Patients face 'postcode lottery' with medical files

David Knox • Published 22 Jul 2009 10:00 0 Comments

A POSTCODE lottery exists at GP surgeries across the Borders.

Patients face charges of up to £50 at some health centres to access their records while others don't charge.

The Border Telegraph contacted several surgeries across the region and found the startling statistics.

Newtown St Boswells glass artist Mark Cowie was told he would have to cough up £20 to get hold of his medical records at the village surgery.

He later found that the same service is free in Hawick and attempted to query why a set rate doesn't apply across the region.

Mark told us: "I would be the first to put my hands up and say that I have no problem with a charge, provided it was consistent across the board.

"But injustice like this makes me feel very angry and I'm annoyed that the public are being treated like this.

"I'm sure there are plenty people out there who can't afford a £20 charge and will start to lose faith in the system."

Medical details are often required for insurance purposes, driving licences, working visas and obtaining certain jobs.

Courts often ask for copies of medical records to be supplied during cases.

NHS Borders allows individual surgeries across the region to set their own charging rates for the service - although they have capped the fees at £50.

A spokeswoman for the health board said: "Charges for viewing medical records are not administered by NHS Borders."

Individual clinics provide various services from simple viewing files on a computer screen to accessing hard copies and making photo-copies.

While the O'Connell Street Medical Centre in Hawick was happy to provide the service for nothing it can cost up to £50 at St Ronan's Health Centre in Innerleithen to view original documents and have them copied.

At Galashiels Health Centre it will set you back 55p for every page you need photocopied up to a maximum charge of £50 with no private access available.

And at Selkirk Health Centre they charge £10 for access with a minimal fee for photocopying.

A spokesman for Selkirk Health Centre told the Border Telegraph: "It can be quite a lengthy process as each requested medical record has to be sourced then given to the doctor for checking before it can be given to the patient. This is not part of the NHS Service and the charge only covers the time and costs involved."

Eyemouth Health Centre charge £10 for the service while both Stow and Lauder surgeries also charge £10 for viewing medical records.

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This article appeared in Border Telegraph 22 Jul 09

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