Medical History

LegacyUser

Hi all,

Just a quick question, I changed doctors a few years back and some of my medical notes are still in the old doctors office. I'm wondering if I have a right to access and receive a copy of these for my self? I'd imagine I am but just want to make sure, and if I am then how would I go about doing this? I was quite sick about 3 years ago and want to do some research into the illness.

Thanks

Overheal

You are of course entitled to information about yourself under the Freedom of Information Act. You need only get in contact with your previous doctor.

username123

Theres 2 ways you can do it - you can get your current GP to request your old records from your old GP or you can contact your old GPs office directly and get them yourself. You may need to put your request in writing. I requested medical records from 2 different hospitals a few years back and needed to write to them for it, they simply photocopied the records and gave them to me - no big deal, just a couple of weeks wait while they located them and copied them. Id imagine GPs office would be even easier as they wouldnt have the same volume to search through to find your records.

Odysseus

It should be an easy enough process to get them, but don't expect there to be loads of infomation in them. GPs I think keep basic notes, as someone who is involved in therapy I had noticed that person as often dissapointed when the request my notes. If as if they where expecting to find a whole case history within. Still if you want to do it go for it. Write to the GP and state that you are requesting your records under the Freedom of Infomation Act 1997. Its important to state your requesting them under the FOI act. Hope that helps

LegacyUser

Thanks guys, I actually went looking through the citizens information website after this post and basically got the same info as you guys gave me! Thanks again guys