LEGAL RIGHT TO PRINTOUT OF BLOOD LEST RESULTS

[Redlester]

Can anyone help me? I had a blood test done in my GP surgery last week and I went today to ask for the result and get a print out of it. All the receptionist would tell me was that it had come back as "satisfactory" but wouldn't tell me the actual value. I asked for a print out of the test results and that proved problematic - as for the likelihood that it will include a reference range that is nil as the guy didn't understand the concept. I said that I had a legal right to a printout and got the raised eyebrows. I would like to be sure of my ground when I go back for 'round 2', so can anyone give me the legal basis on which we are entitled to a printout of our results [presumably it is something to do with the Data Protection Act?] so that I can quote this to them

Thanks

[Lora7]

Yes you have a legal right to get a print out of your blood results. Some surgeries might charge you some money for the service but if they do I think they are being very unreasonable.

[Marz in reply to Lora7]

Not allowed to charge now - for over s year ! It is described on the NHS website - how to obtain results .. 😊

[Lora7 in reply to Marz]

I haven't kept up with NHS policy since I left the service.

[Marz in reply to Lora7]

I haven't lived in the UK since 2004 - I read about it on here. 😊

[Lora7 in reply to Marz]

I know I have been reading your posts for the last couple of years :o)

You are probably used to hot weather but I am not and I am really struggling at the moment and finding sleeping difficult.

[Marz in reply to Lora7]

Sorry to hear you are struggling with the heat - I believe today will be a record breaker in London - and hotter than here ! I am fortunate in having a pool and swim lots which keeps me cool from the inside out !

[Lora7 in reply to Marz]

Lucky you, we have a hot tub and I have turned the temperature down on it and I have been going in there to cool off.

[Marz in reply to Lora7]

Great idea - ENJOY !

[Healthyheart1 in reply to Marz]

Lucky you, I'm at work. Felt like passing out. Now in the air conditioned canteen😭

[Hidden]

Hi there, you are legally entitled to copies of all records under UK information laws. You can download an template for what's called a subject access request form from the information commission website. Or use this template

Letter template

[Your full address]

[Phone number]

[The date]

[Name and address of the organisation]

Dear Sir or Madam

Subject access request

[Your full name and address and any other details to help identify you and the data you want.]

Please supply the data about me that I am entitled to under data protection law relating to: [give specific details of the data you want, for example:

my personnel file

emails between ‘person A’ and ‘person B’ (from 1 June 2017 to 1 Sept 2017)

my medical records (between 2014 and 2017) held by ‘Dr C’ at ‘hospital D’

CCTV camera situated at (‘location E’) on 23 May 2017 between 11am and 5pm

copies of statements (between 2013 and 2017) held in account number xxxxx.]

If you need any more data from me, or a fee, please let me know as soon as possible. It may be helpful for you to know that data protection law requires you to respond to a request for data within one calendar month.

If you do not normally deal with these requests, please pass this letter to your DataProtection Officer, or relevant staff member. If you need advice on dealing with this request, the Information Commissioner’s Office can assist you. Its website is ico.org.uk or it can be contacted on 0303 123 1113.

Yours faithfully

[Lora7 in reply to Hidden]

Do you work in the law Mike?

[Hidden in reply to Lora7]

No but about 30 years ago I worked on freedom of information

[Lora7 in reply to Hidden]

Perhaps you can advise some members who want to look at their medical records? I haven't looked at mine because I have a good idea what they say about me.

[Hidden in reply to Lora7]

Hi lora, not a lot else to add other than three NHS is supposed to give us all online access to our records.

[Lora7 in reply to Hidden]

I know but some people are having to jump through hoops to get them.

[Redlester in reply to Hidden]

Thanks Mike - this is very helpful - after a lot of faffing they eventually did print out the result for me and I was able to collect it from the surgery. Just as well I asked for that because on reading it, it turned out that they hadn't done the correct test and I will have to go back to GP and start whole process over again with GP appointment, phlebotomy visit and then asking for results again. Gives me more ammunition tho for justifying my request for written results; if I hadn't asked I'd be none the wiser that they hadn't done the test they were supposed to do!!

[Alma1960 in reply to Hidden]

Right of Access to Medical Records covered by Data Protection Act 1998

[Treepie]

You have the right under the General Data Protection Regulations( GDPR) of 2018 .Nor do you have to pay.I can see mine online but clearly your practice is very behind the times.

[Redlester in reply to Treepie]

like you wouldn't belie Treepie

[humanbean]

If you want lots of information on your legal rights to your medical records and medical data I would recommend reading posts by DJR1 who has made a special study of the subject and has posted lots of links and useful information. You can read her posts here :

healthunlocked.com/user/djr1

[Redlester in reply to humanbean]

Thanks humanbean - i'll check that link out

[SlowDragon Administrator]

You can also request online access to your medical record, but many GP practices still don't have blood test results on there yet

[Lora7]

I have to take my passport into the surgery and fill a form in to give to the Practice Manager before I can see my records.

[Miffie in reply to Lora7]

I think you will find everyone has to sign up for access. This is just to ensure it is only you who can access your information.

[Lora7 in reply to Miffie]

Laughable really, I used to work in medical records and a lot of people has access to your records. When I worked for the service I had to sign a document so I wouldn't disclose any private patient information. It is a sackable offence if you did and one woman looked up her husbands lover in the medical records dept so she could read her notes. My boss found out and she was sacked on the spot.

[Valarian]

This is from the NHS site, If they can't provide online access (you will need to sig up for this anyway), they should proviide you with printouts, which will inlcude the ranges as teh GP will have needed these.

nhs.uk/using-the-nhs/about-...

They can't charge for reasonable requests - ir recent results, which will in any case be held digitally and be easily accessible.

[Redlester in reply to Valarian]

Thanks Valerian

[Singoutloud]

This is the link to the new GDPR rules from the ICO

They are not allowed to charge or withhold. For a copy of your full health record you no longer have to put that request in writing either

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

[Redlester in reply to Singoutloud]

thanks singoutloud

[beesting1966]

You have a right to a print out of your bloods as I get mine everytime. Mine now just say 'we have to check with the doctor first'

I just say alright but I will have them as it is my right as it is yours. Good luck

[Redlester in reply to beesting1966]

Thanks Beesting. I intend to keep asking them - I don't think they are used to a patient doing this.

[serenfach]

I think the GP has to check them before they release them. I find this annoying as the bloods can be back and it takes the GP a couple of weeks to actually looking at them, so I can have them.

[Treepie in reply to serenfach]

It can be annoying but I think the purpose is to make sure there is nothing really scary that would upset the patient and to perhaps call the patient in to break the bad news and be able to discuss the way forward.

[Blot]

Generally the print out follows if the GP has already seen the results.

[Redlester in reply to Blot]

I would imagine in my case that A N Other GP in the surgery saw my results and okayed the print out and didn't notice that they hadn't even done the test they were supposed to have done, in which case the "GP has to see results" rule isn't worth the paper it is printed on if the GP who ordered the test isn't the one who reviews it