right to know medical history

Quick question:

Have I got right to ask for a gp letter?

Don''t want to be controlling but just my son to be safe.

I have the feeling that the father of my son has either a mental health condition or on some kind of medication. Recently shown quite a few symptoms. He doesn''t open up and I am worried. I just want to know if he is ''ok'' looking after our 1 year old son and just want him to be safe.

I am sorry but I don''t think what I have to say is what you want to hear.

I am pretty sure that unless you have some concrete evidance that your child is at risk,you will not be allowed any information..
If you think that your child is at risk maybe you need to contact Social Services.

Doctor''s follow a code of conduct between themselves and patients,this is in place to ensure that patients are confidant in opening up to their Doctor.Although if a patient gives their permission for their personal records to be shared they can.

I maybe wrong,but I am sure that this is correct,but someone else may prove me wrong.

All I can say is,
Good Luck !!!!

Thank you for taking your time to reply!

I am genuinely worried and my son is still very young. I wish him to have regular contact and a great relationship but also feel if he is ''ill'' or on ''medication'', depending he might need some support.
There are so many stories in the news nowadays and I would never want to regret not having taken enough steps to protect our child and taken responsibility as a mother.

I totally understand where your coming from.
It''s good of you also that you would want to support the father,but unless he shows that he is a threat to himself or others I don''t think that a doctor would disclose his patients records..

Sorry

I think you''ll find that would be a direct breach of patient confidentiality - the medics are very hot on this one in my experience.

I''m no expert but it may be appropriate to convey your worry to social services and request a risk assessment.

No you have no right to obtain medical information about your ex. It doesn''t matter whether someone has a mental illness or not. It''s thought about 25% of the adult population in the UK suffer a mental health problem every year and the parenting in the majority of cases is "good enough." The threshold for the authorities to intervene is evidence that a parent''s behaviour is such that the children are suffering harm.

Parents have a duty to protect their children from harm so if there is evidence the children aren''t surviving satisfactorily in the care of your ex you should speak to social services.

Thank you for your advice Fiona!
I asked dad if he could see a doctor and maybe get me a gp letter to say that he is ''ok'' and not on any medication. He has refused though.
I don''t want to be controlling but just feel he is not opening up. He has once mentioned that he has spells of depression and noticed some ''unusual'' behaviour recently.
In my eyes it would just really help me and ultimately our still very young child if I knew about possible illness and for him to get support.

In the past my little one has returned ok and happy so I guess I have to just pray that he''ll be fine in future? Saying that, that was when he was still a ''just sleepy baby'' and not a young toddler on the go.
I find it quite hard as little one is not able to express himself yet.