Records you have a right to because of your role
Beyond FOI and subject access, some laws give rights only to people in a particular position. These can reach records that are not available to the public, including records held by private organisations.
A dead patient's health records
Under the Access to Health Records Act 1990, when a patient has died, their personal representative and anyone who may have a claim arising from the death can apply to the holder of the record for access. Living patients use a subject access request instead. 1
The holder must give access within 21 days if the whole record was made in the 40 days before the application, and otherwise within 40 days. 1
Written reasons for your dismissal
An employee is entitled to a written statement of the reasons for their dismissal. You must ask for it, and the employer must provide it within 14 days of the request. 2
The right applies if you had been continuously employed for at least two years by the date your employment ended. A woman dismissed while pregnant, or after childbirth in circumstances where her maternity leave ends because of the dismissal, gets the statement without asking and whatever her length of service. 2
Sources
- legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1990/23/section/3/data.htm, read 4 November 2026 · saved copy
- legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1996/18/section/92, read 4 November 2026 · saved copy
More ways to hold power to account
- How to make a Freedom of Information request
- How to ask for environmental information (EIR)
- How to get the information an organisation holds about you
- If a public body refuses or ignores your request
- How to check what people in power have declared
- How to make a Freedom of Information request in Scotland
- How to see your council's papers and accounts
- How to escalate a complaint about government
- How to challenge a public body's decision in court
- Who to blow the whistle to
- Public registers of power and money
This guide explains the rules; it is not legal advice. Report an error.