If I ask my GP for a copy of my records, do they have to give me a copy as per this act?

Here is the wording: https://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2014/act/30/enacted/en/html

I am having a lot of trouble with doctors these days and I want to get all my information so I can make a proper record of it myself. I am trying to get the help I need and I feel like I have to re-explain myself every time. Keeping my own records would help me explain and give any new doctor any information they need (even though it’s literally on my file, but they never seem to read that).

Is there anyone that can translate ‘law’-speak into basic English for me please? I’m too stupid for those kind of documents.

In case it’s matters what type of doctor, here is one example: https://walshmedicalpractice.ie

Thanks for any input you have!

————

In case you feel cheated for reading all this crap, I apologise and offer you these pictures I took as recompense.

* 2005: The coolest picture I will ever take. O’Connell Street, Dublin: https://i.imgur.com/1Ia9BnR.jpeg
* 2005: Floozy in the Jacuzzi. Anyone remember this?: https://i.imgur.com/UG5sZR0.jpeg
* 2005: A Dolmen in the Burren, County Clare: https://i.imgur.com/DJejd6I.jpeg
* 2004: The Eiffel tower in November. It was fucking freezing and took hours to push my way past all the people to the top, but at least I got this picture: https://i.imgur.com/3yORByw.jpeg
* 2005: Dollar Bay Beach: https://i.imgur.com/SyTo4kq.jpeg

7 comments

  2. https://www.hse.ie/eng/services/yourhealthservice/info/foi/making-a-request/

    If you are/ were a private patient then you contact the practice directly, I mean not a medical card or GP card holder..
    https://foi.gov.ie/can-a-person-get-access-to-their-records-from-a-general-practitioner-gp/

    From the doctor surgery that you linked above https://walshmedicalpractice.ie/north-gate-privacy-statement/

    “Your right of access to your health information

    You have the right of access to all the personal information held about you by this practice. If you wish to see your records in most cases it is the quickest to discuss this with your doctor who will outline the information in the record with you. You can make a formal written access request to the practice and the matter can be dealt with formally. There may be a charge for the cost of transfer details to electronic disk where a formal request is made.”

  3. Yes they do, as people have said, both/either under FOI or a Subject Access Request. Let the admin in the GP practice know that you want a copy of any data they have on you and they’ll let you know what form they need from you to get it. It can take a little while.

    Your GP is never going to get this ready in front of you as it’ll rarely be straightforward to get everything out if whatever record system they are using.

    A minor warning though -it can be convenient to have your files, but depending on what the issue is, simply having the records of a previous doctor’s opinion of your review or some test results may not speed things up that much.

  4. I’m not a law person but I know that you don’t even need to mention the legal footing you’re asking under.

    Any GP with a bit of experience will likely have been asked for medical records by a solicitor before so it’s very simple.

    You can simply send them a letter (or email) stating that you are X person, include your DOB, and proof of identity (passport scan typically) and ask for your records. There is no need whatsoever to quote legal provisions or law at them.

  6. When I moved from Limerick to Dublin I was told by the hospital in Dublin to make a FOI request to the hospital in Limerick for all my records as the systems weren’t linked up and the Dublin hospital couldn’t just request them on my behalf, so yes you can make an FOI request 🙂

Leave a Reply