Subject Access Request (SAR)

Wibbles

I used to live elsewhere – where I had a life changing accident in 1990 – I have since then lived in another part of the country – I am now trying to discover exactly what happened to me, all those years ago.

I have obtained some records from the hospital in my original area – but these are lacking detail and I know that my GP records contain much more information.

I raised a SAR with my old GP surgery who tell me that they can’t help me and to contact my present GP to obtain my old medical records – I have, obviously done this and have my present records from more recent times but NOT from 34 years ago – they tell me that they can’t help me and to contact my old surgery – because my old surgery will hold my old records – but, my old records are not available from my present surgery.

Could someone please confirm whether my old surgery should still hold my old records or whether they will have been destroyed or should have been forwarded to my present surgery ?

The law says that medical records are to be held for 8 – 10 years after the patient death but not WHERE they should be held.

Rachel_Scope

Hi @Wibbles, I found this information from NHS England:

The patient's medical record will either follow them to their new practice or be sent to our central records storage facility. 

So your old surgery shouldn't have them and if your new surgery doesn't they could be in their central records storage.

Wibbles

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/945325#Comment_945325

Thanks - how do I find out where central records are held ?

Is there more than one central records storage facility in the country ?

Rachel_Scope

I can't find any information about where the central records are kept unfortunately. Maybe ask your GP surgery about it as they'll know more. Hope you get the information you're searching for.