What a wonderful thread!
I must say Stella that I wrote to the NHS Trust that dealt with the asylum/hospital that my great grandmother died in in the 1930's. All I had to do was say what my relationship was to her, and then they would give the RO the go ahead for me to see her records, which they did.
However I will say that the 6 or 7 pages (huge A3 size) of her stay there made awful, harrowing reading, I was in tears during most of it, so much so that even now I find it very hard to re-read the copies I brought home with me. Some of the records did have photos of the patients as well, although I was watched very carefully whilst looking through & felt sure that the Records Office staff would have told me off if I'd strayed from the right pages!
So perhaps give the NHS Trust a ring to find the Department that would deal with the permission & have a word with them to explain your reasons, or maybe feel relieved that maybe it is better not to have too much knowledge.
Either way, a job well done to all of those that have participated!
