Access to the records of a deceased patient is restricted to the personal representative of the deceased and to family members who might have a claim arising from the death of the deceased.
The duty of confidentiality remains after a service user has died. Under the Access to Health Records Act 1990, the personal representative of the deceased and people who may have a claim arising from the patient’s death are normally permitted access to the records.
The practice will usually require evidence that you are the personal representative i.e. executor of a Will, Letters of Administration, or that you have a claim arising out of the service user’s death. The Trust are required to consider