Accessing deceased family members medical records

fake_smile

Is this possible?

My mother passed away over 20 years ago and I would like to see her medical notes (if still available).

emg

I'm not sure they will still be available. I work in the NHS and we only keep closed files for a maximum of 10 years in our department. I think it is similar for other departments and for GPs too. Have you talked to the GP practice your mum was registered with?

fake_smile

I have written to them today

debsy42

When I worked in a GP surgery any notes for deceased patients were returned to the local PCT, I can't imagine that the surgery would still have them after that length of time. The PCT would also only hold them for a period of time, to be honest I think they would have been destroyed by now, sorry.

StumpyPumpy

Access is not usually granted to the records of individual patients less than 100 years old, except via a doctor or social worker.

This is directly from the national archive website (though it relates to hospital records - I believe the same applies to all medical records).

If you want access to her records because you believe that she may have had a condition that affects you then your best bet would be to talk to your GP about it who may be able to get access to any remaining records if they deem it necessary.

SP

Flugelhorn

GP records are returned to the PCT for storage - then I think they are destroyed after 10 years.

System

I was able to obtain my daughters medical records 21 years after she had died.


It upset me quite a lot.

fake_smile

Thank you for the replies everyone. I have sent the doctor a letter anyway, if they do have them and provide them then I shall have to consider whether reading them would be a good idea. She passed from something we suspect she knew she had but kept it from us.

j.e.j.

I understand you wanting to know, but I would think the Data Protection Act would apply.

double_mummy

data protection does not apply to people who are deceased

access of health records act 1990 may apply unless fake_smile is the personal representative of the deceased or has a valid claim as to why they would need to see the records

j.e.j.

double_mummy wrote: »

data protection does not apply to people who are deceased

access of health records act 1990 may apply unless fake_smile is the personal representative of the deceased or has a valid claim as to why they would need to see the records

Ah, ok. I will google it when I've got more time, but does the access of health records act 1990 also protect the patient's privacy?

(Sorry to hijack your thread OP)