Hi we are ringing doc's and dentists etc to get copy of records, the doc's want £50 each and dentist says they dont normally give them out as a new dentist would make there own when you join?
Is the costs normal?

Doesn't some law (data protection maybe?) allow anyone access to their medical records? Im sure they cant charge for that?

Our doctor gave us reports for free. I was actually quite surprised but would have been gobsmacked at being 50 GBP each. It's probably an admin charge but I think that is steep. It was a one sheet report per person. Listed immunisations/dates for kids, any serious illnesses/ops and medical allergys.

Haven't been able to register with a Dr here yet but have used the walk-in clinic. No-one has asked for medical history but I filled in a questionaire. I am glad I got my medical report anyway.

Re dentists - your new dentist will take new x-rays and thats all they need.

Initial check-up and 5 x-rays cost me $17 last week under our health plan.

Jeez. My doctors back in the UK helpfully photocopied my entire medical record history back to early childhood and sent it too me for nothing. It's a wad of papers an inch thick. I never realised I was such a hypochondriac!

For the Dentist I'd agree you don't need your records. The first examination you have with the new dentist should tell them all they need to know.

AX

We did not bring a thing and were never asked for them. I had the little red book and list of injections for the boys, but for myself and husband nothing....and he had major operations as a child. We just did fully history when we arrived. Dentist..... they just took xrays

Data Protection Act 1998 (plus subordinate legislation) allows them to charge a maximum of 50 pounds for such records. Some practices work out what it has actually cost them and charge you that, some just charge the "standard" 50 pound fee.

You can request to see your medical records if you ask in advance and make an appointment. This allows them to look through your notes and blank out anything they don't want you to read, such as non PC comments, info they think would have a detromental effect n that sort of stuff.

You could do that n just copy down the relevant info, not sure if they charge though.

They are entitled to charge you an admin fee of £10 to access them in any event.

I agree with some of the previous posts... before I moved to the UK I went for one last dental exam & fix a couple of weeks before hand and asked them if I would need dental records, x-rays or any such to bring with me to the UK from Canada and the dentist chuckled and said to give his office address if the dentist in the UK wanted the records sent to them, but over his past 20 years of practice not one ex-pat Canadians records have ever been requested & he's had a few.

My first visit to my NHS dentist in the UK did their own exam & notations of my fillings, possible cavities & the like and they took their own x-rays to determine if there was any underlying problems... pretty much the same rigamaroll I went through in Canada when I switched dentists. Same went for my GP. It's hard to find GP's taking on new patients but try the numbers in the phone books every couple of weeks and you may just luck out like I did... meantime, walk in clinics and CLSC's was what I used to use when I didn't have a GP. Usually new GP's will ask you for your medical history and same with walk in clinics, just make sure YOU know your medical history dates & conditions etc when you leave the UK & you'll be fine.

Just remember, dentistry in Canada is not covered by the national health service equivalent (medicare) but most average sized employers offer health plans that help with the costs of dental coverage. If your REALLY strapped for cash & in pain from your mouth/teeth, you can go into any hospital ER (A&E equivalent) with your problem & they will have to treat you under Mecicare coverage (ie, you have to pay little or nothing for it) but to avoid any more serious complications down the line from neglecting your teeth, your best finding either indipendant health care or an employers health care plan, it lessens the blow to the pocket and also provides you with some peace of mind that you wont just have all your teeth knocked out & get a pair of dentures at the end of your visit *lol* (I'm exagerating here!)