Can I access my own medical records in the UK?

Yes. Under UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018, you have an absolute right to access your medical records — both NHS and private. Requests must be fulfilled within 30 days and should be free of charge.

How do I request my medical records from the NHS?

Write to the practice manager at your GP surgery or the data protection officer at the hospital trust. You can request records verbally, by email, or in writing. They must respond within 30 days. If refused, escalate to the Information Commissioner's Office.

Your Medical Records in the UK: What You're Entitled To and How to Get Them

Your medical records belong to you. Not to your GP. Not to the hospital. Not to the consultant. UK data protection law is clear: you have the right to see every piece of information doctors hold about your health.

Most people have never read their own records. They don't know what's in them, and they've never thought about asking for them.

What you can access

You can request every medical record the NHS or any private healthcare provider holds about you. That means GP notes, hospital letters, consultant reports, test results, imaging (X-rays, scans), discharge summaries, mental health records — everything.

This is called a Subject Access Request (SAR). The organisation must give you the records within 30 days. It must be free.

How to get your records

From your GP: Write to your GP practice manager or use the NHS App, which now lets you access your GP record directly. You can see test results, your current medications, and notes from your appointments.

From a hospital: Contact the medical records department or information governance team. Most NHS trusts have a Subject Access Request form on their website. You'll need to provide ID and be clear about what records you want.

From private clinics: The same rules apply. Contact the data protection officer at the private hospital or clinic and submit a written request.

Why this actually matters

When I help a new client, I always pull together their complete medical history from every provider they've seen. Almost every time, there are gaps. A consultant letter that never reached the GP. Test results that were filed away but never acted on. An old diagnosis that's relevant today but has been forgotten.

Having your records in one place isn't about distrusting your doctors. It's about having the full picture yourself. No single healthcare provider sees all your information. When you see a new specialist, you can give them the complete context. When you want a second opinion, you have all the evidence to share.