Data Protection & GPs

iv just spoken to the receptionist again who checked with the practice manager & she is adament that she cant give me a copy of the letter from my consultant to my gp as its not theres to give out & i must contact the consultant directly.

i quoted the data protection act to her & everything. im shaking with anger & going to make a complaint & formal access request now.

the letter might not even contain anything thats helpfull for my tribunal & i may have to ask the consultant if he would do me a supporting letter anyway, but i wont know if i cant see it. its very hard to get hold of consultants, iv already been given the runaround on the phone.

grrrr i could scream

martin

Ive had the same issue with this only last week.
Fortunately I have always requested from my consultants when I have seen them that any letters they send to GP etc are copied to me: This may be a way for you to avoid this issue in future as that request has never been denied me.
As for your medical records... I have a copy of mine up to 2008 which I had sent to me via my solicitor as part of a criminal injuries compensation claim when I was left disabled following an assault.The entire medical history was disclosed to me so why it cannot be done for a benefits medical review I am not quite sure
I requested to have a copy of my updated records last week covering 2008 to date just as I thought it might be helpful and was told today that I am allowed to visit the GP surgery and view what is written about me but am unable to take a hard copy away, or indeed to have a copy e mailed to me.
It's one of the bureaucratic nonsenities of the data Protection Act from what I can gather.
I can imagine how infuruated you are , especially when we read weekly of numpties from the NHS and other civil servants leaving peoples date in bins and on trains in laptops.

Bro 58 Are you saying that you were able to obtain a copy of your medical records? i was quite clearly told they cant be taken from the building but I can view them at the building.

micksville wrote:

Bro 58 Are you saying that you were able to obtain a copy of your medical records? i was quite clearly told they cant be taken from the building but I can view them at the building.

Hi MV,

I certainly did, on a password protected CD at a cost of £20.

I do not know if all G.P. practices offer the CD facility, but they do have to provide you with copy of your records, as you can see from the information on my previous post in this thread.

cheers

bro58

greeneyedlad wrote:

iv just spoken to the receptionist again who checked with the practice manager & she is adament that she cant give me a copy of the letter from my consultant to my gp as its not theres to give out & i must contact the consultant directly.

i quoted the data protection act to her & everything. im shaking with anger & going to make a complaint & formal access request now.

the letter might not even contain anything thats helpfull for my tribunal & i may have to ask the consultant if he would do me a supporting letter anyway, but i wont know if i cant see it. its very hard to get hold of consultants, iv already been given the runaround on the phone.

grrrr i could scream

martin

Martin

I understand your frustration regards consultants. I had the same problem myself. Eventually a support nurse wrote a supportive letter having had a note from my consultant dropped on her desk!

May I suggest that you contact the hospitals PALS (Patient Advice & Liaison Service) for help -

www.pals.nhs.uk/

Michael