Cardiologists reports required

[guinness1759]

What reports am I actually “entitled” to have access to (NHS Scotland)? I’m not under the direct care of a designated Cardiologist, only general Medical review at local hospital (and GP).

A 24hr ecg suggested Atrial Fibrillation and flutters. As a result an EP study / Catheter Ablation discussed with Electrophysiologist and discounted - did not feel it appropriate to put me through this as medication (Apixaban, Bisoprolol, Atorvastatin) appeared to be working to control symptoms.

Stress Test ECG undertaken a few months ago (local hospital) managing 10 minutes – Report not seen

Recently attended the Nuclear Cardiology Dept at a large teaching hospital in Scotland for a Tc99m Myocardial Perfusion Scan – Report not seen.

Apart from simply politely asking the hospitals concerned directly, how can I obtain copies of the cardiologists reports in relation to tests carried out?

Thanks

[medicinal1]

Hi, not 100% sure on how NHS Scotland works, but all patients are able to fill in a Subject Access Request form to gain full access to your records. This can either be via GP or as you say politely requesting this from each hospital. PALS (Patient Advice Liason Service) would be your best point of contact.

Do post back on how things go, it’s always helpful to see outcomes 🙂 as we all learn something from it.

[guinness1759 in reply to medicinal1]

thank you, presume PALS will apply to Scotland - I'll try them.

[Hidden]

hi in in England but if you contact PALS for the hospital they should be able to advise.

I’ve had my reported this way - subject access request.

You are entitled to see anything they hold I believe unless they have a very good / justifiable reason not to share. But if it’s about you and your help you should be able to obtain.

Good luck

[guinness1759 in reply to Hidden]

thanks - will give it a go!

[Ramilia]

Hi Guinness1759,

I'm in Scotland and have had copies of my hospital records a few times. I'm in Greater Glasgow and Clyde so here's their form just as an example:

nhsggc.org.uk/media/264232/...

So have a look for your own health board, and they will have something similar. If it's something from your GP you need, you have to write to the practice.

You don't have to give anyone a reason for your request - just make it!

Hope that helps.

[Ramilia]

Just to add, Guinness1759, if your local hospital and the large teaching hospital you refer to are in different health boards, you'll have to apply to them both.

[Ramilia]

Also, PALS is not in Scotland. Our equivalent is Patient Advice and Support Service (PASS).

nhs24.scot/get-in-touch/pat...

[guinness1759 in reply to Ramilia]

Wow that was so helpful, and yes, different boards apply to local hospital / GP (Oban area) and the teaching hospital (Glasgow) - I'd best get writing!! Cheers

[Ramilia]

You're very welcome. Best of luck with all of those forms! I've always sent the application by email, and a response of receipt is usually very quick. Then it has taken a fortnight to three weeks for the records to arrive by post. Unless things have changed since last year, there's not a chance of persuading them to send a digital copy! 😀

[Thanksnhs in reply to Ramilia]

I think they still use a fax machine 🤣

[Captain_Birdseye]

Check your GPs website, they might have a copy of the form you can fill out and hand into them - you can request access to your medical records in whole or between certain dates.

My GPs surgery will also print out the reports on request if emailed.

[guinness1759 in reply to Captain_Birdseye]

thanks - I'm guessing GP will be by far easiest of the three I need to contact.

[Captain_Birdseye in reply to guinness1759]

nhsinform.scot/care-support...

Just some additional info, in case you've not seen it already.

[Gumbie_Cat in reply to Captain_Birdseye]

I’m in Scotland too, though I’m not sure I want to go through all this rigmarole to get a bit more info. Always a bit fed up when people mention seeing things like their EF on echocardiogram reports. The GP did print one out for me last year, but there wasn’t that level of detail. I guess it was ok.

[Thanksnhs in reply to Gumbie_Cat]

I am in Scotland as well, I have never seen any reports from cardiology either, I usually just get a letter after clinic saying scan ok or med change. I have a feeling I probably wouldn't be able to understand what the actual test results meant anyway so I have never bothered to ask for them. Char

[Gumbie_Cat in reply to Thanksnhs]

Sounds very similar!

