We understand that medical appointments can sometimes feel overwhelming. You might leave with questions or forget important details. That’s why we support patients who wish to record their consultations, as long as it’s done openly and with consent. We want to ensure you understand your rights, responsibilities, and the legal context.

You are also able to view your consultations via the NHS App.

Recording your consultation can help you:

• Remember important advice, especially if English isn’t your first language.
• Review information later, when you’re feeling calmer or less stressed.
• Share details with family or carers, especially if you have memory difficulties or a complex condition.
• Feel more in control of your care and decisions.

We believe that when done respectfully, recordings can benefit both patients and healthcare professionals.

We encourage patients to ask if they’d like to record, especially if it helps them better understand or manage their health.

1. Ask your clinician before recording.
2. Explain why you’d like to record—most patients do so to help remember or share information.
3. Respect the clinician’s decision if they decline. 

If you’d like to record your consultation, please let us know before the appointment begins. Most of the time, we’re happy to support this. It’s a simple way to build trust and ensure you feel confident in your care.

Your Right to Record

• You can record your consultation for personal use.
• You should ask for your clinician’s permission first. This is respectful and helps maintain trust.
• If you record without telling your clinician, it is not illegal, but it may affect the doctor-patient relationship.
• You must not record other patients or staff without their consent. This could breach their privacy rights.

Confidentiality and Data Protection

• The information shared in your consultation is confidential to you. Recording it for personal use does not breach confidentiality.
• If the recording is only for personal use, it is not subject to the UK GDPR.
• If you share or publish the recording (e.g. online), it may fall outside the “domestic use” exemption and could breach your clinician’s privacy rights under Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights and the UK GDPR 

Doctors’ Privacy Rights

• Doctors have a reasonable expectation of privacy. Recording without their consent may engage their common law privacy rights.
• If a recording is posted online without consent, doctors may request its removal and could pursue legal action for:
  • Misuse of private information
  • Breach of data protection laws
  • Defamation, if the content harms their professional reputation
  • Harassment or malicious communication, depending on the nature of the post

We understand that some patients may feel unsure about asking to record. But recording without telling your clinician can damage trust. If we suspect a recording is being made secretly, we’ll talk with you about it and try to understand your concerns.

If you record secretly:

• It may be seen as a breach of trust.
• We may discuss it with you to understand your concerns.
• We encourage open conversations—we’re here to help, not to judge.

Please don’t share recordings of your consultation on social media or other public platforms without permission.

If you do:

• Your clinician may ask for it to be removed.
• Legal action may be taken if the post breaches privacy, data protection, or defamation laws.