Genealogy Chat

Has anyone ever used someones medical records to find information? And if so what information do they show? Thanks Janie

Reminds me, must try to get my records from 1962 - 65 if I can. Dad was in the services and they apparently still have them (well my present doc hasn't got them). I was incarcerated in a sanitorium in Scotland for 3 months in 62/63 aged 6 - and no-one (not even my mum) knows why!!!! (Possibly Hepatitis) Is it possible to get them? maggie

I recently got the medical records for my husband's grandfather who we learned from his death certificate had died in a Mental Hospital in the 1940's (before my husband was born so he never knew him). It gave us details of when he was admitted, the day to day treatment he received, an account of his decline and subsequent death. There was also a really good description of him and best of all, a very small photocopy of a photograph of him (not very good quality, but it is the first one we have seen of him). We got in touch with the county records office and they gave us the name of the person we had to contact at the relevant Health Authority to ask if the records could be released to us. Sometimes they agree and sometimes not, so I guess we were lucky. Kath. x

Maggie, I might be wrong about this, but I would have thought that if they are your own medical records, then you should have a right under the Freedom of Information Act to see them. Maybe someone else will know for certain. Kath. x

You can ask to see your medical records, I even know people that have moved abroad and asked to have the records to take with them. We are thinking about getting my grans and fathers, in that situation you need consent from the next of kin, apparently. I was told that they burn the records 8 years after the persons death?

Would be nice to get them, but I have no idea where to go. I have asked my present doctor, but he's missing quite a few years (we moved around a lot). I don't even know the name of the doctor at the time, he just plonked his bag on my legs (oooh the pain, I can still feel it now) and had me carted off. Although my dad was in the Fleet Air Arm, we lived in a converted bus at the time and in those days we apparently weren't 'good enough' to be told anything, being one up from Neanderthal!!! Oh the wonders of the class system Lol Present doc thinks they may be held by the Services. maggie

Maggie, is it possible for the army to have medical records then, are they separate from 'normal' medical records? How can we find out and how can we get them if they do? My grandad was in the army and we are really struggling to find info on him (even date of birth etc..).

I don't know about burning records Janie. They certainly didn't burn my hubby's grandfather's records. They may not have been the complete records, but they were certainly interesting and the photo was a bonus and they didn't cost us a penny apart from a letter to the Health Authority. Kath. x

well it's certainly worth looking into then.

Janie, My doc thinks they may be being held by the Services, but could also just be in Scotland, and not transferred to Cornwall when we moved there. Dad was still in the Services when we moved to Cornwall, but I didn't ask my doctor if he had those records, which may give the answer about whether the Services hold their own records.(if present doc doesn't have them they are being held by the Services) maggie

Hi Maggie, Not sure if this will help you but the University of Glasgow hold the Greater Glasgow NHS Board Archives. If you know which hospital you were in 62/63 it will be very quick to establish if they have the relevant records. I have obtained some great information ranging 1882 - 1950. http://www.archives(.)gla(.)ac(.)uk/gghb/collects/gghbinda(.)html Helen