Will my doctor have my medical records of 40+ years ago?

t0rt0ise

meritaten wrote: »

well, thats ok as long as you are compos mentis - if you were concussed or confused or unconscious - how would YOU knowing more than your GP help you?

The way things are if you were concussed nobody would have your records anyway. Remember that's what the new idea was trying to do.. to have your records or at least major bits of it available nationally.

Seriously if you think that if you got into an accident everyone would know your medical history then you are sadly mistaken.

If you have something of concern then it's best to wear a medical bracelet or necklace.

peachyprice

If it helps, my current doctor has my records for my entire life, he's the 5th/6th doctor I've had. I only found out last year that they took my adenoids out when they did my tonsils 45 years ago!

barbiedoll

I had to have a test last year, at a hospital which I last attended over 40 years ago when I was a baby.

When I rang to arrange the appointment, the clerk asked for my date of birth to see if I had a hospital number. She then asked me if I used to live at a certain address, which was the house where I was born. I told her that I was quite surprised that they had the records on computer from that long ago, especially as I hadn't attended the hospital since. She then told me what clinic my mum had taken me to for my vaccinations and what our GP's name was then. I last saw that GP 45 years ago!

So, yes, you may find your records easier to access than you think.
Good luck, and I hope that you get the information that you need.

nagarasapandi

I also had bad experience like this

patchwork_cat

However what about people like me. As my mum died 16 years ago there is no way that I even know if she took this medication, so can't even be pre warned. Even though she died of breast cancer I am not entitled to mammograms until I am 47.

Nicki

patchwork_cat wrote: »

However what about people like me. As my mum died 16 years ago there is no way that I even know if she took this medication, so can't even be pre warned. Even though she died of breast cancer I am not entitled to mammograms until I am 47.

My aunt died of ovarian cancer 32 years ago, and quite a few of her aunts also died of this. I had an ovarian cancer scare a few years ago, and discussed it with my sister, who told me that she had also had one, and been to the hospital, who called up my dead aunt's hospital records and were able to assess the risk of this being a genetic weakness from these. That would have been at least 25 years after my aunt died. I am not sure how it works, but I think that records are archived and when there is a need to refer to them for reasons such as these, even after the patient's actual death, it is possible to do so.