Patients have a right of access to health information about themselves. This page provides guidance on the processes to access both living and deceased patient information.
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This page is currently being updated
For more information please contact the Access to Health Records Office |
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Box 82, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Hills Road, Cambridge CB2 0QQ. |
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The Access to Health Records Officer will either deal with the access request directly or request further details from you the patient to ensure that the she is dealing with the correct patient.
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The Officer may make an administration charge of up to £50 - this depends on the size and complexity of the request.
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The Officer will request that the administration fee is payable prior to you the patient receiving the information the Trust holds on you.
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The Officer will comply with the request within 40 days of receipt of the fee.
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Addenbrooke's has approx. 500 000 paper-based medical records, which are used across the Trust in different departments, clinics and wards. It is very inconvenient and potentially dangerous when patient notes can't be found, which is why we have a computer system to track where notes are.
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Medical records tracking (MRT) at Addenbrooke's is mandatory;
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A failure to track casenotes can result in disciplinary action for staff involved;
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It is the responsibility of the person sending the notes to track them on the HISS computer system;
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Lost notes have to be found by the person to whom they were last tracked. It is, therefore, in the interest of that person to ensure when sending notes that they are tracked to the receiver.
It is important to track notes on the computer system because:
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We can identify quickly where notes should be;
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It avoids a delay searching for them;
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Treatments can be administered more quickly if notes are available (eg thrombolicin, which is used to treat blood clots);
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Patients have a better chance of receiving some treatments that will help them to recover quicker;
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It is good practice and efficient;
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Accurate and relevant information is available when it is needed;
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Without notes, some treatments cannot be administered, and sometimes patients are sent away without being seen by doctors or other healthcare workers.
It should be noted that very few notes are missing before clinic attendances, and it is rare for notes to be missing for patients.
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