Can I see my (late) mums medical records?

My mum died of cancer in 1989 when I was 16. I wasn’t really at the age at the time to fully understand exactly what she went through. I’d love to be able to see them now to know a bit more. Is this possible?

http://www.nhs.uk/chq/Pages/access-to-medical-or-health-records-of-someone-who-has-died.aspx

You may have to be threatening to sue them though.

I would say no.

I have lost both parents and it was hard enough trying to get the doctors to release information about an anaesthetic that my mum had an almost fatal intolerance towards (I wanted to get the information as my daughter was about to have an operation herself so we wanted the anaesthetist to be aware of the family history).

My mum died of pancreatic cancer in 2013 I was with her through it all -not an experience I’d want again, are you sure you want to know all the details about your mums illness ?

It’s highly unlikely those records still exist 25 years later.

Yes, I’d love to understand more. I wasn’t old enough really at the time.

It’s highly unlikely those records still exist 25 years later.

Thats a shame. I guess it was pre-computer…

I’m sure you’ve already googled this but looks like data protection deems a relatively short time after a patients death .
http://bma.org.uk/practical-support-at-work/ethics/retention-of-health-records

Short answer is no.
Access to medical records act 1990 came into force in November 1991 and only applies to records from this date onwards, or earlier records if necessary to understand later ones.
Prior to that doctors wrote all sorts of rude things about their patients.