Doctors surgery wont give me blood results - Thyroid UK

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Doctors surgery wont give me blood results

AGATES profile image
6 Replies

Hi All,

I recently managed to get the doctors to check my bloods for vitamin levels and they checked for other things too, when I've phoned the reception I got the usual they're normal and when questioned further told that c reactive protein was high indicating a slight infection but the doctor has not added any notes. I asked for the ranges and values for all the tests and the names and was told there normal again and they hung up. So I went to the surgery and asked them for a print out of all the tests they did on the 11th Sept, the results and the ranges, but they are refusing to give them me unless the doctor says it's ok, they won't even read them out to me. I'm furious, they have informed me they will call if the doctor allows this, I thought by law they had to give them to me? Can anyone advise, I've had issues with them in the past but have always managed to get my results eventually. Any advice on how to get these results off them is greatly appreciated!

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6 Replies
SeasideSusie profile image
SeasideSusieRemembering

AGATES

They are breaking the law, unless they have a very good reason to refuse you (usually something to do with mental health I think). If you don't come into this category you should remind them that they are breaking the law.

The General Data Protection Regulations and the Data Protection Act 2018 means that you can make a Subject Access Request and not be charged bma.org.uk/advice/employmen...

Practices can't charge pulsetoday.co.uk/home/finan...

How to access your health records nhs.uk/using-the-nhs/about-...

Are you in England, if so online access is supposed to be available to all patients england.nhs.uk/wp-content/u...

ThyroidUK's article thyroiduk.org/tuk/NHS_Infor...

AGATES profile image
AGATES in reply to SeasideSusie

Thank you for the articles SeasideSusie, appreciate it!

humanbean profile image
humanbean

I would agree with your other replies that it is against the law for your surgery to refuse to give you access to your results.

However, there are easier ways of getting what you want rather than going into battle with a receptionist. I wrote this for someone else - it may help you too :

Go to your surgery, take some photo ID and proof of address with you, and ask for online access to all your medical records and all your blood test results.

If online access is not available then ask for printed copies of all your blood test results, including reference ranges, from the last two or three years. Don't accept written results, and don't let a receptionist just read them out to you. You want a printout from the computer - far fewer chances of mistakes then.

Be aware in both cases that the receptionist will probably have to get permission from a GP to allow online access or print out results. Just smile sweetly, say thank you, and you'll be back for the information you need to register online or to pick up the printouts tomorrow afternoon. (Take your ID with you again.)

If they ask why you want the information (legally they have no right to ask but they often can't resist), just say that you want to start keeping copies for your own records.

If they refuse to give you the information you ask for then remind them that under GDPR regulations you are legally entitled to access to your own records.

If they try to charge you for the information or the printing remind them that charging people for their own information is against the law.

At all times be polite. Getting angry won't help, and the receptionist isn't responsible for the rules she is told to follow by her boss, the doctor or the practice manager.

If they still refuse to give you access to your results or copies of your results then come back and ask for further help. The next step is to ask for the information you want in writing. And they (the surgery) can't ignore that!

Rmichelle profile image
Rmichelle

They get checked by a gp first and then you are entitled to copies, I would not put up with that unacceptable behaviour, its your results nobody else's!! , go get them!!

JMo1 profile image
JMo1

My surgery are now asking for written requests for all copies of results and have told me it will take up to a month to get them. All the receptionist would tell me is that they are normal. They used to charge but haven’t mentioned anything this time. She said it is because they are so busy. Seems to create more work to me? I’m in Scotland and don’t have online access.

Confused01 profile image
Confused01

Honestly, some, not all, of the GP surgeries are unbelievably God like!

Totally agree, be nice, then if don’t succeeed do the more formal way, in writing.

Remember, GP’s surgeries are literally a NHS Service Provider. They are paid to provide the service and abide by guidelines, law..... and chucking some humanity in would be great with some. Ultimately they are not a law upon themselves.

I went from a fab gp to the opposite. It’s very upsetting facing difficult/uncaring/money before healthcare, gp’s and surgeries.

Good luck,

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