The NHS wants to provide patients with better ways to access their personal health information online. As your GP practice, we have been asked to give you access to your full medical records. If you are over 16 and have an online account through the NHS App, NHS website, or another online primary care service, you will now be able to view all future notes and health records from your doctor. Some people already have access to this feature, and this will not change for you.
This means you will be able to see notes from your appointments, test results, and any clinical letters uploaded to your records. This only applies to records from your GP, not from hospitals or other specialists. You will only be able to view information added from 31st October 2023 onwards. For most people, access will be automatic, and no further action is required.
Your GP may discuss test results with you before they appear online. They may also wish to speak with you before granting full access to ensure that viewing your records will be beneficial.
Since your medical record can contain sensitive or personal information, please contact the practice if you have any concerns.
If you want access to someone else’s records, please contact the surgery. We will need to make sure the person giving access understands and agrees to it. Every GP surgery is responsible for protecting the medical information they hold about their patients, and protecting patients from any abuse, control or coercion.
GP surgeries have the right to refuse proxy access for any reason, if they think it would not be in someone’s best interests, even if they have requested it themselves.
These changes apply only to patients with online accounts. If you do not wish to create an online account, you can still access your health records by requesting this information from reception.
The NHS App, website, and other online services are highly secure, so only you can access your information. However, it is essential to protect your login details. Do not share your password with anyone, as they could access your personal information.
If you do not want to view your health record, are concerned someone else could access your phone, or fear being forced to share your records, please let us know at the practice so we can take steps to keep you safe.
For more information about these changes, please speak to your GP or practice staff, or the video below: