Obtaining medical records from the UK

[S*UK 543]

Hi all, 

 

I called my GP today and asked for a copy of both my medical records and my vaccination history. 

 

I was told that this would cost £50!?!? And would take a week to process. I need to go down to my doctors and sign some forms and pay the fee in cash. 

 

Does this sound normal! I've not read of anyone else being met with this response from their GP. 

 

Fuming lol. Please can someone tell me if this is normal. 

[sunj 83]

Hi @S*UK

 

Funny you should say this, I called my GP practise today and got the same.

For the full medical records I need to write a written request and submit to the surgery and it'll take 10 business days to complete. She said the fee was from £10 per record sheet with max being £50 if i have a lot of medical history. 

I have tried to email Knightsbridge Clinic to see if they will accept a Patient Summary Care Record report which is a slimmed down NHS report of your medical without all the wooly details in between, but highlights allergies, medicines etc. These I believe are cheaper if not free but i'm yet unsure if they accept as i haven't had a response from them.

 

I'll let you know if i hear any response back, if not I'll call tomorrow and do further investigation.

 

Cheers,

Sunjay

[Ashley Scott 180]

18 minutes ago, S*UK said:

Hi all, 

 

I called my GP today and asked for a copy of both my medical records and my vaccination history. 

 

I was told that this would cost £50!?!? And would take a week to process. I need to go down to my doctors and sign some forms and pay the fee in cash. 

 

Does this sound normal! I've not read of anyone else being met with this response from their GP. 

 

Fuming lol. Please can someone tell me if this is normal. 

My husband did not have to pay anything when he requested this from his GP in England.  He did have to wait a few days if I remember correctly but he did not have to pay them anything.  Could just be a fee from your GP maybe for the "time" put in to it?  Good luck!

[Ashley Scott 180]

1 minute ago, sunj said:

Hi @S*UK

 

Funny you should say this, I called my GP practise today and got the same.

For the full medical records I need to write a written request and submit to the surgery and it'll take 10 business days to complete. She said the fee was from £10 per record sheet with max being £50 if i have a lot of medical history. 

I have tried to email Knightsbridge Clinic to see if they will accept a Patient Summary Care Record report which is a slimmed down NHS report of your medical without all the wooly details in between, but highlights allergies, medicines etc. These I believe are cheaper if not free but i'm yet unsure if they accept as i haven't had a response from them.

 

I'll let you know if i hear any response back, if not I'll call tomorrow and do further investigation.

 

Cheers,

Sunjay

If it helps, my husband did not have a full medical report.  He only took the summary.  I think it was only 2 pages.  It listed his surgeries and any diagnoses that he has had over the years and medications he is on and that's about it.  I am assuming this is what you are talking about.  I will double check with him if there was anything else they needed but if I remember correctly it was just the vaccination record, the health summary, and a letter from his GP about a depression diagnosis from years ago. 

[sunj 83]

5 minutes ago, Ashley Scott said:

If it helps, my husband did not have a full medical report.  He only took the summary.  I think it was only 2 pages.  It listed his surgeries and any diagnoses that he has had over the years and medications he is on and that's about it.  I am assuming this is what you are talking about.  I will double check with him if there was anything else they needed but if I remember correctly it was just the vaccination record, the health summary, and a letter from his GP about a depression diagnosis from years ago. 

Thanks so much, that would be helpful if you wouldn't mind helping to confirm that as that would save a lot of time.
Appreciate your help

[sunj 83]

Hi @S*UK

 

I've just contacted Knightbridge Clinic and the receptionist was very helpful she said that we just need a Summary Care Record (https://digital.nhs.uk/summary-care-records)
Its a 2-7 page document summarising your medical history and not requiring a full comprehensive medical report.

 

I just called my GP practise back and they said they can issue a username and password which allows you to download the records online through the NHS portal above or you can normally get the practise manager to do it for you.

The username and password issued works straight away within an hour of issuance if you wanted to have online access.

 

Hope this helps, and thanks @Ashley Scott, most helpful.

 

Best,

Sunjay

[Ashley Scott 180]

Just now, sunj said:

Hi @S*UK

 

I've just contacted Knightbridge Clinic and the receptionist was very helpful she said that we just need a Summary Care Record (https://digital.nhs.uk/summary-care-records)
Its a 2-7 page document summarising your medical history and not requiring a full comprehensive medical report.

 

I just called my GP practise back and they said they can issue a username and password which allows you to download the records online through the NHS portal above or you can normally get the practise manager to do it for you.

The username and password issued works straight away within an hour of issuance if you wanted to have online access.

 

Hope this helps, and thanks @Ashley Scott, most helpful.

 

Best,

Sunjay

So glad you were able to get an answer on this.  I have to say, we do not miss those days of trying to figure out what was needed and when and where to get it!  lol.  I will say the overall process and experience for the K1 from the UK was smooth and pleasant.  My husband had a very positive experience with Knightsbridge and at the embassy and we were able to get him here with no hiccups.   I hope the same for you all and please let me know if you have any questions.  I will try to answer any that I can!  Good luck with the rest of your process!

[S*UK 543]

Thanks so much everyone. I will be calling back tomorrow. Should I quote 'patient care summary' or 'summary care record' ? 

@Ashley Scott

@sunj

Thanks again 

[sunj 83]

No problem at all @S*UK.

 

Go with what the NHS call it, 'Summary Care Record', my GP surgery understood straightway what I was trying to obtain. 😊

 

Best of luck, 

Sunjay

[Hemzi 244]

Okay so after reading everyone's posts here, the requirements for the Knightsbridge Medical have changed.

 

1) You do need the Summary of Care like it has been stated, they will hold your medical if you do not have this. You do not need your full medical records, however most people like to get a hold of this before they leave to make sure they have them for reference in the US. After GDPR, most surgeries do not charge but some do. I was charged £50 for mine.

 

2) If you have had any previous or ongoing medical conditions, they now ask for a letter from your GP/Specialist or Medical Professional stating the condition, what medication you're on, prognosis, and how you are managing the condition.

 

In my case, I previously had a neurological condition (petit mal epilepsy), that they required this information for. I had notes for things like cleft palate and ENT issues which they didn't require any information for.

Edited July 16, 2018 by Hemzi
Realised responding to an old thread.