Access to your health records

In accordance with the Data Protection Act 2018 and General Data Protection Regulation 2018, there is a formal process to gain access to personal health or employment records. If you would like a copy of your personal information, you or your representative, will need to contact us with your details. We ask that you provide as much detail as possible such as: 

• your full name and current address;
• contact email and phone numbers;
• any previous names;
• date of birth;
• department, dates or periods that you were receiving care/employment;
• proof of identity.

Proof of identity should be two official documents which show your date of birth, name and current address on it (separately or when combined) such as a current drivers licence, current passport, utility bill, council tax bill etc. Please do not send original documents, good quality copies are adequate if you are uploading using the online form or sending by post – note we will not return these but will temporarily store, then permanently and securely dispose after 3 years.

If you wish, you can appoint someone you trust to act on your behalf.  If you are applying to see someone else’s records you will need to enclose their signed permission or other legal documentation such as Parental rights or Power of Attorney to confirm their request.

Once we have the information we need from you we will respond to you within one month unless your request is complex and/or numerous and we need more time. If this is the case, we will contact you further and provide you with a timescale. The extension will be no more than 2 months.

Accessing personal records of deceased individuals

Applications to obtain the health records of deceased patients are dealt with in accordance with the Access to Health Records Act 1990. Please note that there is no automatic right for individuals to access the health records of the deceased, however, in most cases a voluntary disclosure will be agreed.

Please find below the links to the Application Form for Access to Health Records and Guidance Notes:

Access To Health Records 

Guidance on Access to Health Records 

Please send all request forms for medical records by email to cochlegalservices@nhs.netor alternatively post to:

Legal Services
Countess of Chester Hospital
NHS Foundation Trust
The Countess of Chester Health Park
Liverpool Road
Chester
CH2 1UL

For any further information about accessing your health records, please telephone the department on 01244 365502 or email cochlegalservices@nhs.net.

Please send all requests for employment records by email to coch.hrbp-admin@nhs.netor alternatively post to:

HR Department

Countess of Chester Hospital
NHS Foundation Trust
The Countess of Chester Health Park
Liverpool Road
Chester
CH2 1UL

 

For any further information about accessing your employment records, please telephone 01244 365000 and ask for the HR Department or email coch.hrbp-admin@nhs.net

Privacy Notice
This privacy notice sets out how The Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (The Trust) uses and protects any information that you provide to us.