Referral Letter

[Gingernut44]

Hello all, just another quick question - am I legally entitled to a copy of my referral letter to a Private Endocrinologist or is it at the discretion of my GP. I just feel it would be a good idea to know what my Doctor has said about me ! TIA

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

I don't see why not. I have been given copies of referrals to NHS specialists when I've asked, although the receptionists at my surgery are very good like that, I ask and it's in my hand less than a minute later (shame the doctors are rubbish!)

[Gingernut44 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thank you

[m7-cola]

Yes.

[Gingernut44 in reply to m7-cola]

Many thanks for your reply, I'm going to ask for a copy tomorrow

[HashiFedUp]

Yes. GDPR laws state you own any info on you. The docs may charge for producing copies which they can do.

[Gingernut44 in reply to HashiFedUp]

Thanks for your reply, I'm going to ask for a copy tomorrow

[MaisieGray in reply to HashiFedUp]

Generally/routinely there should be no charge unless exceptionally the request is unfounded or excessive.

This is how the BMA explains it:

"In most cases, patients must be given access to their medical records as a Subject Access Request (SAR) free of charge, including when a patient authorises access by a third party such as a solicitor.

If the request is for a medical report to be created, or for interpretation of information within a medical report/record, this will fall under the Access to Medical Report Act (AMRA) - as these both require new data to be created, which is out with the scope of the GDPR and Subject Access Requests. In these cases, a fee can be charged.

A medical report/record that already exists will be accessible, for free, as a SAR. A ‘reasonable fee’ can be charged for a SAR if the request is manifestly unfounded or excessive, however, these circumstances are likely to be rare."

[Gingernut44 in reply to MaisieGray]

Thanks MG, I think I understand that 😋 I don't think I'm being excessive or my request is unfounded so I'm going to ask anyway, they can only say no, in which case what are they trying to hide?

[MaisieGray in reply to Gingernut44]

A SAR being deemed manifestly excessive or unfounded would be something very obvious and extreme, for instance asking for copies of your full medical history, and then asking for them again at a later point; or being in some way vexatious because of a poor relationship with the surgery. Asking for a single and recent letter to be printed for you would not come within a million miles of being even remotely excessive or unfounded 😊

My advice would be not to overthink it at all, just ask for a copy, and if they then respond inappropriately refer them to the requirements of the Data Protection Act 2018 and the associated EU General Data Protection Requirement, and the fact that they can incur a financial penalty if they don't conform within the obligations of both.

[Gingernut44 in reply to MaisieGray]

Many thanks MG, I will certainly do that

[suwinter in reply to Gingernut44]

They can’t say No under GDPR

[Daisy1624]

Can you sign up to the patient access app? It’s a service my doctors offers, I need to get an access code from my surgery and download the app. I now can make appointments, request repeat medications, view all my blood tests and read referral from my doctor to my gynaecologist etc and also the letters he then sends back to my surgery for my file. Might be worth a try if your doctors surgery offers this, it’s an NHS app I think, so it’s worth considering about. I like the fact that I can compare my blood test results.

[Gingernut44 in reply to Daisy1624]

Hi, thanks for replying Daisy1624. I have online access to my records (well - blood tests, re-ordering meds etc) but no letters and only coded records - just what they want you to see, rubbish really. I will just have to ask. I have a blood test booked for Tuesday morning so will ring them tomorrow and suggest I could collect a copy then or they could send it via an attachment to an e-mail. Here's hoping. GN44

[Daisy1624 in reply to Gingernut44]

That’s good, maybe different surgeries allow different access then. Mine seem to get scanned on to my file and I can view them, good luck

[Gingernut44 in reply to Daisy1624]

Thanks, you must be one of the lucky ones 😊

[NWA6 in reply to Gingernut44]

I can view mine too through patient access. Do you think you need to ask for the enhanced view?

[Gingernut44 in reply to NWA6]

Hi Paula, I can view my blood test reports and order prescriptions online but that's about it, the rest is coded so perhaps I will have to ask for enhanced view and see what they say. I have always had copies of letters between Consultants and Doctor so automatically thought I would get a copy - perhaps he doesn't want me to see what he's written - he seemed a bit miffed when I asked for it 🙂 Thanks, I'll give it a go

[NWA6 in reply to Gingernut44]

I thought patient access was the same all over the country? I know I had to ask for enhanced to view my letters ect. I changed GP after I saw my referral letter. The cow wrote that she could not get me stable because I chopped and changed my medication at will according to how I was feeling. To my fave she through up her hands and said she didn’t know what to do with me anymore. To my pharmacist she said I was a non compliant patient. I spent 8yrs with her and was there every 3mths telling her that I didn’t feel right. She never saw beyond the TSH result. Bloody nightmare but the referral letter was the last straw. I physically can’t increase my Levo without a prescription so her saying that I changed it as and when according to my symptoms is nonsense! 😩

I changed GP and have just started to try and build a new relationship with this one but that’s hard when they’re all colleagues and friends 😩

[TSH110 in reply to NWA6]

That is despicable lying on your records I’d have tackled her good and proper and demanded she retracted it, in writing. I hope you did so. Trouble is if they are happy to lie what other dirty tricks would they stoop to? Hopefully a better doctor with integrity would be aware that she is not up to much (or rather up to things she should not be doing). I hope you get someone decent.

