I've requested a copy of DS's file under the Data Protection Act. He is attending an NHS clinic for psychotherapy as he has AS. I don't feel that they have not been very open with me about access to data/reports, and I was given some letters and reports this summer only after a request from my solicitor (we were undergoing stat assessment) - I had not even been cc'd into the letters to our GP and some of the reports were a year old! I've realised that they hold a lot more information (notes taken after each session, records of meetings with school etc) so I decided to do a DPA request for the whole file. We are looking at school placements for September 2010 and I'm trying to get hold of as much information as I can at the moment.
Yesterday I had a chat with his consultant about this and she said that she felt it would be a breach of confidentiality for the clinic to release all of the information to me. I am really quite disturbed and offended by this - DS is ten and due to his AS, I'm very much involved in his life as he's much less independent than other children of his age. He will not have been involved in any activities that I'm unaware of, for example (he doesn't have any friends outside school). There are no issues such as neglect or custody. DS has said that he doesn't mind me reading them but his consultant said that even if he gave his consent, they wouldn't accept that because he is too young to understand the implications. But if he's too young, then surely as a parent, I should be the one making decisions for him!
I have looked at the Dept for Health info on making complaints and I will probably take the issue further once the 40 days is up. I just wondered what the views are on here and whether anyone else had encountered anything similar?