confidentiality......accessing medical records

annabel14

Is it possible to discover if anyone has accessed my medical records either at the GP practise or at hospital? I know several people in both settings and will be undergoing treatments soon......I want this to be as private as possible.....would appreciate any info please.....

gettingtheresometime

I don't think there is an actually any way you could find out but i think if your records are accessed then a record of who accessed it is made ( if gay makes sense).

Unfortunately I think it's one if those situations where you have to rely on the professionalism of the staff. However if I ever found out that a health care professional had blabbed about my medical records then God help them

annabel14

Yes exactly......and in my case I can't change doctors as I know people in both of the closest medical Centres and have family in nursing in the local hospitals.......it's a genuine worry for me as I do know that one of my family contacts is a great gossip.....seeing me there will be of great interest to her.......i was hoping, ( a vague hope I know), that there could be some data protection clause which would mean anyone accessing my records would leave an online trail.......I guess I will have to contact my docs practise manager to see if there are any options.....but still.thanks for your reply

FBaby

NHS staff accessing personal records should all have received training on Information Governance by which it will be made clear that they should only access personal information when absolutely required for the purpose of their work.

Finding out who had access to your notes could be ascertained, but would require an investigation, so would only be done if you had reasons and some evidence to believe it did happen.

belfastgirl23

If it's one person in particular that you're worried about, you could try starting a conversation in his/her company where you talk about the consequences of someone who accessed records inappropriately (I"m sure a google will turn something up) and make it really clear that you believe anyone whose records are accessed in this way should make a formal complaint to the highest authorities (ie that you would definitely do so!). No guarantee but at least you'd have put the wind up them and put them on warning....

annabel14

Yes indeed it is one person who I know will whisper to others but it seems any one of them can then feel free to access my notes......so disappointing......but thank you all for your thoughts

Smartsaver7

I would imagine any access of a computer record would leave a trail , problem is if this person would have to access it in the course of their duties at the surgery. If she does disclose what she sees would be a breach of the DPA.
I suppose you could speak to the practice manager and ask if there is a way access can be restricted to you records or that particular person not having access to your record.

Starrystarrynight1

I understanding that even accessing records when there is no genuine need could be considered misconduct. Hopefully, the people you refer to will know that.

I'm not sure if there's much you could do in advance, but it can't hurt to ask; maybe your local PALS office can advise. Afterwards, if you do think the information has been accessed, you could probably submit a complaint. If there has been electronic access, a 'footprint' would have been left by whoever it was.

DomRavioli

annabel14 wrote: »

Yes indeed it is one person who I know will whisper to others but it seems any one of them can then feel free to access my notes......so disappointing......but thank you all for your thoughts

NHs staff aren't allowed to "whisper" about anyone or anything. It is considered gross misconduct. Same with accessing medical records unless you have a genuine reason.

Greylocks

Access to medical records is on a professional "need to know basis".

Inappropriate access would be deemed to be misconduct and if proven might have very serious consequences for the individual accessing data.

Some patient programs used by hospitals and GPs can be forensically examined so determining who, what time and which pages have been accessed.

The above is basic information governance - staff are trained on a yearly basis on this subject.

Proxima_Centauri

Hopefully OP has had a chance to speak with the practice manager about this. If it were one person they could perhaps be prevented from accessing your records, but several people.. possibly not. And sadly it's a very 'us and them' culture within the NHS and they are unlikely to let on if they or someone they know has been looking at things they shouldn't have.