[NWA6 in reply to TSH110]

I didn’t follow up with any demands 😔 I wrote an email to the practise manager asking for a change in GP, no reason given as none is necessary. The manager phoned me to say she’d got my email and did I have any one in mind. I said any one who has any knowledge of Thyriod conditions. She pause (as if looking over the GPs on offer) and said ‘oh it appears Dr X is our lead on hormones, Thyriod and menopause’ I nearly doubled over laughing! I said ‘you’ve got to be joking! She’s rubbish, she knows next to nothing about Hashimotos’

That ofcourse didn’t go down well. 🤷‍♀️ I only need a GP to prescribe my Levo atm. I’ll look after my own health. Like most people on here we do a better job without the 6yrs training 😉

[Gingernut44 in reply to NWA6]

Totally agree Paula, I'm just biding my time with this one in the hope that I can educate him

[NWA6 in reply to Gingernut44]

Yes and I’m not giving up on this new GP just yet, I’ve still got to win her over to eventually get my T3 on NHS instead of private. But I’m not in such a blind panic now that I’m well balanced on a combo treatment. I’m really such a fighter! Well I’m a bit of an Irish gobsh*te. Emotions run high when there’s more than my life at stake.

[Gingernut44 in reply to NWA6]

Couldn't agree more - once upon a time I wouldn't have dared to challenge my Doctor but that was a long time ago. With this new generation and realising that they don't know what they're talking about with regards to thyroid problems, I'm certainly going to fight my corner - I didn't call myself "gingernut" for nothing

[NWA6 in reply to Gingernut44]

I have a couple of ‘gingernuts’ 🤗 fabulous, beautiful spirits. #tenacious

[Gingernut44 in reply to NWA6]

[TSH110 in reply to NWA6]

The truth hurts - good for you! Sometimes it is just better to move on to another GP I have been lucky with my latest one she’s very good but I never consult her about thyroid matters she may be German or Scandinavian so could have a more open mind about thyroid issues. I find her very easy to talk to and she is extremely thorough and knowledgable. I do hope you get a better one it makes all the difference!

[Traceydg]

Just ask the receptionist for a copy of the letter. She might have to get authority of the GP but you are entitled to have a copy

[Gingernut44 in reply to Traceydg]

Thanks Traceydg, I have decided to ask, they can only say no!!

[MMaud]

Gingernut44 - I've had access to my coded record, test results etc for ages, but it's only recently my GP offered the facility to have full access, which I now have.

Under the coded record, I had my lifetime coded record, but when it was expanded to full record, bizarrely I only had 2 years. To go to whole of life, I had to request it, in writing.

So, if you ask, please ensure you are specific to ask for your full medical record for your whole life, if that is what you want.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to MMaud]

You might have been told that but the Information Commissioner's Office is absolutely clear that is untrue:

Individuals can make a subject access request verbally or in writing.

ico.org.uk/for-organisation...

[Gingernut44 in reply to helvella]

Thanks for your reply and the link, that's very interesting, it's not until you realise what you're entitled to that you find out how unhelpful they're being

[Gingernut44 in reply to MMaud]

Thanks MM, I thought I was doing well getting bloods etc, now I see they're not so forthcoming with proper access so will definitely have to ask

[Entwife56]

In the US all med a d dental docs. But not psychiatric docs belong to you and should not e a pro lending to get

[Gingernut44 in reply to Entwife56]

Many thanks 😋

[Robert50]

Yes it's Fine .

[Gingernut44 in reply to Robert50]

Thanks Robert 😋

[DanaNicholson]

Of course you can see your letters in your file. I can't believe it.

[Gingernut44 in reply to DanaNicholson]

To Dana, Paula, MM and all who responded - I made a telephone call to the Surgery this pm and asked for a copy of my referral letter. I was told by the Secretary that she would have to ask the Doctor so I said OK I will be there at 8.30 am tomorrow morning to pick it up and she said "Oh" !! About 2 hours later I had a call from the Doctor - when I said that I hadn't asked for a call from him but I wanted a copy of my letter he said OK it will be at the Reception Desk for me in the morning. I said to my husband, I wonder if he will have doctored it - pun intended.

[DJR1]

Just to clarify for everyone for future reference:

You are entitled to a copy of any data held about you from any organisation free of charge under GDPR regulations. You do not have to submit a request in writing, verbal requests can be made to any member of staff in the organisation to pass on to the relevant person. You can request your information in the format you require whether it is paper or electronic. The GDPR regulations came into force in May 2018. Requests prior to that time were chargeable.

Online Access to GP records

See my previous posts for the long story

Short version

Access to coded records Test Results, Immunisations, medications Appointments has been part of the GP contract since May 2016. If you do not get this your GP is in breach of the contract if the medical software has the functionality.

Documents such as letters, free text which is consultation detail and administrative items are not part of the contract at present and it is up to individual GP’s discretion. Many people see everything others like me the minimum. This has produced huge inequity across NHS England which is unfair and disadvantages self care. Some of this will change with the new GP contract.

I will post this as a separate post too as it’s quite useful info.

[Gingernut44 in reply to DJR1]

Many thanks for that DJR1