Genealogy Chat

thanks for your help, have contacted them. the records i was after were my grandmothers as there seems to be a missing child, my mum can remember having a baby sister but she died in childhood. we have searched for birth and death cert but can find neither. have explained situaton in a email and im waiting to see if we can access them. hopefully they might be able to help.

If you think of it, there could be all sorts in there of a very personal nature - there would have to be an overwhelming reason to give access.
Guess you need to explore different avenues!
Re. home births - you can tell by birth cert I think.
Jan

There is a lot of paragraphs and subparagraphs but it seems in certain circmstances as you say jan such as in in the case of negligence or a court case you can, I would think it would have to be next of kin or lawyers who can apply.

Surely not? You can apply to see your own record, but I can't see any way you could access someone else's. Obviously it can happen if there is a legal case, (not sure even then who would be allowed access) but otherwise I would be very surprised. Always willing to learn though!

EDIT have looked at the site. I think you would need to be the deceased's "personal representative" or parent/guardian. i cannot for the life of me imagine records being released to interested relatives!!

Jan

yes you can if you live in england or wales

Right of access to health records .(1)
An application for access to a health record, or to any part of a health record, may be made to the holder of the record by any of the following, namely

)
where the patient has died, the patient’s personal representative and any person who may have a claim arising out of the patient’s death


(1)
This Act may be cited as the Access to Health Records Act 1990. .
(2)
This Act shall come into force on 1st November 1991. .
(3)
This Act does not extend to Northern Ireland.


there seems to be a lot of guff about it but the link to the page to explain it all is this



http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts1990/ukpga_19900023_en_1#pb2-l1g3

No chance I'm afraid - confidential.
Jan

does anyone know if you can request to see your deceased relatives medical records? also would they contain information on home births from the late 1940's and 1950's. thanks any help and advice.