Getting hold of notes

[lindenlass]

Can someone tell me how I can get hold of my notes from all my births? Not sure where to start!

Thanks

You need to write to the medical records department at the hospital concerned. There may be a charge for the photocopies but this is capped.

I got a copy of mine by calling the hospital and they probably got quite worried and made me an appointment to see the consultant to go through them with me before giving me a copy to take away.

It was in 1996 but think I just called the antenatal clinic or maternity ward?

I called the Head of Midwifery and deamnded them. Still waiting for nicu notes. Then the whole lot are going to a medical lawyer.

I have got mine through requesting them from the hospital's medical records (just call the hospital's main switchboard and ask to be put through to medical records- they can trace them with just your name and date of birth). However I had to pay £50 "administrative fee" for the privilege This seems quite high as have read of others only paying £16- but it varies from hospital to hospital.

If you then want to discuss the content of your notes with an appropriate medical professional you will need to contact the hospital's PALS (Patient Advice and Liason Service)- each hospital has one.

Good luck!

Our hospital has a service called "birth reflections" you contact them and they do it all for you but yes you have to pay for a copy. They will go through all the notes with you and explain what everything means, it's a really useful thing to do.

Wow! Thanks for such quick responses. How much did those of you who paid pay? (Apart from those who've already said!)

I think it was around £15, it certainly seemed reasonable at the time.

As far as I know you can do a subject access request under the Data Protection Act which costs £10 for electronic records or up to £50 for a mixture of electronic and manual records. Hospitals may be able to charge extra for photocopies apparently because they have a special regime under the terms of the Act. They can offer a discussion of the notes but they can't insist on it as a condition of getting the notes. If they refuse to give you a copy of your notes you can get the Information Commissioner's office to intervene. There is a 40 calendar day time limit for them to respond from them receiving confirmation of identity and your £10 fee.

£10 fee and 10p per page photocopying here.

If you request the notes within a month or so at the hospital I was in you only pay the photocopying fee which was around £5 because they still had your notes there IYSWIM and didn't have to request them from where they are kept.

There's a service at my local hospital called 'birth stories' - you get a copy of your notes and a chance to go through them with a specialist mw. I didn't even have to pay for the photocopying - so check if something like this is available, as the records dept won't be aware of it (necessarily) - if I were you I'd make the lead midwife your first port of call.
good luck

Charges at the hospital where I had my DD were same as above but capped at £50.

Why do you want them? If it's for medical reasons the consultant at your next hospital can obtain a copy without you having to pay.

Just had a look at my hospitals website and they'll chargeg £50 for a copy, £10 to view and nothing to view a record that has been added too in the last 40 days

Got mine recently for £25. Tbh they don't make a lot of sense and don't really answer my question of why dd was taken at birth for 20 minutes with no explanation so I would say if there are issues that you want to resolve, try to speak to someone about it