Genealogy Chat

I have written to the local hospital where my Birth Mum died to see if I can access her medical records and my own. I have just had an email back today saying there is no record of me or my Mum and were probably destroyed 8 years after last attendance. I thought records were destroyed after 25 years. Mum died 24 years ago and have only recently found my birth family. I really wanted to know what happened to her. Is there anything I can do? Many thanks Jd

You could try writing to the relevant Local Health Authority. I doubt if the records were DESTROYED after 8 years, probably shuffled off to some central storage. I had two operations 27 years apart at the same hospital and they had no difficulty in finding my records. OC

Will try that OC. Many thanks Jd

Hi Jd, I've been trying to get my grandfather's medical records and everyone I've spoken to, council, GP etc all told me that most records were destroyed after 10 years as legally they don't have to keep them any longer than that but some GP's put them into storage which you can request. Jayne x

Surely, if they are going to destroy them, they can only do it AFTER your death? How, otherwise, do they know you arent going to need medical attention again? My GP has my medical records right back to my birth - a long time ago! - and these cover over 30 house moves across the country. OC

You need the 'Access to Records Officer' which covers the Trust where the relevant hospital is/was. You may be lucky and find that info at the library or even the local family records office if its different to the library. Or telephone the Trust itself and ask if they have such an officer (they're supposed to have one for each trust) I succeeded in getting records from 1933 and so you may be lucky too. btw which area are you talking about - as I know the relevant people from staffordshire and some of the liverpool hospitals if thats of any use to you Jen

I know this is a silly question, but have you got her death certificate? Merry

Hi everyone. Thanks for you replies. I do have my birth Mum's death certificate but as I was adopted I want to know as much information about her and her tragic death death as I can. After I was born I was with her for 10 days before I went to a foster family prior to adoption. I wanted to view my records to show this time with my Mum. Mum died from a brain haemhorrage a few days before her 25th birthday. Here is the reply from the woman who dealt with my request at Hope Hospital, Salford. They have an information security department you have to go through to access your medical records. Thank you for your Email requesting information about yourself and your late mother Ms J*** D*** I had organised a thorough search of all the database and archives in the hospital, but was unable to locate any records of both yourself and your mother. We would expect that they have been destroyed in accordance with the NHS guidelines (normally eight years after last attendance). May I suggest that you contact the address below, as they may be able to offer their assistance in your search Family Records Centre 1 Myddleton Street London EC1R 1UW Or Salford Registrar Kings Lea Barton Road Swinton Manchester M27 5WH Please contact me on the telephone number below if I can be of any further assistance, I wish you Good Luck in your search. Yours Sincerely ---------- What if any, information would the above addresses give me? The only thing I can think of doing next is to contact the coroner in Manchester as Mum had to have an inquest into her death. I am off line for a couple of hours now. Thanks again for your suggestions. greatly appreciated. Jd