S.A.R request

[themagician]

Can you S.A.R a private medical company for copies of your complete medical records and treatment they have on file in their records ??.

[maroondevo52]

Hi,

 

Yes I would think you could, you have rights of access to your own health records. Under the DPA you are entitled to see all information relating to your physical or mental health which has been recorded by or on behalf of a 'health professional' in connection with your care. This applies not just to computerised data and structured files but to 'unstructured' data as well.

 

The right of access covers both NHS and private medical records, and information of any age, however long ago it was recorded. These rights existed before the 1998 DPA and are not dependent on the October 2001 commencement date.

[BRIGADIER2JCS]

Yes you certainly can do this.

Address the request to the Data Controller at the companies head office, send cheque or postal order for the statutory fee of £10.00.

They have 40 days to comply.

 

If there are specific records you require identify them 'as including but not limited to these documents'

 

Recorded/signed for post is best check delivery date.

[themagician]

they have returned my cheque for £10 for s.a.r. notifying me they want £15 for all copies of the records to be supplied to me ,is that right ????. and lawful.??.

[SabreSheep]

I woudl think no if in the uk

[silverfox1961]

With medical records, they are allowed to charge more.

 

More info

http://www.nhs.uk/chq/Pages/2635.aspx?CategoryID=68&SubCategoryID=160

[SabreSheep]

Well I learned something

[silverfox1961]

Well I learned something

 

Every day is a school day is what I say!

[think about it]

The distinction we use is whether or not the request can be fulfilled by pressing 'print' on the records. In which case it's £10.00 - in fairness, this seldom covers the cost of such a request once you factor in the £ for recorded signed for postage.

 

In the event where we're having to retrieve the paper records, find the relavent paperwork and photocopy it then we'll charge more. I'll be honest and say that if you've been with your practice for the entire time under question then a copy of the electronically held records will almost always suffice. Vary rarely indeed do you find anything in the paper records less than 10 years old and all letters received are scanned on and held within the same record as your consultations and medication details so should come as part of the 'pressing print' exercise.