How do l obtain medical records?
Your doctor’s surgery holds your medical records, while a hospital holds records of any treatment you have had there. You have the right to view these under the Data Protection Act 1998. You can simply ask your GP, surgery staff or health authority if you can inspect your medical records. Check with them, but there is usually a charge (the last I heard it was £10 for records held in computerised form, up to £50 for manually kept records) and you may be asked for proof of identity. However, it is recommended that you apply for access in writing by sending a letter by recorded delivery, including any payment and the required proof of identity. You should receive a response no later than 21 days after your application was received, although by law (according to the Data Protection Act) the hospital or surgery has 40 days to respond to a request in writing. If the records are held at a hospital, you should address the letter to your hospital’s Patients Services Manager or Medical Records O
