Medical Records

[fruitsalad]

Are you able to request these, and if yes, is there usually a charge?

[bednobs]

yes, yes.

[fruitsalad]

Thank you, and I presume its through the GP's surgery?

[bednobs]

depends if its GP records you want or hospital records (or something else). Are they yousr or someone elses?

[THECORBYLOON]

This link tells you how to do it and it's free

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

[bednobs]

thats if it's yours current ones you want. If you want copies of undigitised notes, you do usually have to pay

[Buenchico]

As there's a risk of you receiving out of date information here, I'll try to clarify the position.

Under the provisions of the Data Protection Act 1998, you were entitled to be given any information held about you by almost any organisation, with just a few fairly obvious exceptions (such as that held by the police or security services relating to active enquiries). However organisations were entitled to make a charge for providing such information. The maximum fee (which was nearly always charged) in most cases was £10 but for medical records it was £50.

Then the EU's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) came into effect. (It remains in effect, even though the UK has left the EU, by virtue of the provisions of Data Protection Act 2018, which replaced the 1998 Act). The GDPR strengthened the old Data Protection Act and removed the ability of organisations to charge fees for providing data other than in very limited circumstances (such as when an individual makes a repeat request, after having already having been provided with the data, or when a request is manifestly unfounded or excessive). So you can now access your medical records free of charge.

This information, from the Information Commissioner, is aimed at health care providers (rather than being directed towards patients) but it explains the situation well anyway:
https://ico.org.uk/for-organisations/guide-to-data-protection/guide-to-the-general-data-protection-regulation-gdpr/right-of-access/health-data/

[pat2604]

It's always been free for me, but if the GP has to write a letter there's charge.

[Peter Pedant]

yes and I am not sure if they charge - I never have been
You should ask for a copy of every hospital appt letter to your GP: I have never been charged for this - and they are very efficient

You have a right ( unless you are mad)

If the records are not -now- then you should apply thro the trust data controller whose address is on their site.

Had a terrible spat with the cancer-of-the-eye o-p ward clerk who averred she had never heard of such a thing. the chief exec under my prompting re-educated them prontissimo. No discretion - they have to do it if you ask

[Peter Pedant]

who said out of date?

It is a national law which complements the European Union's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and replaces the Data Protection Act 1998. that is the 2018 Act

for you and I it is basically the same - but needed to give full force to the GDPR - and there is all this la-la about data and across borders