Can she see my medical records?

[worried78]

My ex and I split a few years back, but things are still very open have been left sore.
We have two children he does not see, he does have PR.
His mother works for the NHS and my friend told me to be careful, because his mother, a hospital nurse, could search our records.
Is this true?
Since this seed was planted in my mind I have avoided going to the doctors and have had to attend hospital towns away, incase they could access them.
Is it logged who searches patients files?

I think they have anticipated this kind of abuse of the computerised system. Whether the safeguards actually work is another matter. Don't avoid the doctors, though; I expect you could discuss your fears with them, and get it checked out, ie find out who has looked. I think your MIL could be sacked if she abused her role for nefarious reasons.

yes it leaves a footprint when records are accessed. It would be gross misconduct, is there really any reason why you think she would have the inclination to look at them?

I honestly never even thought about looking up anyone's records when I worked in a hospital.

Because of a court case, and because my DS has been attending hospital for consultant care, although in another city (I have been told its not the same trust though). Ex hasn't asked anything about him, which I have expected him too. He doesn't genuinely care, but likes to point out I haven't informed him of such things to make me look bad. I won't tell him, unless he asks - as cafcass advised, to keep contact minimal.
Also because I was too ill to attend a court hearing. Normally this is the kind of thing he would push, but he didn't bother. The reason was a reason that would have been on my medical records in the same trust she works.
Sorry it reads so messy, I am just trying to give as much info, without giving myself up lol.

How would I go about finding out if she had?

I don't think it's as easy as just typing a name in and there are your records for anyone to see. I think they have layers of security.

She wouldnt be able to access gp records but may be able to access the hospital in which she works. There will be an audit trail. If you are concerned that she could then you can contact the hospital (via pals) and they can put a lock on the records so she cannot access them via her log in. Its not a big deal and happens from time to time so they will definately be ok about doing this (protects the staff member against allegations too so sometimes has to be done in cases of vexatious complaints)

And it would be letters and results on the computer that she may be able to access. Not the paper records the doctor writes in.

I'm a hospital receptionist I only have access to the outpatients appointments system and a general 'has this person been to hospital recently system' I have to have a legitimate reason for accessing information about any patient. For staff that it's relevant to they would have access to a program which contains letters relating to treatment, blood/scan results and some details of consultations, these systems all need to be logged on to separately and again there'd have to be a legitimate reason to access them. If we have to deal with a patient we are related/connected to we are supposed to declare conflict of interest and ask another member of staff to deal with that person.
It's unlikely that she'd have accessed your records but usually you can contact your trusts medical records department and speak to them about your records.

Sorry didn't realise how long that was, should have paragraphed!

I think I shall contact them then. She is a strange being at the best of times, sacked from her last job for being untrustworthy, and admitted it to me. How she is being trusted to be a nurse now I don't know to be honest.

I have had lots of blood tests done, but all ordered via a doctor in another hospital in another trust. I think I will request that she is blocked from being able to see them. It is because of her I avoid that hospital like the plague, and have taken DS to the other city too.

Thing is because of the close relationship, she knows my address, age, d.o.b and all the info for my next of kin - and obviously the same for her grandchildren.

Thanks ever so much for your helpful responses.

Definitely block her . My DH blood tests were viewed by someone before we were told . It came out in conversation. Awful .

If she has viewed them she will be in serious trouble. I work in a hospital and access medical records pretty much all day long. I am not allowed to access my own records or those of anyone I am related to or work with. The IT dept have a system which would throw up any suspicious activity and I believe they do random checks. If you call ther trust in question and ask to speak to their information governance team they will probably be able to check. I would be sacked on the spot for this, hospitals take confidentiality very seriously as they are fined heavily for any breeches.

They do random audits of which records are accessed. she would lose her job if she accessed your records. How could she use any information she found without making people aware that she had done this. Is she likely to take a risk like that. I dont know anyone who valued their job who would. Is she a trained nurse?

In theory i could access medical records. It would leave a permanent footprint, it is gross misconduct and a criminal offence. It's also morally abhorrent. The morality issue would mean I wouldn't but the other layers are there for anyone without morals (my mother is attending my department soon, I've deliberately not even accessed her appointment never mind anything else. If another appointment needs making i will ask a colleague to do it because I'd need to access a certain level to do that and I respect her privacy).

With a person who doesn't have morals i couldn't say that it would be impossible for them to access information. Obviously, if discovered, the penalties are high but it's a bit late then. They'd need to be pretty stupid to use info in a court case because you'd call the hospital, they'd check the audit trail and she'd be fired and worse - plus the info would be disallowed by the judge. Of course all of that is not really recompense for what you'd go through! Definitely approach and explain your concerns. I can't see a good reason not to.

These latest posts are very reassuring, especially to learn that it's a criminal offence. As it should be. Patients ought to be told this, though.

Thank you, I will definitely call, check and get her blocked, if possible.
I don't think she would give the info to use in the court case, more give to her son to use to hurt me.
There have been a number of things that hint they know my health situation.
From her behaviour and actions towards my both my children and I, I wouldn't doubt for a second she would risk her job for her son. They are twisted, putting it mildly.

It is nice to know there is so much in place. I hadn't ever contemplated they would have a blocking system.

I hope I am wrong, but nothing surprises me with them anymore, and I'm fed up of the traveling to other trust hospitals.