How can a person apply for access to their health records if they are not living in the UK?
Answer In cases where a patient moves abroad, their GP health records are sent to the local Primary Care Trust and their hospital records are stored in the hospital or sent to a local archive. They are retained for the minimum period. Hospital records are kept for a minimum of 8 years following the end of treatment and GP records for 10 years, though please note that certain types of records are kept for longer. At the end of the minimum retention period the Records Manager at the Trust/hospital/archive will decide whether to retain further or destroy the records. Under the UK Data Protection Act 1998, a patient has the right to apply for access to copies of their health records. The request should be made in writing to the record holder(s), and a fee will be payable, with the maximum that can be charged set at £50.
