Has anyone ever asked for their medical records?

[SenseofEntitlement]

I'm considering asking for mine. I am about to be transferred from Early Intervention to Community, (and that is all being ballsed up, but another issue) and I'm thinking this might be my last chance to make some sense of the last few years.

I have a terrible memory as it is, and if I have a full on "do" I forget nearly everything, so I have no idea if I have ever been sectioned, how long I was on each drug, how many many times and how long I have been in hospital, what the effects were, which doctors I have seen and so on. I can piece some bits together (a lot is by searching my old usernames on here) and DH and my mum can tell me some, but I really want to find everything out.

I'm also curious to know exactly what they think is wrong with me - I know I have bipolar disorder, I have it on my notes (finally! even though I was being treated for it for years) but I have also seen postnatal depression/psychosis on there and borderline personality disorder, both of which I don't think are right, but have never actually been discussed.

Anyhow. Has anyone ever asked for their notes, was it successful, etc?

Yes for a divorce where we anticipated we may have to disclose them. Surgeries have no choice if you request them. I also have a friend who moved abroad and asked for hers to take with her. I think there is probably a charge (but mine disappeared into my overall divorce legal costs).

I would say that I did get a huge shock when I read mine (reading them became a slightly obsessive hobby for a while). OMG - some of the stuff recorded really made me feel very 'observed' and very naive at the extent of my openness to medical staff and how cynical they were behind my back.

But I don't regret seeing them. I chose to shred the copy I had put the past in the past. I really needed to put a complicated medical period to bed and move forward and that was part of doing that. Oh, and learning some lessons about how to deal with professionals in the health sector .

Friends did suggest that with very little effort I could turn them into a book, but noone would ever believe most of it

There is a legal right for you to see your medical records, under the terms of legislation "Access to Records" . I think some health trusts charge around £10 but you definitely have the right and don't be put off. Only thing is I don't know when this legislation became effective and you are only entitled to have access to your records since that time. I'm sure if you google "Acces to Records" you will get the info you need.

Yes I requested mine after a spell in a Mother and Baby Unit and being under the CMHT for the 2 or so years after.

I found it quite horrific reading TBH - there was stuff in it which I had no memory of and some of it was quite distressing e.g. that I had urinated on the carpet, been uncooperative with staff (very unlike my personality), excessive water drinking etc.

It was a huge file, and I had to pay about £40 for all of it which I found a bit (thought it would be about £10)

But in a way it did help me put the episode to bed, knowing what happened and in what order. So overall I'm glad I did.

Is there an exemption for mental health records? I am still having treatment.

Senseof - no, certainly not in my case. I got all my GP records from the date of joining the Practice and psychiatric paperwork dating from transferring to my local hospital. And I was still under treatment, tho on a lesser basis, at both places.

I got all my GP records before we moved to France, they did it very quickly and it cost 10 pounds, but the records themselves were a total mess. They were not collated in any particular order, so dates were all mixed up, an entire section of 4 years was missing, particular consultations from specialists were missing - the whole thing was shocking! No new doctor (and I was always seen by a new GP) could ever make head or tails of it.

I much prefer the French system. Everytime you get a test done (bloods, EEG, etc) you get a copy of the results, everytime you see a specialist you get a copy of the report. A copy goes to your GP as well but you have your own to keep.

I have considered getting my health visitor records, from nine years ago, but I haven't plucked up the courage. I am not sure if I want to know what the stupid bitch thought of my house, childcare ... etc.

You can get hold of your records if you are still having treatment, unless there is thought to be a danger to yourself, or another person or a child protection issue.