Accessing Health Information

The Data Protection Act 2018 gives you the right to see health and administrative information we hold about you.

You can ask the health professional responsible for your care if you can look at the records relevant to your current treatment.

All other applications to access your health information should be made in writing to:

Access Office
Health Records Department
Level 7, Ninewells Hospital
Dundee
DD1 9SY

or email: TAY.accessmrninewells@nhs.scot

Access Office
Health Records Department
Perth Royal Infirmary
Taymount Terrace
Perth
PH1 1NX

or email: TAY.perthroyalaccessoffice@nhs.scot

You can make your own application to see your records or you can authorise someone else to make the application on your behalf.

A parent or guardian, a patient representative, or a person appointed by a Court can also apply. We may need to see evidence that you have the right to access these records and proof of your identity.

You can apply to see the record of a person who has died if you have a claim arising from that person’s death. The holder of the record must be satisfied that the applicant has the legal right of access to the record.

The maximum period is one month from the date the request is received. If you have to supply further details, the period starts when these have been received.

This is free, however a charge can be made when a requests is unfounded or excessive, particularly if it is repetitive.

You can apply for access to records that have been made about your health. You can ask for any information about yourself that you think is inaccurate or incomplete to be corrected or removed. Any abbreviations or jargon in the record can be explained to you.

There are valid reasons for refusing you access to your own health records.

Here are some recognised reasons:

• If information in the record could cause you harm
• If the record contains sensitive legal information, e.g. a pre adoption report, or a report to the Children’s Panel
• If your record contains information about another person, e.g. a letter about a family member