Accessing your hospital birth notes

[Mrs P]

I have my 6 week check up next week and was planning on asking my OB for a copy of the hospital birth notes - mainly because parts of the birth are a bit hazy, and I'm a details girl, so I'd really like to know what happened at what time etc.
Does anyone know if there's any reason why I would be refused access? I'm thinking it can't be that much of an odd request so hoping he says yes!

[The[cookie]Doctor]

Hmm im not sure you would be able to, but maybe through an ob it is different.
You generally need to go through the freedom of information department of the hospital.
They will charge a search fee and printing fees etc.
The process took around 10 weeks for me.

I was pretty peeved that I couldn't just have a copy on discharge.

[BellyBelly]

You have a right to gain access to full notes as a patient.

[lisaandshaun]

You could organise to have a birth debrief. We had one with our first child. Was a great way to overcome our traumatic birth.

[Mrs P]

I thought there would be a copy in my patient file at my OB - I didn't consider the possibility of having to request it from the actual hospital! Hmm will wait and see I guess.

[Lily Dust]

I just contacted the hospital DD was born at and filed a form requesting what I wanted. Woman was rude as sin and I did have to pay a certain amount for their 'admin time'. In the end I ended up with what I already had not the actual midwifes notes made about the labour. So if you have to go that way, be VERY specific!

[lise]

I found a form on my hospital's website where I could request my notes. Had to pay a fee (think it was about $35 from memory) and I could choose if I just wanted a copy of the notes or if I wanted a debrief. Once I paid the fee it only took a day or two and I could collect the notes from the hospital. I'm not sure what your OB was like but mine only turned up for the last 30 minutes so if you only get their notes you might miss out on everything the midwives recorded.

Good luck xx

[HotI]

I went to a public hospital for a debrief and went through my notes with the midwife - and still wasn't allowed to take copies of anything that I had just gone through! Had to apply through FOI and then get my copy of the files that way. And you have to specifically list everything you want or you may not get everything.