Viewing medical records?

[victry77]

Just a quickie. has anyone ever paid to get access to their medical records? Was just looking for info and from my understanding you pay £10 to view and £50 if you want copies. Just wondered if anyone has done this for any specific reason and was it useful?

 

[Charles Robin]

You might be surprised what you can get access to just by enquiring. My DSN showed me my blood test records for the last 5 years and gave me a printout. No charge, I just happened to ask

 

[novorapidboi26]

I have access to all my diabetes related medical history on a website called 'mydiabetesmyway', which I think is only available in Scotland at the moment....

It lists all the medication I received from the GP all the way back to 1999, diagnosis, and that includes all non diabetes related stuff, as it comes straight from the GPs database..

Anyway, you might be able to get your diabetes related stuff with no cost if you ask around.......

 

[Bluetit1802]

If you ask, you get. If you don't ask, you don't get. I have never been refused print outs of any tests or scan reports or biopsy reports or indeed path lab reports after surgery, diabetes related or otherwise, and have never had to pay for them.

 

[czj]

I have been meaning to access my paper records. I asked my GP about it recently, and he said he didn't know the process and to speak to the admin team. I just haven't got round to it. I was assuming it would be £10, as it should count as a subject access request under the data protection act

I do have a specific reason, as I was keen to find out the order in which two events happened 11 years ago - was I prescribed Lantus and very shortly afterwards develop proliferative retinopathy? Or was it the other way round?

I'm off on holiday in the next few days, but your question has reminded me, and I am going to do it when I get back, so thanks

 

[dtennant9]

I have access to all my diabetes related medical history on a website called 'mydiabetesmyway', which I think is only available in Scotland at the moment....

It lists all the medication I received from the GP all the way back to 1999, diagnosis, and that includes all non diabetes related stuff, as it comes straight from the GPs database..

Anyway, you might be able to get your diabetes related stuff with no cost if you ask around.......

I use 'mydiabetesmyway' as well. Can be very helpful.

 

[victry77]

Thank you for all your replies. I have an appointment with my DSN at the end of next month so might ask. It would be great to get a print out as I always find things hard to take in if I'm just shown something on a screen and I'm just interested for my own curiosity really.

 

[czj]

I an now back my holidays @victry77 and made a start on this. Just the first stage, but it's not been what I expected so far.

I was imagining I'd turn up with my £10, and they would say something along the lines of "Come back next Tuesday" at which point they'd give me a nice cup of tea and a biscuit, and leave me to read my file for a while.

I now have the form. I have to fill in personal details, but also details of the incidents I am interested in, then have the form signed in the presence of a professional (Like a GP, JP, police office) to confirm I am who I say I am. I accept many people may be interested in an incident because they are hoping to sue someone, but it feels suspicious to me - would they edit the records? Some years ago I was responsible for the Data Protection registration at a large firm, so I have a bit of experience and think this is over the top. Perhaps there is specific legislation covering regarding medical records - I'll check.

Meantime, once I have completed the form and handed it in, it may take a while, and the receptionist thinks I have to see the file in the presence of the doctor. (By the way this procedure applies to NHS Highland)

 

[victry77]

Hi czj, yeah, that wouldn't have been what I expected either. For me personally, looking at my records in the presence of the doctor wouldn't really work. It's something I would want to mull in my own time. Totally forgot to ask my DSN about this when I saw her a few days ago.

Hope you find the information you're looking for. Good luck!

 

[MrsB]

I think I remember reading somewhere that you read the notes with a Dr so that they can explain anything that is unclear or written in 'medicalise'. Also to help put what is written into context.

Hope that helps

 

[czj]

Today I got to review my medical records. And for me it was a really positive experience. I was given my file and left alone in a room to review it. There was a Dr on hand, and the practice manager, but I had no queries. As to cost, there was some negotiation – they suggested zero, but I made them take £10. I took a few notes of dates / events, and a couple of photos of parts of a letter, but I didn't ask for any formal copies of anything.

The main reason I had wanted to do it was to see if there was any link between my proliferative retinopathy and Lantus. The sequence was clear – retinopathy came first. Nothing one opticians appointment, proliferative 6 months later. Excellent news to me, as I like to blame Lantus for many things, but retinopathy won’t be one of them.

That whole retinopathy episode had taken months from my optician’s appointment to seeing the specialist. I was never sure why, but always knowing I could have made more fuss and been seen quicker. Reading the notes I saw every letter between the optician, my GP, the specialist, all included the word urgent. It was just clear that even in urgent cases if the right information is not included with a letter there will be a delay.

Among everything there were odd clinic letters from my childhood that brought back memories. None of the Drs seemed to realise I had forged every urine result in my book. It was clearly worth all the care I took.

Overall it was definitely fascinating, useful, and I am glad I did it. So thanks for the prompt @victry77