Increasingly, patient medical data is shared e.g. between GP surgeries and District Nursing, in order to give clinicians access to the most up to date information when attending patients.

The systems we operate require that any sharing of medical information is consented to by patients beforehand. Patients must consent to sharing of the data held by a health provider out to other health providers and must also consent to which of the other providers can access their data.

e.g. it may be necessary to share data held in GP practices with district nurses but the local podiatry department would not need to see it to undertake their work. In this case, patients would allow the surgery to share their data, they would allow the district nurses to access it but they would not allow access by the podiatry department. In this way access to patient data is under patients' control and can be shared on a 'need to know' basis.

There is a new Central NHS Computer System called the Summary Care Record (SCR). The Summary Care Record is meant to help emergency doctors and nurses help you when you contact them when the surgery is closed. Initially, it will contain just your medications and allergies.

Later on as the central NHS computer system develops, (known as the ‘Summary Care Record’ – SCR), other staff who work in the NHS will be able to access it along with information from hospitals, out of hours services, and specialists letters that may be added as well.

Your information will be extracted from practices such as ours and held on central NHS databases.   

As with all new systems there are pros and cons to think about. When you speak to an emergency doctor you might overlook something that is important and if they have access to your medical record it might avoid mistakes or problems, although even then, you should be asked to give your consent each time a member of NHS Staff wishes to access your record, unless you are medically unable to do so.

On the other hand, you may have strong views about sharing your personal information and wish to keep your information at the level of this practice. Connecting for Health (CfH), the government agency responsible for the Summary Care Record have agreed with doctors’ leaders that new patients registering with this practice should be able to decide whether or not their information is uploaded to the Central NHS Computer System.

For existing patients it is different in that it is assumed that you want your record uploaded to the Central NHS Computer System unless you actively opt out.

How do I request a copy of my health records?

To request a copy of your health records, download and complete the Subject Access Request (SAR) application form. Please then send the completed and signed form, together with any accompanying evidence listed in the form, to nelondonicb.bmgpmedicalrecords@nhs.net .Alternatively, you can send it by post or handed it over the desk.

How to get your GP records

You can view your GP record information online. To do this, please register for online services.

You can view your GP health record using the NHS App or by logging into your account on the NHS website or via other patient online services provided by your GP surgery. Find out more about the NHS App, https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-app/about-the-nhs-app/  

In most cases, once registered for online services, you will automatically be able to see new information as it is added to your health record. If you need to see older information you can request this from your GP surgery.

Response times

You're entitled to receive a response from us no later than 28 days after they have received your request.

Can family members request health records for a patient? 

A Lasting Power of Attorney or court-appointed deputies can access the medical records where the patients lack the capacity to make this decision themselves. Persons with parental responsibility can access the medical records of a child, unless the child is competent and objects to this.

Can children ask to have copies of their health records?

Yes. Children who have sufficient maturity and understanding (“Gillick-competent”) can request their records. They can also refuse or permit access to their records by those with parental responsibility.

Do relatives have a right to access a deceased patient’s record?

When the patient has died, their records can be accessed by their personal representatives (the executor or the administrator of the estate) or those who have a claim arising out of the patient’s death.  

Why are we asking you to supply evidence of your identification and right to access the records?

The Barking Medical Group Practice is committed to ensure that personal confidential data of our patients is handled legally and securely. To maintain patient confidentiality, and only disclose the records to those who have a right to access them, we ask for this evidence. Proof of identification required for security and is part of the Trust’s measures to protect patients’ personal data from unauthorised access.

Downloadable Files

Patient Access to Medical Records Request Form

SAR Sample email templete

Useful link

NHS England » Subject access requests (SAR)

https://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/who-can-join-scheme-and-how-apply/requesting-medical-records#:~:text=Making%20your%20request,by%20email%20or%20by%20post.

https://ico.org.uk/for-the-public/getting-copies-of-your-information-subject-access-request/