Is it possible to get hold of my hospital notes and if so how?

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I would really like to read the notes of my two hospital births. Not because anything went badly wrong but just because things are already a bit hazy and I really want to firm up my memory. I know this probably sounds a bit odd but I'm not planning any more and it frustrates me that I only have snapshot memories of parts of my labours.

Can I just write to the hospital and request them? Has anyone done this?

You are allowed to see them under the freedom of information act. You have to write to the hospital and arrange a time to go in and read them. I've not done this but I know you can.

i wonder if i could get copies of my notes when i move country? or can you only just read them?

I got a copy of my birth notes and damm funny drawings on them

If they were accurate i'm surprised my dh ever went near

Write to the Head of Maternity, or phone hospital and ask for the correct person. They will probably charge - i paid but it was only a smallish amount.

Good luck

I got a copy of my notes. I contacted the hospital and they posted them to me (there was an admin charge.) I think it would have been free had I only wanted to go in and read them

Its a data protection act request you need to make.
You will need to write to the hospital and doctor seperately, your old doctors if you have ever changed should have passed any notes to new doctors.
The fee is usually around the 10 squid mark lol this is for copies of paperwork though i do believe, to just view them should be free but not sure.

They have a time limit from receiving your PAYMENT for your request to comply.
Can't bloody remember for the life of me what this is but think its about 40 days

I received a copy of mine recently. Best place to contact is the PALS department in the hospital and they will advise you who to write to as they will send you a specific form to complete. I think my form had to be counter-signed by someone who knew me also. The hospital charges per page up to a maximum of £50 and as I requested my notes and those of my daughter, I paid £50 for them. Also, my consultant and the paediatric consultant had to agree to the request in case they felt the notes would be detrimental to your mental health. It did take quite a while for this all to go through but got them eventually. This was a London hospital but every hospital will have different policy. Cx

If its your birth notes you want go to mothersvoice.org.uk and they have a letter you can print off to send for them. there is also more info there.
the birth trauma assoc have something similar too.

Sorry to hijack, but does anyone know how longthey keep the notes? Indefinitely?

i think it is 20 + years

When I was discharged from hospital after each of my 3 births, I was given all my birth notes to give to the HV. I sneakily took a copy before handing them over and still have them now in each child's baby book (now 16, 11 and 7). It is nice to look back because I can't always remember the exact minute each one was born, how long stage 1, 2 and 3 labour was, how long they were. Still like looking at them now.

Thanks Lulu.

You should write to the Medical Records Department of the hospital you gave birth in. If you want birth records for different births and they were in different hospitals then you will need to make separate requests. You must complete a data protection form and prove who you are.

You are charged an admin fee + a fee per page that is copied up to a maximum of £50 total. You could potentially be charged up to £50 per set of notes you apply for if they are each from different Trusts but in reality you are not normally charged the full amount. I paid £15 total for two sets of notes from different hospitals.

It can be useful to get a copy and then request to meet with a midwife to go through them with you as they are usually chocablock full of abbreviations/medical terminology and also some TERRIBLE handwriting!

They can be soooo interesting though. I got mine when I was about to start my midwifery training and I understood a little bit more every time I got them out and read them.

Feel free to ask on here if there's something in them you don't understand.