By Eddie Jones, accomplice and head of scientific negligence at JMW Solicitors
Each time a medical professional examines you, they replace your medical information with details about your sickness or situation and the care and therapy you obtained. Chances are you’ll be curious to know whether or not you’ll be able to entry your medical information whenever you want them. Right here, JMW’s medical negligence workforce appears at your rights to entry to your medical information.
What are medical information?
Medical doctors, nurses and different healthcare suppliers add notes to a affected person’s medical file, together with observations, the administration of medicines and therapies, prescriptions, and the outcomes of assessments and X-rays. Moreover, they might comprise appointment notes and letters from physicians and different healthcare professionals.
Why would I have to entry my medical information?
Viewing medical information would possibly enable you higher perceive your situation or therapy, or it could actually enable you get able to make a grievance if in case you have issues together with your medical care. You may also be fascinated about researching your medical historical past out of sheer curiosity.
Am I capable of entry my very own medical information?
You’ll be able to entry your personal medical information, and you aren’t required to supply a motive on your request. If you want to, you can too permit entry to different people, resembling a solicitor or your loved ones.
Tips on how to appropriate an error in your medical information
For those who spot an error in your medical information, you should inform somebody on the NHS service chargeable for their upkeep, resembling your GP surgical procedure who will have the ability to support you in updating it.
Can I nominate another person to view my information for me?
Sure. One other particular person, resembling a solicitor, might be chosen to evaluation your information; nonetheless, you want to give written consent. With out this permission, your medical information are utterly confidential. Nobody ought to have the ability to see them with out your permission except they’re an authorised healthcare skilled or have authorized authority to handle your affairs.
How do I entry my medical information?
Most sufferers can have automated entry to knowledge on-line that has been added to their GP report since 2022. This class contains letters, take a look at outcomes and appointment notes. It’s doable that some sufferers could possibly entry information that predate November 2022.
There are two important methods to get entry to your docs’ information.
1. By talking to your GP surgical procedure
You’ll be able to ask on your GP report at your GP surgical procedure.
In case you are having issue accessing your medical information or would really like extra recommendation on how to take action, contact an skilled solicitor to obtain professional recommendation.
2. Utilizing your NHS account
You’ll be able to entry your GP report by logging into your account on the NHS web site or app.
You have to first join and supply identification for on-line providers.
Utilizing the NHS web site or app will solely allow you to see your prescriptions and allergy symptoms. To get a replica of your complete medical report, you should ask your GP.
For those who discover that you’ve got any questions concerning your therapy or discrepancies present in your medical report, converse to your GP surgical procedure to rearrange an appointment to debate the problem in additional depth.
Your Rights to Accessing Your Medical Information is a collaborative submit
