Subject Access Request
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You have the right to ask for a copy of the personal information we hold about you, including your medical record. This is called a Subject Access Request, or SAR.
How to ask
You can make a request in writing or by speaking to us.
Who can ask for a record
You can ask for your own record. You can also ask for the record of:
- your child, if you have parental responsibility and the request is in their best interests
- another adult, if you have legal authority such as a Lasting Power of Attorney for health and welfare
- a deceased relative, under the Access to Health Records Act 1990, if you are the personal representative or have a claim arising from the death
If you are asking on someone else’s behalf, we will need proof of your authority before we can share information.
Proof of identity
We need to confirm your identity before we share any information. This protects you and stops your records being given to anyone else by mistake.
We will usually ask for one form of photo ID and one document showing your address. If you cannot provide standard ID, please get in touch and we will work out what we can accept.
How long it takes
We aim to respond within one calendar month of receiving your request and your ID.
If your request is particularly complex, we may extend this by up to two more months. We will tell you if so, and explain why.
If we need to ask you for more information to find what you are looking for, the clock pauses until you reply. This is sometimes called “stop the clock”. Once you respond, we restart the clock from where it stopped.
What you will see
You are entitled to a copy of your information based on a reasonable and proportionate search of your record.
Some information may be redacted, which means removed before we share the record with you. The main reasons we redact are:
- where releasing the information could cause serious harm to your physical or mental health, or to someone else’s
- where the information identifies another person who has not agreed to their information being shared, and it would not be reasonable to share it without their consent
If we redact anything, we will tell you the general reason but not the specific content.
Cost
A copy of your record is free of charge.
If you ask for additional copies of the same information, or if a request is manifestly unfounded or excessive (for example, very repetitive requests), we may charge a reasonable fee to cover our administrative costs.
See your record online
You can see most of your record online through the NHS App. This includes:
- your medications and prescriptions
- test results
- consultation notes (from a date set by your practice)
- letters and documents added to your record
For most patients, online access is the quickest way to see your record. If you have not yet set up access, the NHS App can guide you through.
If you have specific concerns about online access, please speak to us. There are some situations where we may need to limit what is shown.
If you are not happy with our response
If you have concerns about how we have handled your Subject Access Request, please tell us so we can put it right. You can also complain to the Information Commissioner’s Office.
How to complain about how we handle your data
This page was last updated in May 2026.
