Patients should keep own medical files

REGARDING Ryle Dwyer’s article on the health service (Feb 5), I believe the most cost effective solution would be to give the patient the hospital files.

There is no reason for our health service to be burdened with the cost of information storage. Each time a person requires medical treatment it should be their responsibility to bring their file with them to the treatment centre and to take home all relevant documentation. Should a patient wish to pursue a case for medical negligence then it is up the patient to prove the error. If the patient has their own medical files then it is their responsibility to keep the information safely and to share it with the respective legal teams if an issue arises.

Kate Kiely