Getting access to medical and legal documents

DJBenson

Bit of a hard one to post so bear with me...

As a child, the eldest of three, I went through some pretty horrific stuff with my younger brothers, and whilst I could/should just let it lie, I can't, and I need to scratch the proverbial itch I've had for a number of years, rekindled by the recent death of my grandfather.

There's two avenues I want to explore but I do not know where to begin.

Firstly, I and one of my brothers were subjected to physical assault by a German lady who was at the time in a relationship with my father and was in the country illegally (and deported rather sharpish afterwards). All 3 children were hospitalised but only two of us had suffered physical trauma.

My question around this is; would records still exist (probably around 1988/89) and if so, how would I begin tracking them down? It would have been Bolton Royal Infirmary (as was) we were admitted to if that helps narrowing down the searches.

Secondly, following that, a court battle ensued in which my grandparents fought to get/keep custody of at least two of the three children (two of us were later made wards of court and lived with our grandparents for many happy years after).

How would I begin to track down the court papers? Could I even get access to these and where do I begin?

Both events must have been documented in quite some detail and would have been overseen by Lancashire County Council Social Services if that's another avenue to follow...

silvercar

There must be a records department in the hospital an council.

If you are lucky the records may have been digitised even if the originals destroyed.

iammumtoone

I would start by contacting the Social Services and asking them what they have on file. Hopefully their files will direct you to what other places/departments you need to be contacting and might give specific dates as a starting point.

I hope you find some closure, you have a right to know what happened.

badmemory

Have you checked to see what records your own doctor holds. A hospital would normally send at least some info to your own doctor. It may help if only to narrow down the dates.

DJBenson

I've moved several times since then, would these records follow me?

TonyMMM

Your medical records follow you each time you change GP (or at least they should)..... start there.

DJBenson

I've just spoken to the records lady at my GP and she has asked me to put the request in writing so I've filled out an SAR form from the ICO website. Will see what that brings back.

I messaged the hospital trust on Facebook and they also advised to send in an SAR as they will have records from the old hospital.

Ames

Don't forget there'll be a charge from each of them of up to £50.

DJBenson

That's fine - I need to know what happened so I can begin the process of getting some closure on all this.

mumps

I don't understand about her being here illegally in 1988. As an EU citizen wouldn't she have had a right to be here or am I mixing something up.

DJBenson

mumps wrote: »

I don't understand about her being here illegally in 1988. As an EU citizen wouldn't she have had a right to be here or am I mixing something up.

She was wanted in her home country. I am very unclear on the ins and outs of the woman in question apart from her beating me and my two younger brothers, but perhaps the Social Services records may have something on this.