Getting your Medical Documents, so that you can read them for yourself.

[Gjkas]

I was just wondering how i can get hold of my Medical Records, so that I could check them for myself. Can anyone give me any Advice on how to go about it ????.

Thankyou. Gjkas

[Hidden]

You definitely have a right to view your records. Simply call your doctor’s office and request a copy. There may be a fee involved, which to me is wrong but I suppose it depends on the office policy.

If the records are at a hospital, call the medical records department. I did so many years ago when I wanted to view records of my pregnancy and delivery after my daughter was born. There was no fee, I just went into a room in the medical records department and was able to leisurely read through my file.

[Gjkas in reply to Hidden]

Oh thanks so much for getting back to me. Its the Hospital Records that i wanted to view . Do you think that they could perhaps make any photocopies and post them to me. I'm not very mobile and don't think i would be able to do it that way. I would be able to give them the 2 different years that I wanted to view.

I have so many questions that I need to be answered. But I have to be sure of what I say

Thankyou for your help. Gjkas.

[Hidden in reply to Gjkas]

I can’t say that they would do that but it doesn’t hurt to ask. You will be required to sign a release of records form, there’s no doubt about that. I highly doubt that they would electronically send them to you, as that can pose a risk to privacy issues.

I hope you manage to obtain these records!

[Hidden in reply to Gjkas]

Your medical Records can be viewed, not copied. A nurse or Receptionist will be in the room with you.

Your GP may have copies on the computer from the hospital of various scans etc.

As mentioned you can ask your GP to view records.

You are generally unable to have copies of scans etc. However you can ask the hospital to send you a copy of their findings as seem by your GP. Sometimes depending on your GP seeing your records may be refused especially if your prognosis needs out way the benefits. I had scans taken five weeks ago, the letter from the clinic was very abrupt.

The appointment I have next week will be down to the GP on how much information given and if I am able to take on the results, ie Mental Health/ Anxiety, not been able to accept, possible terminal prognosis. Not been able to accept a negative prognosis

BOB

[Gjkas in reply to Hidden]

Hi, i know for a fact that the Doctors do not always tell you the truth.because we have caught them out more than once before. Year's ago we used to be given our files while we were waiting to see the Doctor i wish it was like that now..i think Doctors tell you so much, but leave the.

Thanks a lot x Gjkas

[Mary-intussuception in reply to Hidden]

Bob

Please check out the regulations that have been in force since

25 May 2018 (GDPR).

Also : photocopies of records and copies of images were obtainable long before this date, but would incur a fee if the patient had not been seen within the previous 40 days of the application.

[brokeninpieces in reply to Gjkas]

No they won’t . They made me go inside and sign and show drivers /ID. Then copied them and gave them to me .

[headlu in reply to brokeninpieces]

Yes my husband was applying for LTD INSURANCE and then SSDI had to have numerous DR's.and Hospital records.Went to Records Dept.(called ahead on where to go for each)they asked what dates?wasn't sure on some past tests so gave a 2 year span (on one in particular)and they ALL made COPIES for us to TAKE HOME AFTER SIGNING RELEASES.

NO PROBLEMS from any of his DR'S.or HOSPITAL's!!!

(Thank goodness or it would have been a day from hell for them LOL)!!It is OUR BODY and paid a HIGH PRICE for them to see us!!so those are also my PROPERTY!!!

[Gjkas in reply to headlu]

Oh thankyou. The trouble is at the moment i am too I'll to take all this on.I have paid a high price for their incompetence.

It's a long story, but it's to do with an Angiogram that went wrong.

I wasn't supposed to have had it in my groin because my Cardiologist told me this a few years ago. I'd already had one there previously.

But when i was taken into hospital 18 months ago my Cardiologist wasn't there, so another Cardiologist took over .I told him that I wasn't to have it done in my groin , i explained to him the reason why. He said, yes that's fine, we can do it in your wrist.

But when I was taken to where they did the procedure, it was like a cattle market. A young Man came over to me and introduced himself as Dave. He was eating a sausage roll at the time.

Anyway they got me ready and i

had the shock of my life. It was Dave that was doing the procedure.

