Medical records in demand

Waikato health bosses say they will give the public a better steer on how to access their medical records.

Waikato DHB chief executive Nigel Murray gave the undertaking at the health board’s monthly meeting on Wednesday, following a discussion on the treatment of information requests.

In 2014/15, the health board received 234 requests under the Official Information Act.

In addition, board members were told staff were dealing with a growing number of inquirers seeking their own or family members’ medical records.

Board member Dave Macpherson said he had received comments from people who had asked staff for access to records but felt obstacles had been put in their way.

Murray said it was the board’s view that medical records belonged to the person described in them.

The hospital website will be used to highlight how people can access their records, he said.

However, Murray said staff had to exercise ‘‘extreme caution’’ when dealing with requests from family members wanting access to patients’ files.

Board member Clyde Wade, a retired cardiologist, said medical records typically contained a lot of handwritten notes and it wasn’t unknown for a patient’s details to end up in another person’s file.

‘‘I have to say the filing of hard copies is appalling,’’ Wade said.

Meanwhile, the board will continue to hold the balance of its monthly meetings at the Hockin Building, located at the hospital’s campus.

December’s board meeting was held at the KPMG building in central Hamilton.