GP notes

[LucyLou]

I was at the Drs yesterday. My Dr is lovely and I wouldn't see anyone but her but I still came away from it feeling uneasy. Wondering whether they could see the sexual abuse disclosure, th spiking incident last Aug and things that have happened with children's dad (not that I told them but my therapist made a referral about it, when I said he raped me) Will all of this be straight on there, for my GP to see? I've been on NHS app to see my record but all I can see is medications I'm on. I want to request to see my full records but I don't know how to do it. Would they ask why I'm requesting this? It's literally, just because I want to know what they can see about what I've said. I don't know, it just leaves me feeling kind of exposed and maybe knowing would help with that?

 

[Sideways]

it just leaves me feeling kind of exposed and maybe knowing would help with that?

If it helps? While I was with a GP that I really liked - I asked. It was something like “are there any details about the cause of my ptsd?”

In most of the medical records that I’ve come across (through work, and my own) GP records tend to stick with generic forms (sexual abuse, combat, domestic violence). They tend to go into some detail here when it’s a child, because of mandatory reporting. However, because they don’t want to have to testify about it, even then they are typically very vague.

Asking was (much) more helpful than getting my actual records. My full records have always been distressing to me (some of my medical providers disclosed to my therapist, rather than me, to ensure I had support when I read them).

 

[WinnieThePoohChris]

You have to pay an admin fee, but just ask at your GP. It's a pretty normal thing to do now, no questions asked.

The NHS app is pretty representative, if it's not on there it's probably not anywhere your GP can see. You should be able to find the referral letter, if anything is locked ask for access.

The services are different and tend to keep their records locked away from each other unless they ask you if they can share.

Ask for an appointment with your GP to discuss your records, see if that helps, no point feeling uneasy. If it doesn't, do an information request.

 

[Friday]

Would they ask why I'm requesting this?

“Personal Reasons” is my favourite go to, if asked. By anyone with legal authoritwa. ((IE if there are laws around it? Like there are with personally identifiable records? Admin types tend to get persnickety.))

That falls under different rules than legal/judicial reasons, or military (One is required to hand carry their medical records, school records, & tax records betwixt postings, especially if abroad), or, or, or.

So it cuts through a lot of red tape (requiring various kinds of documentation on one hand, but allowing your provider discretion in your favor, on the other hand)… but also has its own limitations. It means you don’t need authorisation from a secondary source, but without that authorisation can create… slowness. And severe editing. Or outright refusal. Even if refusing access is illegal. So is granting access. Which is a hill some admin types choose to die on. (As most individuals have less ability -read resources- to f*ck up their lives, than governments do. So when in doubt? Deny the individual).

I’ve grabbed my med records from the UK twice, neither recently, and one was easy as… the other… well I ended up stealing a copy. One I had an awesome GP who greenlit handing me my file, as soon as staff made copies for themselves. The other? The staff was a nightmare. GP told them they had to. They tried to beat me to death with forms and legal papers. I even brought in stacks of documents from their own govt. reading that they HAD TO give me access… and as I needed to leave the country, and needed the stupid files? I made free with their photocopier. After months of nonsense. The irony being? It was daylight and business hours. I just nicked my chart, during an appointment, stuck the stack in the copier, and 2 minutes later? Had what I needed. Who knows??? Maybe when I’m 85 I’ll be sent a copy of my health as it stood when I was 25???

Yep. Photocopier.

Which tells you it’s been 20 some odd years since I dealt with British civil servants defying other British civil servants. As it “should” be printed to disc, or sent “securely” online. These days.

I needed my documents, they denied me, so I acquired them.

It could be easy, or hard, depending on the people involved.

 

[barefoot]

I’ve requested my medical records from GP before - it was around 10 years ago before GDPR was a thing.i think I paid something like £25.

I think now, under GDPR, there is no charge anymore.

You basically just have to make the request in writing. Your GP practise may have a form that patients can fill out to make the request, so you can check that. Otherwise, just email or send a letter to the practice manager.

You can keep it really brief just saying you would like a copy of your medical records. And tell them your full name, DOB, NHS number.

You do not need to give a reason for your request. And they can’t refuse a request because of the reason you give or because you haven’t given them one.

You need to tell them whether you want a copy of your full records or whether you just want them from whatever date, or from between X and Y dates etc.

Under GDPR they have to get back to you within a month, I think. Or, if they can’t do that, they can extend to two months, I think, but they still need to contact you to tell you that.

I got mine as hard copy so there is a hefty about of admin for someone to do with photocopy. These days I guess it may come digitally or that you may have option.

If your therapist sent some kind of referral letter - either directly to your GP or sent a copy of it to your GP - you should be able to see that on NHS app anyway. In the My Health Record section, there should be a Documents section, where referral letters, letters from other medical professionals etc have been uploaded and are available for you to view/download.