Accessing medical records

[Geordie daughter]

I am trying to dig up information on a friend's grandmother as the friend's family won't talk about her, and I have so far drawn a blank. The grandmother had two illegitimate children who were brought up by relatives, and died relatively young of a brain tumour in hospital in Bristol in the 1950s. Does anyone know if it would be possible for the friend to apply for access to her grandmother's medical records, and if so would they be likely to contain any personal information which might be useful to my friend?
I'd be grateful for any help on this one, as it's an avenue I have never explored before.

[louisa maud]

I think records if they exist are closed for either 75 or 100 years as far as I understand, no harm in applying  though

Louisa Maud

[oldfashionedgirl]

I applied for medical records for my husbands uncle who died age 20.
In Scotland there is a 75 year closure, probably the same in England.
The hospital where he died and they guided me to the body who hold the records, sorry I can’t think of it’s name at the moment. I had to apply to see them and I had to go to the library at the University in Edinburgh to read them. I wasn’t allowed to copy them but I could take notes.

[Geordie daughter]

Thank you both for your input. The grandmother's records wouldn't be far off the 75 year closure mark then, given when she died. I will see if I can find out anything about where NHS records relating to Bristol are kept, and if they can be made available. With a bit of luck, my friend won't have to travel too far if her application is successful.

[Geordie daughter]

It seems that Bristol Archives holds records for the hospitals in the area. My friend would have to order her gran's death certificate to find out which of the hospitals she died in, before she contacted Bristol Archives, though.

[Crumblie]

You friend may find that she has to ask the local NHS trust for permission to access the records if they are still under a 75 or 100 year rule. She will need to prove direct lineage through birth, marriage and death certificates, and the trust may still say no.

[Geordie daughter]

Thanks for that clarification, Crumblie. Her gran died in Mar Q 1954, so only 67 years have elapsed, which might prove a sticking point. Bristol Archives only hold patient records for Bristol Royal and Bristol General Hospital up to 1951, and for Southmead, not at all, as far as I can work out. I don't think my friend would have any objection to providing the various certificates, as she's keen to get them any way. If she decided to go ahead and give it a shot, who would she have to contact in order to get permission, do you know?

[Jo6100]

I believe paper records can be destroyed 10 years after a patient’s death. Obstetric records are kept for 25 years ( to allow the infant to reach adulthood then have time to pursue a legal claim). So there may not be anything to see.

[louisa maud]

I was told  my  own records  of when  I spent  time  in St Anns fever  hospital was probably destroyed  but If I had  mental  problems they  might still have them
I did manage  to get  my birth records though by proving who  I was but not  my twin brothers as I hadnt  got  his permission

LM