My goodness, you have fallen trap to the ploy played by many a solicitor.
They very well knwo the access to medical records act. Infact one quotes
the 10 pound fee and states that this is the max they will pay on the same
piece of paper as the consent signature signed by the patient.
We have been charging 30-40 pounds for a few years and do not release
notes/copies till the dosh is released.
Infact our LMC like others have created summaries outlining the fact that
apart from 10 pounds + copying fee (30p per sheet) that a fee of 30 pounds
be levied for pre 91 records.
Dont' give in to the lawyers and don't feel guilty. You only have to see
the size of their bills to make a mockery out of ours.
Dinesh
Dr Dinesh Patel MRCGP
General Medical Practitioner
Fax: +44 (0)1772 769733
Email: [log in to unmask]
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From: Roger Leary <[log in to unmask]>
To: gp-uk <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Access to Medical Records by solicitors
Date: 16 September 1998 14:52
We seem to be copying records 1-2 x weekly for solicitors. Until
recently we charged £10.00 plus photocopying charges 31p per side.
However the medical record act 1990 only relates to records after
November 1st 1991.
As far as I can tell It does not apply to records held on computer.
Therefore I contend that we can charge
£10.00 for records after November 1st 1991, plus an
additional
£'a reasonable fee' for records prior to 1991 (I have
suggested £10.00), plus
Photocopying charges 31p per side for the above, plus
£10.00 for access to Computer held records (Ref 1984 Data
Protection Act)
i.e.. 30£ plus copying charges in total
I sent an account structured in this way to a solicitor recently who
refused to pay anything more than £10.00 plus 31p per side copying
charges. I backed down as life is too short and I was basically
"testing the water" . However I still feel I probably am legally
entitled to charge these fee's. Then again perhaps I am wrong,
*yet again*?!
Does anybody have any comments?
Particularly Lurking Legal Eagles?
Roger Leary. GP, Esher, Surrey
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