He tried to go through the wrist 3 times and said he couldn't do it because my blood vessels were calcified.

But then I felt such a terrible pain in my groin. After me stressing to them that they wasn't to do it there. They took no notice. He attempted to do it there 3 times .Then he tore the main Blood Vessel and I had a Major Bleed. I was in agony, pain in my back, my stomach, right the way down my right leg, couldn't move my toes. Then everyone seemed to panic. When he had his fists in my groin i can remember shouting to him ( SHIT, get off me. ).He said, I can't i have to stem the flow.

It was only then that I realised what had really happened.. I was soaking wet ,but it was my own blood, and they didn't plug the hole.

He wasn't even supervised. The Cardiologist that I had been speaking to on the ward wasn't even there. He wasn't even in the room.

Oh my gosh. It would take too long for me to tell you everything that went on afterwards..But i later found out that the chap that did the procedure was new there.

He knew that what he did was wrong because he came to see me several times afterwards to apologise to me.

So did the Cardiologist that I saw 1st of all.

I have a little lump where he did the procedure, with puckering around it.

I get pain and pins and needles around that area and so far down my leg.

My own original Cardiologist wants me to have another Angiogram but with the MRI. I've said No. I want nothing to do with them anymore.

He's actually written twice to my GP to have a talk to me about it. But I said NO.

But I know that i can't deal with it all right now.

But thankyou so very much for your help and Advice. 😊. Gjkas

[Mary-intussuception in reply to Hidden]

No fee. Not since new rules on 25 May 2018. They can't charge you and they must respond speedily and no later than 30 days after receipt of your written request.

Request must be in writing either letter or email.

They cannot insist that you fill in a form. You may have to give evidence of Identity such as recent Gas Bill, Driving License etc.

[Hidden]

In the UK you can ask your GP Surgery to see your records, you will be taken into an empty room and you will be watched over. Generally you can only go back to a certain time period.

Your GP in the UK may ask you tosign a paper to allow the Surgery to give access to any Health Professions who may see them in hospital etc, signing this form is recommended.

When you do see a Specialist they will have this access to make positive treatment decisions.

One thing that is a good idea, if in hospital, or need to attend a Dental Hospital, they will send copies of results, treatment, also the recommendations your GP can follow. You can request a copy of this correspondence to be sent to your Home Address, so you will have a copy to file away at home

BOB

[Gjkas in reply to Hidden]

Oh Thanks Bob , i wish i knew that 8 months ago .

Night Night Gjkas x

[Mary-intussuception in reply to Gjkas]

You can get copies of all your medical records free of charge. This is the law now since 25 May 2018.

You can also ask for a print out of blood tests results as & when you have them.

[Gjkas in reply to Mary-intussuception]

Thankyou Mary-intussuception.

for your advice.

Hey, May 25th is our 57th Wedding Anniversary.

Thankyou so much. Gjkas 😊

[Mary-intussuception in reply to Gjkas]

You are so welcome.

I had not seen this post until recently and am quite shocked to see so much incorrect information contained in some of the answers.

I have given this information on forums on here several times over the last two years.

It'll be a cosy meal IN for two then, to celebrate this year !! ❤

[Gjkas in reply to Mary-intussuception]

Oh yes it'll be a cosy meal IN for the 2 of us .It's been like that for the past 8 years because of my illnesses.

But being together is the main thing.

I pray that we have many more years together. You please Take Care and Stay Safe.😊👍Thankyou x.

[Hidden]

You are privy to every document you have. You just go to or call each office and ask for a copy of your records. Sometimes they charge. If you are a minor though, you can't.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

It is all to do with hard copy from earlier days, they do not need to show you the original hard copy from before computers. However computer records under freedom of information can be seen by the patient

BOB

[Gjkas in reply to Hidden]

Right, okay.Dont mind about the charge as long as I could just prove that what I heard was right .

Thanks Melhall. Really appreciated. Gjkas.

[Mary-intussuception in reply to Hidden]

No charge now in the UK ( not since 25 May 2018).

