Access to Medical Records
Introduction
In accordance with the UK General Data Protection Regulation, patients (data subjects) have the right to access their data and any supplementary information held by this organisation. This is commonly known as a subject access request (SAR).
Data subjects have a right to receive:
- Confirmation that their data is being processed
- Access to their personal data
- Access to any other supplementary information held about them
Options for access
As of April 2016, organisations have been obliged to allow patients access to their coded health record online. As of October 2023, this service now enables the patient to view their full medical record. Prior to accessing this information, you will have to visit the organisation and undertake an identity check before being granted access to your records. You will also need to fill out the Online Access to medical records form Please speak to a member of reception staff for a paper copy of the form. In addition, you can make a request to be provided with copies of your health record. To do so, you must submit a Copies of Medical Record form. A paper copy of this form is available from reception. Patients do not have to pay a fee for copies of their records.
Some patients find it helpful for a second person to have access to their online GP record. This is often a family member, medical next of kin, a close friend or a carer whom they trust to act on their behalf. The patient can, however, limit which online services they want the nominated individual to access. This is called proxy access and arises in both adults and children and is dealt with differently according to whether the patient has capacity or not. To receive proxy access you will need to fill out the Proxy access online form Please speak to a member of reception staff for a paper copy of the form
Time frame
Once the SAR form is submitted, this organisation will aim to process the request within 28 days; however, this may not always be possible.
Exemptions
There may be occasions when the data controller will withhold information kept in the health record, particularly if the disclosure of such information is likely to cause undue stress or harm to you or any other person.
Data controller
At Abbey Road Medical Practice, the data controllers are Ghazala Jarwar and Dr Subir Sen. Should you have any questions relating to accessing your medical records, please ask to discuss this with the named data controllers.
