File photo Image: Shutterstock/fizkes File photo Image: Shutterstock/fizkes GENERAL PRACTITIONERS WILL no longer be asked to sign off on requests by survivors of mother and baby homes seeking access to their own health records.
Many survivors have since requested access to their medical files and other records. However, there was disagreement over whether or not a GP needed to sign off on the request before files were given to survivors. However, new regulations have now come into force and the DCEDIY believes the issue has been resolved.In a statement, a spokesperson told The Journal: “Over the last number of months, the DCEDIY and Department of Health worked closely together to progress new regulations and the Data Protection Act 2018 Regulations 2022 have now come into force.
The spokesperson said the new regulations “will have a particularly positive impact for individuals seeking to access their health data in the Mother and Baby Homes archive as it will no longer be mandatory in all cases to consult the individual’s health practitioner before releasing their health data to them”.
The DCEDIY will also be “working to provide health data under GDPR to those individuals who previously opted to receive their health data under FOI as an interim measure” pending the regulations, the spokesperson added.