Request access to health records

 

We ask you to share information with us so that we can provide you with the highest standard of care we possibly can. This information is known as your ‘Health Record’ and is stored securely by The Walton Centre in both paper and electronic forms. This information provides NHS staff with the information they need in order to ensure that the delivery of your care continues to be of the highest standard.

In this section you can find out how to access the information The Walton Centre gathers and uses as part of your care.

Can I access my health records?

Yes, under Data Protection legislation, individuals have the right to access their own information held by us; however, there are a few exceptions, e.g. if you are still undergoing treatment. Please talk to the healthcare professional responsible for your care about this.

If you are no longer receiving care, then please contact the Subject Access Request Team for access to your Medical Records. wcft.sarlegalrequests@nhs.net 

Please note X-rays/scan results and clinic letters can take up to four to six weeks to be reported, please allow this time frame to pass after your appointment prior to requesting information.

The Trust can only release medical records and scans held or performed at The Walton Centre. If you have been seen at another Trust, you will need to contact them directly for copies of your health records at their organisation.

How much does it cost?

As of 25 May 2018 there is no longer a charge for this service. However, you may be charged a reasonable fee for repeated requests for further copies of the same information.

 

Can I be refused access?

For the majority of requests you will be allowed access to your records. However, in some instances access may be denied to all or part of your records for the following reasons:

- If your doctor or another senior healthcare professional thinks seeing your records before seeing one of them could cause you or another serious harm or distress.

- If the information involves an identified person, who does not consent to this information being disclosed. This does not include healthcare professionals.

- If you are applying on behalf of someone who has died or who is not cable of managing their own affairs and they originally instructed that the information should not be disclosed.

 

How do I apply to access my health record?

If you would like to apply to access your health records, we ask you to kindly complete our application form for us to gather all the information needed and return it to us via post or email (details below) along with copies of two forms of ID. Once the completed application form has been received, your application will begin to be processed.

This form is for patient/family use only. Please note if you are acting on behalf of a patient who does not have capacity to complete a form themselves you need to ensure you supply the correct documentation for the Trust to release this information.

Please note this application form is for medical records only. If you require information in relation to complaint files, NHSmail box access or anything other than copies of health records please ensure you contact the Information Governance department directly to action this request wcft.information.governance@nhs.net.

All solicitor/agency requests should be made via a headed company letter along with signed consent from the patient.

 

Download the application form

By email: wcft.sarlegalrequests@nhs.net

By post:

SAR/Legal Team
Subject Access Requests
Medical Records Department

The Walton Centre NHS Foundation Trust
Lower Lane
Liverpool
L9 7LJ

Or telephone: 0151 556 3425/3426

 

What are my rights?

Data protection laws give individuals rights in respect of the personal information that we hold about you. These are:

1. To be informed why, where and how we use your information (right to be informed)
2. To ask for access to your information (right of access), also known as a subject access request
3. To ask for information to be corrected if inaccurate or incomplete (right to rectification)
4. To ask for your information to be erased or removed (the right to erasure) (this does not apply to an individual’s health or care record or for public health or scientific research reasons).
5. To ask us to restrict the use of your information (the right to restrict processing)
6. To ask us to copy or transfer your information to other providers in a safe and secure way, without impacting the quality of the information (the right to data portability)
7. To object to how your information is used in certain circumstances (the right to object)
8. To challenge any decisions made without human Intervention (automated decision making) (the right not to be subjected to automated decision-making)
9. We have a legal obligation to ensure your information is accurate and up to date. We are however only obliged to make corrections to your records if the record contains incorrect facts such as name, address etc. If you believe that medical information or a clinician’s opinion that is noted on your file is incorrect this cannot be changed for safety reasons however a note can be added to your file with your view.

You can find further information on the Trust's privacy notice which is available here.  

If you still require further information in relation to your request please forward your request to the Information Governance Department via wcft.information.governance@nhs.net