Overview
From 1 August 2022, if you are looking to make an Access to Health Records request for an individual who has passed away, you must submit your request directly to the last known GP Practice.
Primary Care Support England can only provide a copy of GP health records under extenuating circumstances, including where the last registered GP Practice is now closed or the individual was not registered at time of death. If PCSE receive a request outside of these circumstances, we will not be able to process the request and this will be returned to you. It must comply with the Access to Health Records Act 1990 (AHRA) and can take up to 40 days to process.
Please note, parts of a person’s medical record may be held with Hospital, Community or Mental Health trusts, as well as any previous primary care practice(s).
PCSE cannot provide access to a person's medical records held with Hospital, Community or Mental Health trusts, only primary care practices. You may wish to make a separate application to the relevant Health Organisation.
If you do proceed to make a request to PCSE, please ensure to complete our online form with as much detail as possible regarding why you wish to make the request. Please ensure to upload all relevant documents to your request in a legible format.
Consent to email your completed request
In agreement with NHS England, PCSE is now able to complete your request via secure email. This is also the fastest way to make a request for access to medical records.
Please note by submitting your AHR or SAR request online, you are consenting to receive any communication/records via secure email. For guidance on how to access these emails, please click the tile below.
Your data
Any information you have supplied in making this request will be treated in confidence.
It will only be used for the purpose of carrying out your request in accordance with the Data Protection Act 2018.
After your request is completed, your information will be retained for a statutory time period (currently 6 years), after which date it will be securely destroyed.
Paper Access to Health Records Request
Making an online application is the most efficient way to submit your application. The online form captures all required information, and allows you to upload electronic copies of supporting documentation.
However we recognise this might not always be possible.
Making a paper Access to Health Records Request
How to make an Access to Health Records Request
- Download and complete the Access to Health Records request application form
- Send the completed application form along with your supporting documents either by email to pcse.accessrequests@nhs.net or by post to Primary Care Support England, PO Box 350, Darlington, DL1 9QN.
A list of supporting documents can be found at the back of the application form.
We will:
- Process your application and order the medical record from our offsite storage facility
- An NHS England Health Professional will review the request and medical record in line with the Access to Health Records Act (1990)
- If the Health Professional confirms that the records can be released a copy of the record will be sent to you and your request will be complete
If you have a Case number relating to your query that has been allocated by our Service Desk, please include in all relevant communication with ourselves.
Support
Use the link below to access more information about Access to Health Record Requests.
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