Have you checked your medical records?

The research found that nearly one in four (23%) adults had noticed inaccuracies or missing details in their medical records. 

There are three key recommendations. 

Better record keeping. These stories and figures highlight the urgent need for improved record-keeping practices. This could be achieved by promoting relevant guidance and regulations by professional regulators, as well as better interoperability to ensure records are shared effectively. The government’s ambition to have a single patient record should help address this.

Promotion of people’s rights to get records amended. People's right to do this needs to be clearer, along with the legal reasons why services may still have to retain a record of contested information. It is also important to make more people aware that they can complain to the NHS or the Information Commissioner’s Office.

Clearer guidance for patients about how to change incorrect records. People have reported how difficult it is to amend or remove inaccurate information in their records.

This article on our website tells you how to access your GP records online.