Am I entitled to my medical records?

[Widget123]

It’s basically that really. Does anyone know or has anyone asked for their medical records from their GP? I just want to see what medication I was on during a certain time frame a few years ago as I have simulate symptoms now. A GP appointment wait time is 3 weeks I just wondered if the surgery can give me my records on request.

Yes you are. I asked about this at my GPs a while back and if I remember correctly there was a fee associated with it.

here you go: www.nhs.uk/using-the-nhs/about-the-nhs/how-to-access-your-health-records/

I thought it was more complex than that? Though would think straightforward enough just to ask for medication history around that time

I just had to fill in a form, took them a week to gather it all, £15.

Huge childhood section is missing though, so I will contact the hospital for the records that they have archived.

Ah that link is perfect thank you. I’ll call up and get them this morning

how would you get hospital records then please

Well no wonder they don’t have appts for 3 weeks if you’re wasting their time doing things like this!

Can't you just ask your question eg by email or letter? Seems less work for them than supplying your whole record!

I asked at reception how to do it and she looked up there and then and told me. Same thing name of a specific medication from a specific time.

Villa you have absolutely no idea why I’m asking for these records, what I need them for or what I’m going to do with them. Why on earth would you come on a thread where someone’s asked a totally innocent question and be so aggressive and negative for absolutely no reason whatsoever. It’s just bitterness

Several people I’ve spoken to won’t come on mumsnet because of people like this and it’s infuriated me. Why would you come on these forums just to have a go at people for no reason at all? It’s so nasty and uncalled for. I am highlighting this because people like Villa put so many people off coming on here.

I’ve asked if I can access my medical records, how in the hell is that ‘a waste of someone’s time’. Find a new hobby

Well said widget. As if the GP will be the one doing the photocopying . I agree about the overly aggressive tone too. No need!

how would you get hospital records then please

For hospital health records, contact the records manager or patient services manager at the relevant hospital trust.

From NHS web site.

Villa you have absolutely no idea why I’m asking for these records, what I need them for or what I’m going to do with them.

Um....
I just want to see what medication I was on during a certain time frame a few years ago as I have simulate symptoms now.

Just a heads up Widget that they can take up to 40 days or so (off the top of my head!) to comply and they only gave me the last year of mine when I applied for them last year, as the years before were not digitally accessible yet.

I'd include a request for any specific info you want in your letter, so you can make sure you get that!

@villamariavintrapp how on earth would this be taking up appt times? The doctors aren't gathering the info and people are very entitled to their own health records.

I had a series of possibly epileptic fits as a child but my mother couldn't give me the details of the diagnosis - should I request my health records (and pay for them) or should I just live with possibly undiagnosed epilepsy and hope I don't die?

Rude and pathetic.

Of course this takes up GP’s time, they may not be doing the photocopying, but somebody is, and the doctor will have to look through (all of) your notes before you get them-to take out 3rd party info etc. Of course you’re entitled to your notes-everyone is, but if it’s for something as simple as checking what medication you were on at a particular time (which is what you stated in your OP) then try to find out another way-or accept that if GPs are spending time doing this kind of admin work then they have less time for appointments. I don’t mean to be aggressive, sorry if it came across like that, just pointing out how it is.

Yes, of course. Under GDPR you can no longer be charged and they only have 1 month now. It's a data subject access request. Be as specific as you can to make the search as easy for them and so they don't try to class it as unwieldy, don't just ask "what records do you have on me" for example, for it to be dealt with efficiently.

Re asking for records. Since GDPR we are inundated with requests for records. I am one of 5 GPs and I have had to check through 5 large sets of records to remove 3rd party information. These record requests are taking up hours of staff and GP time and we can charge nothing for them not even for postage. It's really worrying and the BMA don't support us.
Why don't you just ask for the specific information you need, that would take a lot less time from my point of view.

Agree with PPs.

If you want something specific, ask for it.

Requesting all your notes through GDPR, having every page printed then your GP having to check it all for 3rd party info - what a waste of time.
(Tired GP)