Medical Notes

[Tilly2]

I hope this is the right category for this.
I have just been to visit my Dad in hospital. He broke his hip on Christmas Day, was discharged on Tuesday last week and is now back in hopsital with a 'significant U.T.I' and 'depleted kidney function'.

We was in A&E last night and he was later transferred to The Acute Assessment Unit.
That's where I have just been. I asked the nurse if I could see his notes and she refused saying, 'They are not your notes. If you want to see them you have to apply to the 'General Office'. I will find out where that is tomorrow.

I have power of attorney for my dad. Will it be a problem accessing his notes? Was she right to refuse to allow me to see them. I presume it has something to do with data protection.

[boxtops]

It does, tilly - you're not allowed to see anyone's notes but your own, staff would be in considerable trouble for showing a third party your dad's notes. However, if you have power of attorney, you need to make the hospital aware of that, and show them evidence. It may help if your GP confirms this.

[237SJ]

As far as I know from data protection rules at work, you can access the data with your father`s permission.

[woofgang]

Well she was correct to refuse but maybe not helpful. Have you ever seen medical notes? They aren't very readable unless you know how. What precisely do you want to know? An easier way to find out stuff would be to ask the right questions....

[lcg]

you have to apply to the hospital to see the notes, even if you have power of attorney. this an take 40 days and you may have to fund the cost of the copies made (as some may have material deleted etc) it is covered under the data protection act. you do not have the right to see your own notes, either - but if you don't make a fuss.....peek at them if you get a chance as they do get left lying around all over the place. or see your patient's liaison team in the hospital for further help.

[DSJ]

I think UTI means urinary tract infection. Is that what you wanted to know from your Dad's notes? Hope he gets better soon.

[lcg]

btw....i am a nurse and help people access their notes regularly. you have to apply, have the decision agreed and then pay for copies. see the hospital rules for any differences, but those are the basic rule. but as i said, if you don't make a fuss and mooch around the ward, you may be able to read them anyway!!!! x

[Tilly2]

Thanks, DSJ. I do know what a U.T.I is. My Dad has them frequently, along with the resulting confusion, aggression and refusal to eat and drink.

Thanks to all of you for your replies. Perhaps I'll get a bit more information from them tomorrow.
They were 'Very busy' today.

[Tilly2]

You are right icg, the notes are usually left lying about. I have read them often. They were on the trolley today and I couldn't find them. I think I got up the nurse's nose by asking where they were.

[tonyav]

Good luck Tilly. Sorry to hear this about your dad, hope he gets better quickly.

[Sqad]

Tilley....what do you want to know?

[lcg]

that's what i mean, tilly. don't ask them.....just read them! it is a bit awful the way they are left lying around in general settings....anyone could read them. the psych ward where i work keeps them in an office under lock and key - they never leave the office as they contain extremely sensitive information that patients do not always agree with.

[Tilly2]

Basically, sqad, I want to know what treatment he is being given for his broken hip, his uti/ kidney problem and his mental health.

[Sqad]

Tilley...that seems a reasonable request.....ask the House Surgeon OR the registrar.

[lcg]

good idea, squad. tilly....ask his doctor and then nick the notes off the nurses! x

[Tilly2]

I will when I find them, sqad. I suspect they were not around this afternoon.

[Sqad]

If AB can be of any further help................here we are.....

[excelsior-1]

Tilly

may i just add my best wishes to the others seen here .. and i hope you will be able to see his notes without too much hassle

[Tilly2]

That's why I asked, sqad. There's always someone to help on AB.

[Tilly2]

Thank you to everyone for the help and good wishes.

[woofgang]

Tilly I hope you manage to get sorted without too much stress. Sundays, in my experience are difficult days to get information, although they shouldn't be. His mental health note may not be on the ward, some places keep them separate