Accessing health records of a deceased person.

[waterlego]

I’d be interested to hear from anyone who has done this. I’m trying to find out more about the types of cancer that my mum had as I’m hoping to see a genetic counsellor about my own cancer risks.

Has anyone done this? I’ve found some information online and a form I can fill in but I can’t find any information on where to send the form. Grateful for any information or experiences. Thanks in advance.

Could you ask your GP to help? Were you power of attorney?

Can you look under subject access requests at the hospital she was treated at? I have both my late parents records as I needed some of this to claim on a medical insurance policy they had.

Thank you both. I will try both avenues. I can’t remember whether I ever had Power of Attorney, but my brother will probably know. I was an executor of Mum’s will (along with my brother) so hopefully that will provide evidence of a trusted relationship.

One of the hospitals she was treated at is a big NHS hospital so I’ll look at their website for information on access requests. The other hospital was a private one so I don’t know if the process will be different there. I think I’ll start by contacting both hospitals and take it from there. Thank you both for your suggestions.

I have some experience of this through work. It might actually be easiest to request her GP records rather than from the hospital, they will most likely have hospital correspondence within. Patient records are sent to the local Trust shortly after death, so you will need to contact the health Trust where she lived - they will likely have a form for you to complete and may ask for proof that you are her legal representative (I.e. a grant of probate)

Thank you @Rosecoffeecup. I emailed her GP surgery and have received a reply to say that they no longer hold the records and I should apply via PCSE England (Primary Care Support). It’s a long form to fill in requiring lots of documentary evidence eg birth certificate (to prove the relationship) and a copy of the will to show I was the executor. So now I’m foraging about for all these documents that I’ve obviously put somewhere safe 🙄😬 I’ve also specified that I am only interested in records pertaining to her cancers because I really don’t want to have to look through her whole lifetime of medical records. She isn’t here any more but it wouldn’t feel respectful to read her whole medical history. I hope they’ll be able to do that.

I managed to get my Mother’s medical records via the care home she died in. They had extensive records forwarded from the hospital that arranged palliative care and simply passed them onto me as next of kin, after I asked a few questions. It saved me filling out forms and waiting etc …. Painful reading but very glad I have the information

You could contact the hospital she was treated at. Their records will be separate to the GP records (which will only hold diagnosis and copies of letters from the hospital). The hospital notes will be more extensive. Each hospital is likely to have its own process for requesting a view of the notes (unlike Primary Care - GP - which will always be PCSE); they will likely require that you can prove you are an executor of her will. Contact PALS, they should be able to help.

Ah ok, @PlayerOneNotReady, it hadn’t occurred to me that the hospital records would be separate from GP records. Would be much more useful to me to get those hospital records as they will presumably have more information about the diagnoses and treatments. Thank you, I’ll contact the hospitals directly.

@MsRead I’m glad you were able to get those, even though I imagine they’re a tough read for you. I’m sorry for your loss.

If you contact PALS at the hospital your mum was treated at they will arranged it for you. That's what I did. I had forms to fill in and I think they wanted a copy of the probate certificate. It was a while ago now but it wasn't difficult.

@waterlego you say you are hoping to see a genetics counsellor, are you being referred via your GP? I was, due to family histories of cancer, and I just wanted to let you know my experience. I had to give details of all family members, dead or alive, who had cancer. It was the genetics counsellor who obtained all the cancer histories, apparently there is a cancer register, at least there is for NHS Scotland, but I expect England would be similar. The genetics counsellor will refer you on for any investigations if necessary. I'm just suggesting this as another possible route.