK? If so could you ask them for advice on this?

I know that sometimes with social services files a social worker is allowed to view them and report anything interesting back. Maybe they would allow thi?

Put everything in writing so you have a paper trail x