I NOTE in the latest edition of "Bolton Scene" a full page advertisement regarding the Bolton Care Record Scheme "a new confidential computer record that will allow health and care professionals directly involved in your care to access the up to date information about you".

Under the terms of the 1988 Data Protection Act an individual can request all information which an organisation holds about you. Once an application has been logged - make sure this has happened - the data controller must comply with it promptly, normally within 21 days and certainly within 40 days.

I would advise your readers to request details of any such information. You will be required to pay a fee — make sure you do this. I would also advise readers to send any correspondence by recorded delivery and also to keep a diary of when you have sent letters, when you have received any letters in return and details of any telephone calls made by you or received by you. Always make a note of the name of the person to whom you are speaking and what position they hold.

I applied for my medical records and was shocked by some of the items which I read and which were completely untrue. One item, in particular, was of a serious nature which could have had implications for any future diagnosis.

My GP eventually accepted that some items were incorrect and put this down to "human error" and to failures in the administration system.

Name and address supplied