How could I get a copy of an X-ray I had?

MeEsH BaKkA · 18 Feb 2012 at 13:08

The injurys thread has got me thinking about the X-rays I had when I broke my ankle.
Is the any way of getting a copy and do hospitals destroy X-rays after a certain amount of time? I broke my ankle 7 years ago, but also went back in to have all the metal work taken out about 5 years ago, so prob ones taken then as well.

No real reason for wanting it other than it looked cool with all the plates and screws

Skillmister · 18 Feb 2012 at 13:11

Interested as i would love to have a copy of my before ones

Azza · 18 Feb 2012 at 13:16

You'll have to contact the outpatient department of where it was done I'd guess. Probably charge you and they might give it you on a disc.

King Damager · 18 Feb 2012 at 13:21

I'd imagine it might be on your medical record? In which case the Doctors may be able to provide it..

kd

Marky · 18 Feb 2012 at 13:23

I've just had surgery on my wrist for a Scaphoid Fracture and before I left hospital I was given a bag full of information including a disc with all my xrays on. I guess you should be able to just ask your doctor for a copy...

OpenToSuggestions · 18 Feb 2012 at 13:25

When I had keyhole surgery - Was a 2-4-1 as they fixed my stomach valve (****ing heartburn!) and solved my hiatus hernia at the same time!

Then took photos of my insides and gave me them on a sheet of A4!

Glaucus · 18 Feb 2012 at 13:26

Goto hospitals website. Download or request form. Fill in and send off. You'll get a form back with charge. Fill anything in and include cheque, send of. You get it back..

However I requested x-rays and didn't receive them, only the medical notes.
Needed them as work was saying I didn't break my sternum. Not sure why they didn't send x-rays as I specifically requested them.

Hospital should have a page similar to this
http://www.ruh.nhs.uk/patients/advice_and_support/pals/access_medical_record.asp?menu_id=5#what

SexyGreyFox · 18 Feb 2012 at 13:33

Ooh my subject.

7 years ago X-Rays would be on hard copies and not the new digital PACS system.
Our own hospital has got a specialist team in from Wolverhampton destroying every Image from 2005 and below except for paeds and mammograms and it's becoming a nightmare for my job.
You have every right to have access and copies of your Medical Records but at a price.
I suggest you ring the Ministries Department in your hospital but expect a charge of around £25 if your X-Rays still exist.
I know in our X-Ray 'Dark Room' where copies are made there is a price list for different sub departments and Ministries is £25.

(The 'Dark Room' is no longer a proper X-Ray photo lab but still keeps it's name)

Glaucus · 18 Feb 2012 at 13:34

Dimple any reason why they wouldn't send me my x-rays?

SexyGreyFox · 18 Feb 2012 at 13:40

Glaucus said:
Dimple any reason why they wouldn't send me my x-rays?

Were they before 2008?
Our Trust went digital in April 2008 so I can access every patients X-Rays straight from my office computer on a system called Syngo PACS and export out.
If other Trusts are the same then everything before April 2008 is on hard copy and they easily go missing and there is now an SHA Policy that says X-Rays from 2005 and below can be destroyed with no need to copy them.
When this happens in my department we have to send an apology letter to Solicitors with a copy of the Policy.

Skillmister · 18 Feb 2012 at 13:40

Mine was at the end of 2005 so chances are they wont have it?

SexyGreyFox · 18 Feb 2012 at 13:43

Skillmister said:
Mine was at the end of 2005 so chances are they wont have it?

There is a chance that it will be in their version of our Central Film File which is a massive room full of hard X-Rays and Ministries will be the department that tries to sort if for you (at a price).

Slade2 · 18 Feb 2012 at 13:56

This is a rather interesting subject area and I would like to ask if something I have been wondering is possible.

A close friend of mine lost her dad a few years ago and she has forever wondered if he signed a DNR form when he was admitted to hospital. I believe he was quite ill at the time but my friend did say it was like the hospital wasnt doing much to help him, it was like they new it was what he wanted. I think if I could find out and perhaps get a copy of any form that was filled in by her dad it would give her some closure on it.

theNude · 18 Feb 2012 at 14:11

Dimple said:
Ooh my subject.

7 years ago X-Rays would be on hard copies and not the new digital PACS system.
Our own hospital has got a specialist team in from Wolverhampton destroying every Image from 2005 and below except for paeds and mammograms and it's becoming a nightmare for my job.
You have every right to have access and copies of your Medical Records but at a price.
I suggest you ring the Ministries Department in your hospital but expect a charge of around £25 if your X-Rays still exist.
I know in our X-Ray 'Dark Room' where copies are made there is a price list for different sub departments and Ministries is £25.

(The 'Dark Room' is no longer a proper X-Ray photo lab but still keeps it's name)

Are you a radiographer?

pyropetepete · 18 Feb 2012 at 14:37

I got mine when i said i needed them for legal reasons!

Glaucus · 18 Feb 2012 at 14:41

Dimple said:
Were they before 2008?
.

Nope 2010

matt1 · 18 Feb 2012 at 15:05

For proof of a fracture the report is probably more beneficial than the X-Ray. Some fractures are very difficult to spot and interpretation of the film (or picture with PACS) is key. I'm guessing your work didn't fuss over the fact they were given only the report.

SexyGreyFox · 18 Feb 2012 at 15:06

Slade2 said:
This is a rather interesting subject area and I would like to ask if something I have been wondering is possible.

A close friend of mine lost her dad a few years ago and she has forever wondered if he signed a DNR form when he was admitted to hospital. I believe he was quite ill at the time but my friend did say it was like the hospital wasnt doing much to help him, it was like they new it was what he wanted. I think if I could find out and perhaps get a copy of any form that was filled in by her dad it would give her some closure on it.

DNR forms should be right at the very front of Hospital Notes in the Alerts section and once again she would have to contact Ministries.
Without that form nobody is going to second guess what a patient wants and they won't do it by only verbal either.
Is this a Stafford incident by any chance?

theDude said:
Are you a radiographer?

No but I spend a large part of my time getting Images for both the Trust and Patients Solicitors so know my way around a bit.

Glaucus said:
Nope 2010

2010 will definitely be digital so I would request again.

EDIT -
And what Matt1 says above, reports are beneficial because GP's and such don't have the knowledge to interpret images.
We deal with scores of Solicitors firms and every one has to send them off to 'experts' somewhere but of course they want their 'expert' to make their own report.