"Access to Health Records"

I attended the Dental Hospital in Newcastle and had 2 small biopsies taken. I asked for copies of the biopsy report and this was denied as "... it is not what we usually do."

I kept asking why not, and was told this is not 'commercial in confidence' or any such reason, so why can I not have a copy of a test/biopsy report. It was in my notes on the worksurface beside me, but I was not 'allowed' to read it or photo it.

I felt completely disempowered. I felt annoyed, I felt frustrated as it is data about me. He had no rational explatation about why I cound not have access. He thought the Dental Hospital 'might not like it'. He claimed he had never been asked for a biopsy report before - are all patients still completely passive?

Although I listened carefully to the explanation of the result, no written information was offered, and when pre-cancerous is being talked about, it is hard to remember everything said, with unfamiliar medical terms, in a half-hour session.