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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to try and find out if my medical records have been wrongly accessed?

225 replies

Starrynight567 · 09/02/2025 07:46

I can't go into detail as to why I'm asking, as I may out myself, but I'm suspicious that my exH's now wife could've accessed my medical records, and I'm wondering whether I can find out if she has?
I've been separated from exH for 12 years, and he met his wife about ten years ago. In the time that they've been together his wife has caused a lot of trouble and plainly doesn't like the fact her H shares DC's with me, and has tried to ruin the relationship they have with their dad. Also, she can't abide me, even though I've done nothing to her.
So much has gone on that I can't go into, but I'm now at the point of being really concerned that she could've looked through my medical records. She's a nurse, and I know it's strictly prohibited for anyone to access medical records if they have no need to, but I believe she's brazen enough to do it.

I'm wondering how I can go about finding out, even if just to put my mind at rest, and how far back can they check to see who has actually looked at my records do you know? Thanks

OP posts:
HoskinsChoice · 09/02/2025 07:51

Life's too short. What will you gain by knowing either way? Just forget about it and get on with enjoying your life.

Holdonforsummer · 09/02/2025 07:53

Is she a nurse in a hospital or GP surgery where you are registered or have received care? Have you got any actual proof that she has done this? For example, she knows something she could only have known by doing this? I think you would need more than just a hunch for anyone to check this. Where I work, you can definitely check who has accessed a patient’s records but I’m not sure on what grounds management would check this. I might be wrong but you could contact the data protection team at the hospital and explain your concerns. You can also do a Subject Access Request which is where you ask to see all data they have on you but I am not sure if that includes seeing everyone who has accessed that information. If it’s a hospital, I would start by going through their PALS department and ask to be pointed in the right direction.

Savemefromwetdog · 09/02/2025 07:54

Just get on with your life.

Snowmanscarf · 09/02/2025 07:56

Contact the practice manager at the surgery and the information governance person. Explain your reasoning why they have been accessed. They’ll be an audit trail of who has accessed your notes and they’ll be able to check it out.

If she’s a nurse, she may have had a legitimate reason for accessing our notes. E

Hiwever, if she has disclosed private medical information, this is not okay. Confidentiality is a key component of working in a medical setting. This should be investigated and the nurse could be in serious trouble for talking about your medical conditions outside work.

BendingSpoons · 09/02/2025 07:57

As PP says, where does she work and where do you have records? If, for example, she works in the hospital then it is very unlikely the systems would be linked up enough for her to see GP records.

If you have specific reasons for your concerns then you can make a request. With electronic files they can audit who has accessed them. I don't know how far back. I don't know if they will do it without more concrete concerns. (They might do, I just don't know the details).

Original poster
Starrynight567 · 09/02/2025 07:58

HoskinsChoice · 09/02/2025 07:51

Life's too short. What will you gain by knowing either way? Just forget about it and get on with enjoying your life.

I do get on with my life thanks all the same!
What will you gain by knowing either way?

I don't want to sound rude, but would you like to be concerned that someone could possibly be snooping through your medical records? I think not. So in answer to your question, I'd either gain peace of mind or I'd be able to stop it continuing, if indeed my concerns were ever confirmed.

OP posts:
DreamW3aver · 09/02/2025 08:01

Are they GP, hospital records or both?

Wolfpa · 09/02/2025 08:01

What specific evidence do you have that makes you think this is a possibility? Does she know something she shouldn’t?

Original poster
Starrynight567 · 09/02/2025 08:02

Savemefromwetdog · 09/02/2025 07:54

Just get on with your life.

Do you have to be so rude?

OP posts:
BlondiePortz · 09/02/2025 08:03

So you actually have proof this has been done or are you just thinking it?

fallingupwards · 09/02/2025 08:04

You can apply to see who has looked at your records. You don't have to accuse anyone or give a reason why. You have the right to peace of mind and medical privacy.

Original poster
Starrynight567 · 09/02/2025 08:05

Holdonforsummer · 09/02/2025 07:53

Is she a nurse in a hospital or GP surgery where you are registered or have received care? Have you got any actual proof that she has done this? For example, she knows something she could only have known by doing this? I think you would need more than just a hunch for anyone to check this. Where I work, you can definitely check who has accessed a patient’s records but I’m not sure on what grounds management would check this. I might be wrong but you could contact the data protection team at the hospital and explain your concerns. You can also do a Subject Access Request which is where you ask to see all data they have on you but I am not sure if that includes seeing everyone who has accessed that information. If it’s a hospital, I would start by going through their PALS department and ask to be pointed in the right direction.

She works in my local hospital. Unfortunately I can't go into everything , but her behaviour has given me a lot of cause for concern. I don't have proof as such, just suspicions.

OP posts:
fallingupwards · 09/02/2025 08:06

Access this by requesting a SAR (subject access request) through the NHS app.

Original poster
Starrynight567 · 09/02/2025 08:07

fallingupwards · 09/02/2025 08:04

You can apply to see who has looked at your records. You don't have to accuse anyone or give a reason why. You have the right to peace of mind and medical privacy.

Thank you, that's helpful. I wouldn't want to accuse someone if they've done nothing , but I also don't like feeling uneasy about what this nurse could maybe access.

