Access to health records

Patients can apply for access to their own Health Records providing they meet the following criteria and complete the attached form. As soon as your form is received we will arrange for an appointment to be made as soon as possible.

Criteria

You will only be able to have access to health records if you have completed all sections of the form and are either:

• The patient
• A person authorised by the patient
• Parent or guardian of a minor
• A person authorised to act on behalf of the patient
• A deceased person’s personal representative
• A person who may have a claim arising from the death of a patient

We may require further information following completion of the application form.

Viewing your documents

If you wish to just view your notes we can arrange an appointment for you and this is a free service unless photocopies are required.

Please indicate whether you require a health representative to be present at the viewing to answer any questions.

When you attend for the appointment, please bring with you some form of identification.

What do you need to bring with you?

In order to maintain confidentiality and to confirm your identity, before copies of the health records are released, please provide a copy of one of the following:

• Driving Licence
• Passport
• Birth Certificate

Plus a utility bill showing your name and current address

Photocopies of records

Notes can be photocopied there is NO charge for this, and will be despatched to you through recorded delivery.

Information Commissioner’s Office

Please consider if your request for information is absolutely necessary to submit at this time. Any request that can be deferred or delayed will allow staff time to be focussed on other areas.   

Requests for information may be delayed due to urgent operational responses dealing with Public Health priorities. The Trust apologises for any inconvenience this may cause. The Trust does remain committed to responding to your request and will reply as soon as possible. 

Should the Trust’s response to your request breach the statutory timeframe and you remain unhappy with the Trust’s response you have the right to complain to the Information Commissioner’s Office. They can be contacted at the following address: 

The Information Commissioner’s Office,
Wycliffe House,
Water Lane,
Wilmslow,
Cheshire,
SK9 5AF

• Telephone: 0303 123 1113
• Website: Information Commissioners Office