copying in to correspondence

[jjlily]

Does anyone know whether there is any legislation that says we can be given copies of letter to and from GP and hospital?Thanks for your help.

Jill

[fixit]

I am not aware of any legislation, but I always ask my GP and Consultant's Secretary for copies and they always oblige.

[UnwelcomeVisitor]

If the letter is about your own personal health, it is perfectly legal and right to do this.

All the best

Richard

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK]

Letters of that sort most certainly constitute your medical records. Hence, this applies:

Under the Data Protection Act 1998, you have a legal right to apply for access to health information held about you. This includes your NHS or private health records held by a GP, optician or dentist, or by a hospital.

nhs.uk/chq/pages/1309.aspx?...

However, I am not aware of any legislation that requires you to be copied in on such correspondence - though many medics will do so, some very happily.

[Nanaedake]

I believe that under the Freedom of Information Act GP surgeries and Health Authorities are included in the organisations you can ask for information from. However, you shouldn't need to cite the act as those organisations should supply the information to any reasonable request. (Administrative charges may apply to some types of information I think).

If you have difficulty getting information then you can make a formal request and it needs to be in writing, an email should suffice. It's better if you can simply request the information at your healthcare visit so that you don't need to formalise it. Many GP's will happily supply a copy of results etc and my GP will print a copy for me at my appointment.

gov.uk/make-a-freedom-of-in...

[Sewnsew]

I'm lucky that I have online access to my surgery records. I can read letters, access results etc. I thought all surgeries were working towards this.

[jjlily]

Thanks for all your helpful replies I knew about accessing records and have no trouble with my GP but have just come up against a consultant's secretary and thought it might be different.

Jill

[Bookemdanno]

I think it should be standard practice that we are copied into all letters - whether from hospital to GP or between consultants etc. My daughter comes with me to all appointments and takes notes. Some consultants don't like it and say 'no need you will be sent a letter with all this in' - of course the letter never comes. So now we take notes regardless.

[Jackie]

HI You can certainly have letters from consultants and in fact your right.Ask the secretary of doc for a copy and blood tests too. letters from GP will depend if they are willing, but you should be able to.

Jackie

[Hidden]

I see two consultants for conditions I have other than thyroid, which has only just been diagnosed. I have ET and also some gut issues. My consultants have always copied me into any letters they sent to my GP without my asking.

I think they see it as good practice to keep their patients informed. I would ask to be copied in and if you have any problems quote the data protection legislation Helvella & nandaeke refer to.

You have the right to know what is in your records and I am gobsmacked to see this is not done automatically for you. Good Luck. Lizx

[Ruthi]

The Medical Records Act allows docs to withhold any notes that might harm your mental health if you saw them. To the best of my knowledge this clause has never been invoked for anyonewho has not been sectioned!

[Glynisrose]

No, but NHS guidelines state that anything that ensues between a specialist and your GP should be copied to you.

[Silver_Fairy]

My Endo always copies me in, but the Cardiologist I see now and the one I used to see (different county) neither have.