[Shiner19]

Hi there, all you have to do is phone the surgery and they will make time for you to read through them, I asked and was advised against it incase it upset me, I think it would be important for you to really think this through because once you've read them there is no going back, you may feel hurt and angry, you may not get much sense out them if the prescription writing is anything to go by lol. Goodluck.

[Gjkas in reply to Shiner19]

Yes you could be right I know that some things are best ,to be left well alone .

Can't understand WHY they don't tell you everything in the 1st place.

Would save a lot of stress

Thanks Shiner, i understand what you mean. 😭

[Shiner19 in reply to Gjkas]

♥️

[Gjkas in reply to Shiner19]

❤. To you as well Shiner. Thanks. x.

[Want2BHappy3]

Sure, I've done this several times. Go to the documents department at main hospital (Call your insurance for the location). You'll need to fill out a form to request them. It might take several days and be prepared they might charge you for doing this? And the Norm is hey usually only keep these records for 10 years?

[Gjkas in reply to Want2BHappy3]

Okay thanks,

I'll have to get my Husband to sort this out for me .Don't feel at all well.

Will have to get a move on if they only keeps them for 10 years .

Thanks so much .Gjkas .

[Want2BHappy3 in reply to Gjkas]

Your Welcome, as a matter of fact I'll be changing insurance companies next month, I want to get my records former insurance. Oh, by the way you mentioned you're husband helping you? Well, they won't give them to him because of privacy laws, they will be asking for ID.

[Gjkas in reply to Want2BHappy3]

Oh B....r.

I didn't think about the Privacy Laws.

Thanks for pointing it out to me .

Oh, will have to think of something.

. Gjkas x.

[Want2BHappy3]

You're welcome, they won't email them either. My insurance company had me make an appointment to get them.

[Simpsons]

I don’t know where you live. I work for a GP Surgery in London. Certainly our patients have a right to see their medical records. We always ask for a written request first. Also if you can give details of the years you are looking for that’s also helpful. Some records are paper but also help electronically. Depending on what information you want from hospitals that may also be at your GP surgery, ie clinic letter,results sent to the surgery from the hospital. There is a charge to cover the admin work and any copying you might want done. As someone said earlier someone from the surgery will go through them with you, so you would need to go to your surgery in person. They won’t email them because of security. Hope this may help a bit

[Mary-intussuception in reply to Simpsons]

In the UK no organisation can charge now - Medical, Police, Local Authority nor anyone since new rules of 25 May 2018.

Please check out GDPR 25 /5/2018. Rights of Access .

Some bodies also refer to these request as SARs (Subject Access Requests).

The organisation should not delay in replying, must do so at the outside within 30 days, and has no right to insist on a form being completed.

Requests may be by letter or email.

Copies should be supplied, images are usually supplied on CD.

I arranged to collect mine to save the organisation the Registered Postal Fee.

[Mary-intussuception]

* How to go about it:

Phone the hospital & ask for the department / person that deals with Access to records requests.

Ask for postal address and email address.

Write email or letter asking for copies of all your medical records & investigations reports ( xrays, scans, blood tests etc).

They might say you must fill in a form - however this is not a legal requirement. The law is that you apply in writing which can be by email.

You can do the same at GPs - write to Practice Manager or GP.

Since new regulations of 25 May 2018 this is a free service - they cannot charge a fee.

When applying to the hospital you can also ask for copies of images of xrays & scans if you wish. You would receive a CD.

Alternatively, if you just want reports of xrays & scan you could pop a letter into the xray reception include dates. Ask if they do this.

[Hidden in reply to Mary-intussuception]

Are you in the USA because they do charge a fee..oh I see UK on your profile .

[Mary-intussuception in reply to Hidden]

As I said

"In the UK . . . "

GDPR 25 May 2018

(Data Protection Act)

[Hidden in reply to Mary-intussuception]

I did not see that part. My apologies..I did state I then saw it on your profile.

[Mary-intussuception in reply to Hidden]

No apology needed, your reply was clear. Sadly, there was incorrect info in some replies so just clarifying.

[Hidden]

In the USA you should be able to just request them and pick them up yourself. You may have to pay a fee but their your records. I've picked up my own.