OP posts:
Original poster
Starrynight567 · 09/02/2025 08:08

fallingupwards · 09/02/2025 08:06

Access this by requesting a SAR (subject access request) through the NHS app.

Thank you I'll look into that.

OP posts:
Original poster
Starrynight567 · 09/02/2025 08:10

DreamW3aver · 09/02/2025 08:01

Are they GP, hospital records or both?

The nurse works in a hospital, so I'm assuming my GP records couldn't be accessed by her.

OP posts:
Londonrach1 · 09/02/2025 08:13

As someone who works in the NHS it is vvv hard to access records of patients you have no access too. The manager is informed and you have to fill in a form which is manager approved why you need access. Do you have any suspicion that she has. You ex dp wil be sacked if she accessed the records but she have to have approval from manager and footprint on the records. Yabu and risk someone's job if you are wrong. However if she knows something you not told her you go via pals. Just hoping telling you how hard it is to access records out your mind at rest.

Original poster
Starrynight567 · 09/02/2025 08:13

BlondiePortz · 09/02/2025 08:03

So you actually have proof this has been done or are you just thinking it?

I've got quite legitimate concerns, just one of them being she's asked one of my DC's something regarding my health in a round a bout way, and this was about something my exH wouldn't have known about.
There's much more that I could say, but I don't want to maybe out myself.

OP posts:
Dreamerinme · 09/02/2025 08:14

I’m sure I’ve read that it’s a sackable offence to look at medical records, including your own (excl NHS App of course), without a specific medical need regarding a patient you are treating. So, she’d have to be incredibly dumb or have huge confidence that she would never be found out.

As others have said do a subject access request etc but you’d also have to have a think about what you would do if it does come back that she has accessed your records. Would you ignore or lay a complaint? How far would you be prepared to take it? If she has never treated you in a medical capacity then why would she be accessing your record except for unprofessional purposes.

SnakesAndArrows · 09/02/2025 08:15

fallingupwards · 09/02/2025 08:06

Access this by requesting a SAR (subject access request) through the NHS app.

I don’t think this will help. A SAR won’t show date-stamped access, surely?

Original poster
Starrynight567 · 09/02/2025 08:15

Londonrach1 · 09/02/2025 08:13

As someone who works in the NHS it is vvv hard to access records of patients you have no access too. The manager is informed and you have to fill in a form which is manager approved why you need access. Do you have any suspicion that she has. You ex dp wil be sacked if she accessed the records but she have to have approval from manager and footprint on the records. Yabu and risk someone's job if you are wrong. However if she knows something you not told her you go via pals. Just hoping telling you how hard it is to access records out your mind at rest.

Edited

And that's what I don't want to do, risk her job if I'm wrong, although I'm wondering how would her job be at risk if she's done nothing?

OP posts:
Original poster
Starrynight567 · 09/02/2025 08:21

Dreamerinme · 09/02/2025 08:14

I’m sure I’ve read that it’s a sackable offence to look at medical records, including your own (excl NHS App of course), without a specific medical need regarding a patient you are treating. So, she’d have to be incredibly dumb or have huge confidence that she would never be found out.

As others have said do a subject access request etc but you’d also have to have a think about what you would do if it does come back that she has accessed your records. Would you ignore or lay a complaint? How far would you be prepared to take it? If she has never treated you in a medical capacity then why would she be accessing your record except for unprofessional purposes.

I would say she's incredibly confident, and I believe she sees herself as too smart for anyone to ever find out about any wrong doing she involves herself in. As I said, I can't go into specifics or I'll out myself, but she's given me enough reasons to be concerned about her.
I would definitely make a complaint if it did turn out she'd accessed them.

OP posts:
Nevertrustacop · 09/02/2025 08:23

You will never know. Give up this idea. Firstly records are not centrally held. So you would have to know where each type of record was. So, GP, physio, hospital, opticians, cross border Trusts all hold records in different places. A GP can't see your hospital records. A paramedic can't see your hearing assessment etc. Plus if you are going back 12 years, most records were paper. Some still are! In filing cabinets in staff offices. Absolutely no record of who might have had a browse. Give up. That way madness lies.

custardpyjamas · 09/02/2025 08:25

There may theoretically be a log of everyone who looks at your records, and it may be more or less accurate for electronic records, although I don't know if everyone logs in and out every time they leave the desk for a moment if they are working on a terminal in a hospital surgery for instance. I think paper records in files would be pretty vulnerable to anyone with access to the filing system. How motivated would she be to sneak a peak on someone else's log in, or to have a quick rummage through a filing cabinet while looking for some records she needs to retrieve? I don't think you could ever be sure she hasn't seen some of your records, if she has the opportunity is really motivated and sneaky about it.

And as a patient if you are sitting waiting for a hospital appointment there are often piles of files on the reception desk and people wheeling around and parking trolleys full of files it never seems exactly secure you just assume no one is that interested in your stuff. Nurses wander up rummage through the files wander off all the time, no idea what they are doing exactly you just assume it's all necessary.

CaptainFuture · 09/02/2025 08:26

Starrynight567 · 09/02/2025 08:15

And that's what I don't want to do, risk her job if I'm wrong, although I'm wondering how would her job be at risk if she's done nothing?

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How would you be risking her job if you're wrong? It would evidence she's done nothing wrong?

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