Accessing Your GP Held Records 

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Our policy

The NHS wants to give people better ways to see their personal health information online. We know that people want to be able to access their health records. It can help you see test results faster. It also lets you read and review notes from your appointments in your own time.

From October 2023 you will see all prospective information within your health record automatically. If you are over 16 and have an online account, such as through the NHS app you will be able to see all future notes and health records from your doctor (GP).

This means you will be able to see notes from your appointments, as well as test results and any letters that are saved on your records. This only applies to records from your doctor (GP), not from hospitals or other specialists. You will only be able to see information after October 2023. For most people, access will be automatic, and you won't need to do anything.

We are supportive of providing you with access to your record, but we wish to do this safely and make you aware that this is happening so that you can opt out, if you so wish. You may wish to speak with us first to understand what it is that you see, and the risks which may be involved in having such confidential data either on your smartphone with the NHS app installed or online if other people might have access to that information through your devices. If you are in a difficult or pressured relationship for example, you may prefer your records to remain accessible only to those treating you.

it is important to remember that documents may, at times contain information that could be upsetting, especially if they contain news of a serious condition. It can also be a cause for worry seeing results online when it isn't clear what the results might mean, and no one is available to ask, as can be the case during the evening or at weekends, for example.

Sometimes people with a mental health condition might prefer not to see documents that remind them of difficult times in their life. it is possible for individual items to be hidden at your request.

Please contact the surgery if you wish to opt out.

These changes only apply to patients with online accounts.

Apply for online records with family and carer (proxy) access