Jockstar

How do u go about getting them sent over from the UK? Thanks in advance.

Pollyana

Usual way of getting them before you leave is to request a copy from the surgery, and there is then often a charge for getting them copied - you are entitled to a copy under the Data Protection Act.
As you've already left you'd have to get in touch with either your previous GP (if they still have the records) or your local Trust or similar - some records are returned to a central office from surgeries when a patient leaves the practice.

Jockstar

I have no idea where my last doc was. The last time I lived in the UK was 2003. Is there no central database?

lesleys

They might have disappeared into the ether, especially if they weren't computerised. When I worked overseas and returned to the UK about 15 months later my records had all gone and a new lot started.

AlliF

Guessing you are from Scotland? In which case if you can remember at least the region in Scotland you last had a registered doctor then the local health trust for that region should have them.

Jockstar

I am originally. But i left when i was 20. Lived in London for years. So basically left Scotland in 1994. Moved to Oz 98,back to London 99, NZ 2000 and Bangkok 2001-2006 and then Oz. Went back to UK in 2003 for 7 months. Hence my problem.

Pollyana

Find the local HQ of the NHS Trust or similar which covered the place you lived in during 2003 (assuming you were registered with a GP then) and contact them. GPs were supposed to return records to their local Trust (or equivalent) HQ if the knew the person was leaving the area/emigrating etc. That would be your best starting point.

asher

you can just give a verbal record to many drs they wont ask for notes if you havent had anything complicated.

You can also ask the British GP for a contact sheet to be printed off it's free.

I got my GP to write a referral letter re my spinal injury and a printed contact sheet for the rest it didn't cost me anything

carolinephillips

Mine charged twenty-five pounds each!!!!

moneypenny20

Not being nosy, well I am really why do you think you need them now when you've not needed them for at least 10 years? Feel free to tell me to bog off.

sormesher

Can you get your records from Australia hospitals / doctors just as easily?

Jockstar

Previous surgery records.

Pollyana

If you don't want to post it on here, pm me with the town where you lived last in the UK and I'll see if I can track down where the records should be. Would give you a starting point at least

quoll

Unless you have some really complex ongoing condition it's unlikely that a doctor is going to be interested in them anyway. Same with dental records, they just start anew. I wouldn't bother wasting time or energy chasing them unless you have had major interventions in the past.

asher

did you pay for a contact sheet? that is always free so your GP robbed you!

if you got your medical notes then yes you have to pay, but most Drs will write a referral letter for free and a travel letter if you need to carry drugs on the airlines.
some do charge for referral letters I know it did help that I had been the district nurse for my surgery