While I remember

Does anyone know how long a hospital keeps hold of x-rays as I want to get a copy of an x-ray I had done on my lower back sometime in the mid to late 90's. The reason I want a copy, or if they have destroyed it, written evidence of what the x-ray showed, is that when I had my ESA medical the Dr said my back pain was all in my mind, I didn't hear the Dr. say this, my daughter did, and my daughter didn't tell me until we were far away from the centre. I remember what the back specialist said to me word for word, for some strange reason.
The more I read about what claimants are put through the more I feel that if you don't produce evidence like copies of your medical records, or x-rays then the HCP is going to say they saw no signs of the condition or not mention it at all.

I think the only way you will find out is to contact the hospital concerned, and if necessary put in a subject access request under the Data Protection Act.

Most NHS Trusts have details of how to do this on their websites.

Pete

the x ray might have gone by now but the report on it will be on your records

there will be a letter from the hospital with a few lines reporting to your gp the results from the hospital doctor who asked for the x ray

if your gp asked for the xaray he will have the detailed letter

if not the hospital records will have the detailed letter

if it was ct or mri a recent one will be stored on hard drive and can be printed off

You can request a copy of your medical notes from the hospital. They might have been Archived , usually after 10 years or if your file gets too big, but they will have a record of where they are being held.
You can specify particular information so a copy of the consultants report concerning the xray findings.
This may also have been copied to your gp, so that route may be an easier way of access to what you need and quicker. You will have to pay of course, either route ,approx £10 and put your request in writing.
As Pete says the 'how to do it' will be available on your hospitals website.

I was in a similar situation and the hospital I approached said they keep medical records for 6 years.

But, that may be old film type X-rays. I know computer images ( MRI, CT )& the new computer X-ray images can be keep a lot longer, but may come under the data protection act ( which was suggested to me by my GP ).

Thanks for the replies, it may be a few months or a few years before I need to be in possession of the info, but I do believe that for ESA having the info will help but will help more in my DLA claim when it comes up for renewal in a couple of years as this is one thing that's the reason I don't want to even get out of bed as laid in bed is the least painful of all the options for me, the other been that if I did force myself I would more than likely fall asleep on the public transport and I think everyone knows how they treat people who travel further than their ticket allows