MRI Scan on Disc refused by hospital until spoken to GP. Can anyone help/advise? Never happened before. Always get my scans/images on disc

[Sage16]

Re: refused my MRI Scan Images on Disc. Hi all. I hope you are as well as can be expected. I am absolutely stumped/shocked. For as long as I can remember - at least over a decade, I've known if you have an MRI scan carried out either under the NHS or privately you can go straight to the X Ray department at the end and fill out the form to request your own Scan/images on a disc. It was a "thing". With the NHS it could of course take a few days or a week until you could pick it up and with a private hospital facility you could take the CD with the images away with you on disc on the day.

I've just endured a 2nd in two years sudden, distressing deterioration in my cervical spine again. . But did speak with GP and it was their suggestion to start with another MRI and because my condition was so very worse I offered to pay to have it done privately with the result the scan was carried out within the week.

I reiterated just before the scan about needing the images on disc afterwards and at the end I was helped to the X Ray department to "fill out the forms for it" and just got repeatedly told that I can't have the images on disc until I've spoken to my GP. I just wobbled there on my stick trying to make sense it of it. I had to go home, not know when I can get hold of my doctor again or they can get hold of me and then just because I've spoken with them about the results, I am then supposed to phone up the facility and say "hi, I've had the consultation, now can I have my images please"? I'm so confused and upset. When did the rules change? I just paid a fortune to have this scan done and just a year ago after an MRI I was handed my images on disc almost as soon as I came out. This time they didn't even have me fill out the request form while I was there. My question is mainly has there been some sort of change where you are no longer automatically entitled to get your MRI images on disc and have them belong to you.

These images mean everything to me. I've always had those and also ask GP reception to print off the written the reports for me. I don't feel as if I'm going to be allowed to have them. Does anybody know what a patient's rights are in August 2021? I've found it hard to keep up with all the changes going on during the pandemic. I've kept records of my condition since 2009 at home. Thank you I really appreciate any response.

[Mmrr]

I requested all my medical notes a few years ago and got them, including MRIs on CDs, other than that I have had no experience of requesting notes or images. But what I do know is that all information held about you is yours, you cannot be refused it under Freedom of Information.

So a wee word to the XRay department, fine, I'll just go through a FOI request to get the images, a longer and more laborious process for them as they need to complete the FOI paperwork.

The images belong to you, not the hospital.

[sylvi]

Go to PALS at the main entrance of the hospital and they will see about getting them for you. xxxx

[rabbits65]

Write to the Practise Manager , exactly the same /similar letter like you’ve written all the details down on here. I know how badly you must feel , I feel let down by my own GP . It’s like we have no rights anymore like we are non existent with any thoughts or feelings.

[Whitegate]

We hope your problem gets sorted soon - but if MRIs were available on request there would be insuficient capacity to get it all done.

[Maggsie]

I wonder if what they mean is that your GP needs to discuss the findings of the MRI before you see the outcome and maybe interpret the situation differently.I've had similar experience with x Ray's, if no damage or no change then they are happy for me to see it but if things have changed significantly and further action is required , they expect me to discuss with my GP first.