To want to know your experiences of (and timescales for) obtaining online access to GP records ASAP

[CloudgazerCat]

I need to see detailed GP records ASAP as am seeing various providers, NHS and private. Nigh impossible to see GP within a month to discuss with them. Need to provide information, test results, etc to other providers to inform them (experience shows they don't seem to have time/inclination to read my record and it would save time updating myself for appointments rather than trying in vain to sort things out retrospectively and need multiple further appointments). The system seems to be saying I need to do everything myself, without actually seeing the records.

Tell me your experiences of obtaining online access to all (or some) of your GP records. How long did it take after providing the form and ID? Did they limit access, and if so was it for a legitimate reason?

I just went into reception, she said it could take 24 hours but record was available after I got home (about 30 minutes)

Thanks. Was it the whole record eg

• medicines your GP has prescribed
• allergies you have
• vaccinations you've had
• conditions you've been diagnosed with
• notes from appointments at your GP surgery
• results of tests your GP surgery has arranged
• letters that hospitals or specialists have sent to your GP

Or just medicines and allergies?

All of the above (on the NHS app).

How about changing GP surgeries and then making the request?

Thanks!

That could be a solution. It is my data after all, not something that belongs to a particular surgery. But even that would take some time for all the records to be transferred. I've got a couple of specialist appointments coming up and I need the information prior to that. Life would be a lot easier if doctors surgeries were run like banks and you could just log on and see all your records.

@CloudgazerCat There seem to be different levels of detail we can access judging by pp answers, I wonder why? It must depend if the individual GP surgery?

My patient access app where I request my repeat medication from has very basic medical records in one section, but it's mostly things like blood tests, smear tests and childhood vaccinations going back 30 odd years! I imagine for more detailed info about my conditions, appointments and what was discussed I'd have to make a formal request to the surgery? I'm not sure I'd ever do that though, the years of misdiagnosis of conditions, and memories of gaslighting would be too triggering and upsetting for me I think.

When I had to get a GP referral letter to a private consultant recently, I was surprised to see underneath the main body of the letter, a very random list of things with dates that I'm not sure are relevant to the referral. Anxiety and panic attacks from over 20 years ago when I was 18, anxiety medication resumed after pregnancy 13 years ago, the misdiagnosis of chronic fatigue syndrome from childhood is on there still as a diagnosis, but not the later proper diagnosis of me actually having EDS aged 30. Nothing about pernicious anaemia and the nerve damage I have from being fobbed off for 18 months before finally being given a blood test. Being told my B12 was so low they were surprised I hadn't ended up in hospital! Nothing about the osteoarthritis in my lower back or degeneration in my pelvis and hips. Crucially no mention on this list of the most recent scans / diagnosis from my Benenden healthcare about my disc prolapse and OA in my neck, though it's the reason for this referral and is referenced in the main letter. It's like they've cherry picked some things to list and completely ignored other conditions!

That's interesting. I'm sorry that it was upsetting for you. You would have hoped that they would have selected the more relevant issues, wouldn't you.

I've seen referrals where I've spent time very carefully explaining to a GP (or other professional at the GP surgery) the very nuanced diagnosis and advice given to me by a specialist only for it to end up as something quite different in a referral form to another specialist in another department of the hospital.

GP records are so important as the various specialists in various departments don't necessarily speak to each other. If it's all being wildly misinterpreted via a GP record, for whatever reason, it can be disastrous for patients.

I have access to blood test results and can see whether a letter was sent to and from the hospital. I also have access to hospital records including letter contents although can't see all test results. I think you can get full access to everything on records but have to put in a request and can take months.

The reason why historic records can take longer to access is that they have to be checked for 3rd party information in your records, which usually must be redacted for confidentiality reasons.

If you are making a claim for medical negligence then 30 days is neither here nor there, there is very little that is so urgent it can't wait for that.

The problem with SAR is that unscrupulous bodies can fail to provide the information within 30 days, and then fail to give a timeframe for response. This is against the criminal law, yet they do it. One can complain to the ICO, but this can take months. The deadline for complaining to the ombudsman is one year from the date of the incident, and one needs to exhaust the initial complaints process first. So, yes, not having instantaneous access to one's own records (in the same way as one has access to one's own bank records) does hinder the process.

Imagine if you needed to access money urgently from your bank account or money had disappeared from your bank account and in response your bank refused to let you have access to your bank records for a month because it was "against GDPR" and they needed to check whether there was any third party information that they needed to redact... People would have questions.

As for there being very little that is urgent that can't wait 30 days, where does a GP messing up a two week wait cancer referral fit in to that?

Thanks. That's interesting. I think hospital records access must be yet another add on.

I too am having a hard time getting GP and Hospital records, having already asked them in every way I know how.

@CloudgazerCat thanks, I seem to still have this childhood fear of all powerful doctors in my 40's!

I'm learning a lot from this thread. It seems some surgeries are better at providing records than others, and as you say there will be instances where 30 days is just too long to wait for urgent matters.

I hope you manage to get what you need from your surgery, it sounds like they're making things more difficult than they need to be and possibly they are well aware of this!

But probably not the free text in your consultation notes

Airmid app

The app only works if you have sorted the access via your practice, that's what the OP is asking about.

Good luck with it. Can Citizen's Advice help? Or are there patient advocacy services who can assist?

From what I am learning the medical professions have a lot to learn about transparency and compliance. Good luck

I have full clinical access to all records and can see them on Systmonline the website and also on the NHS app. As far as I remember there was something to click on on Systmonline 'request full clinical access' It took about a month to 6 weeks, I think it needed authorised, then I had a text message saying it had been done 'but the surgery would take no responsibility for any anxiety it may cause".

I can see it all on the NHS app also and I do have Benenden health too and have had no problem with either requesting private referrals or having stuff diagnosed with it going on my record. EG The GPs would email me a copy of said private referral usually the same day.

I do think the GPs seem super efficient though. It's a big city centre group of practices maybe that helps?

That does sound super-efficient. It is great to know it is possible! Thanks.