aibu re medical report (more of a HELP than aibu)

[wtfisgoingonhere]

So... you may remember previous posts that hubby is taking employer to ET for discrimination.

Anyway we received a court order for certain evidence, submitted his statement and (then i completely stupidly didn't think it through as to how long it would take for medical evidence and ) need to submit any medical notes/evidence by this FRIDAY

Called up and receptionist at docs said will take 2 weeks for a copy of medical records or statement (we'll pay for this)

I feel utterly stupid for the oversight on something so important (we've dealt with everything ourselves so far with no legal rep and done ok). Hubby has had some particularly bad days plus we've moved house between the previous deadline and this one and tbh I didn't even think about how long it would take as everything is on a computer now so (wrongly) assumed they could just print it off

Anyone in the know- is there ANY hope of us getting this by Friday if we go down and ask reaaallly nicely?

It's always worth a try. Explain to them why you need it and appeal for their help. Hope it works.

Definitely go down and ask nicely and explain your deadline. It might help if you specify which information will be most useful, as a Doctor will have to check the notes before giving them to you (e.g. if there was sensitive third party information in there that they need to take out), and it will be quicker to check one page than seventeen.

Otherwise is there a chance of extending the deadline?

How essential is this information?

Thank you, I just feel so stupid, especially as we are relying on this backing up hubby's statement

I find being polite and asking really nicely often goes a very long way. Receptionist is probably telling you what usually happens. I would ask to speak to the practice manager and see if you can sway him or her.

Thank you, we will go ask them nicely

Hopelessly- pretty much 0% chance of an extension. It's court ordered. We had go provide holiday confirmation to reschedule a phone call as we were out of the country

Fingers crossed they will make an exception, I think if you explain your situation and your hubbie's notes are straightforward they are likely to.

You must make sure they understand it's a court date so they know the date is immovable.

If they agree (and they may well do), offer to help with the photocopying. It can be a REALLY long job.

Is it a printout from the notes or a report that a doctor needs to write and devote time and brain power to? If the former, then if you ring up and ask really nicely it should be fine.

If the latter, it will entirely depend on how many doctors they have around at the moment (bearing in mind it's August) and how busy they are. If the GPs are still there until late in the evening every day dealing with the routine clinical workload, then medicolegal reports are, I'm afraid, going to be low priority.

Good luck with it.

I would ask ( nicely) if you could speak to the practice manager. You can say it's very confidential, which it is, going to an ET and using medical records as part of the case is not for a general chat at reception. Good luck but as ^^ do be clear what info you need from the records.

Thank you all for your encouragement

Ideally we would like a statement from the doc, but just a signed bulleted list or extract from notes would be fine.

We submitted hubby's statement and have a copy - do you think it's worth taking a copy of it with us he could sign? ?

Think notes are all electronic now but good point about photocopying- ill definitely offer s hand if need be

Is there a hearing date? If grovelling to the surgery doesn't work, write to the court, explain the situation, with a letter from the surgery if possible, and ask for an extension. They may show some leniency especially as your husband is representing himself. No guarantees, but worth a go. Send it as soon as you get it, even if it's late. If it doesn't hold up the hearing they may let you off.

I speak with GP surgeries and medical secretaries a lot about medical notes in my line of work and most take 20-40 days to be sent out to us but I have had instances in the past where they have sped this up and it's taken a couple of days...particularly if a complaint is involved. Providing the records are kept computerised, his file isn't massive and/or there is just one GP practice involved (ie. if he hasn't moved surgeries) it's usually just a case of printing it off and getting it checked so it may be doable.

It is of course down to the surgery, how busy and willing to help they are and how the records are stored.

Just be extra nice as you've said and be prepared to pay for them when you go in, they'll probably cost £20-£50...

Good luck

Hi all, had issues logging back in.

Called up to see if practice manager was available and after surviving the receptionist who -wanted- needed to know my life story, spoke with her.

She's said she'll do her best and we've dropped in a letter and documents confirming the court dates etc.

Fingers crossed

Thank you all for the encouragement