Can I get copies of specialist's letters?

[morethanasong]

Hi, I hope it's ok for me to post here as my son has a genetic disease and I'm not sure if it counts as a 'special need' or not. This seems like a more supportive place to ask my question though!

What I'd like to know is whether or not I'm entitled to copies of correspondence about my son. At present we receive copies of letters that our paed (let's call him Dr A) sends to a specialist at another hospital (Dr B). We don't get anything that Dr B sends to Dr A. It probably sounds silly, but I hate the thought of people writing to each other about my son and I don't get to hear anything about it. I found myself in tears this week when I checked over a letter and found it referred to another letter giving ds's diagnosis, a week before we were even told that anything was wrong :( I'm probably just being silly, but I'd still like to know whether we can get copies of these letters. Thanks!

i have requested copies of such letters in the past and got them (not sure if i am legally entitled though). why don't you just ask for copies of the letter?

you should be getting copies of all correspondence wrt to your DS

ask for copies and speak to the secretary about being copied in for future correspondence

hth

agree, request them and also request to be copied in - its probably just an oversight but unless you mention it it will continue to happen

You're not being silly at all IMO. Ask to be copied on all correspondence, written or emailed. Yours wont be an unusual request at all.

Thanks everyone, that's very helpful and reassuring to know. I will ask, but I wasn't sure I'd be asking for something that would raise eyebrows or cause problems!

Sorry, wasn't sure if I'd be asking for something.

I ask to be copied into all correspondence, and I photocopy everything, and keep it in an ever growing pile of files.

I think I'm going to have to develop a filing/storage system too. My letter tray per child is not going to be enough this time round.