[guinness1759 in reply to Thanksnhs]

I understand your "probably not able to understand the actual results" comment but would still like a copy nonetheless

[guinness1759 in reply to Captain_Birdseye]

thank you - all very helpful

[benjijen]

In England we can view our records on line via whichever site GP uses. Mine is 'Patient Access'. This should show any info sent in a letter from the hospital with your results. You can also look via NHS app. I expect there is similar in Scotland. Our local hospitals can be viewed by another site but I haven't signed up for that yet.

[Captain_Birdseye in reply to benjijen]

I don't think we have the online option in Scotland... at least not everywhere. Not all GPs use a portal or app either.

I've seen some folk mention it here and grumbled to myself on how useful it would be!

[Puzzled8 in reply to Captain_Birdseye]

We definitely don’t have the option in Scotland. I emailed health minister some time ago asking why we were so far behind rest of uk. Reply said it was in the pipeline to be done by end of their current term. Wouldn’t hold my breath !

[Ramilia in reply to Puzzled8]

Thanks for that info, Puzzled8 .

[Ramilia in reply to benjijen]

Benjijen,

The NHS app is not used in Scotland. Some GPs use Patient Access but to varying degrees. The only thing our practice offers on the portal is ordering repeat prescriptions. As far as I know, there is no online access to hospital records.

It's a pretty annoying system.

[benjijen in reply to Ramilia]

I'm sorry to hear that and hope they implement it soon. It's so useful when you need results as you don't need to wait for ages for phones to be answered. Also very useful for repeat prescriptions and booking appointments, although only phone ones at the moment.

[Manhattan1 in reply to Ramilia]

ditto.. i’m in Forth Valley Health Board area… on Patient Access can only access medication list and prescription request.. it’s time this app allowed us to access medical reports and records..

[Ramilia in reply to Manhattan1]

Couldn't agree more, Manhattan1.

I think the problem is not the app but our individual GP practices which can pick and choose the information they want us to see or use. For instance, my practice has a 'Book an appointment' feature when you log in, but if you click on it you get words to the effect of 'Sorry, we are not offering this facility at the moment.' 😠

[Manhattan1 in reply to Ramilia]

same here regarding the book appt facility.. i’m diabetic.. but on the mydiabetesmyway page i can access certain blood results and my eGfr (kidney function).. it’s about time we were able to gain access to all blood test results and tests and medical reports.. especially those from Cardiologists

[Digger0]

I always request copies of my results and letters. All my notes in all my hospitals have a sheet at the front saying " I, Jo bloggs, request that I have copies of all my results and letters. Signed xxx"

[Qualipop]

My GP gets copies of all reports therefore I can ask for copies or simply read them online. Most surgeries have a way for you to access all your records. You may have to jump through a few hoops to be given access; ours requires photo ID and a special form but then I can read all consultants' reports. Ask at your GP surgery how to do it although mine has instructions on their website.

[fishonabike]

As far as i am aware in the UK you are entitled to request copies of all your medical records under the Freedom Of Information act - the website for your hospital/health provider should have a section on this e.g. Patient Records, FOI

you do not need to go through PALS, you apply directly to the provider concerned - if you want specific records you can give details of which you want - if you ask for everything it could take longer and you will get a lot of material which might mean nothing to you-

some GPs use the Patient Access system, but not all and not all have fully digitized records

to make things easier in future, as others has suggested, you can request copies of all correspondence sent between GP and other providers but you might have to chase them up as things are not all joined up and the request is not forwarded automatically.

[Esentepe]

Under the Access to medical records act 1988 everyone is entitled to a copy of their medical records. The clinician has the right to redact parts of records if there is justifiable reason. Not very common. Of course this is in addition to all other options mentioned by others. It can take a while they have a time period in which to comply. Can also make an admin fee/charge.

[Ramilia in reply to Esentepe]

I think that legislation is just for medical reports made on a person for employment or insurance purposes.

I believe a Subject Access Request for medical records is made under the Data Protection Act and GDPR.

[guinness1759 in reply to Ramilia]

A couple of folks have said it's a SARequest - so busily drafting letter to ask for test results/reports etc and using appropriate terminology - different health boards so double work here!

thanks for getting back on this.

[Ramilia]

You're welcome, and I hope you make fast-ish work of the forms and your letter!

I'm envious of you living in the Oban area now that summer is on its way (maybe!).