Access to health records

Abstract

As a result of recent legislation, whether a person’s health records are held on computer or held in a manual form there is a statutory right of access, subject to specific situations where access can be withheld. In addition there is a right of access to health records completed by the patient’s doctor for employment or insurance purposes. There are also rights of access to personal records held by social services and housing departments under the Access to Personal Files Act 1987. These statutory provisions are set out in Figure 6.1.