AQW 4231/22-27

Miss Nuala McAllister
Alliance Party
North Belfast

Tabled Date: 06/10/2022
Answered On Date: 10/10/2022
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Health whether he will prevent GPs from charging patients to access their medical history for social security purposes.

Answer:

Under the UK General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) individuals have a right of access to their personal information.

This is known as a subject access request (SAR) and includes a patient’s request to access their medical records. SARs must be processed free of charge and within one month.

If a large amount of information is held by the GP practice, the patient can be asked to clarify the information that would be acceptable to satisfy the SAR.

Whilst the GP practice must bear the costs of providing initial copies of medical records, further copies can be charged for.

The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) is the regulator for data protection

A patient has the right to complain directly to the ICO if they are dissatisfied with the processing of their request – further information is available here: Make a complaint | ICO.

The ICO can be contacted by phone, email or by post. Contact information is attached here: Northern Ireland office | ICO

Guidance and further information is available on the ICO website via this weblink: Right of access | ICO