Couldn't get a diagnosis

[Sleepybunny]

Another post on Martyn Hooper's blog including story of someone who can't get a diagnosis and another that illustrates the importance of having a firm diagnosis if possible and ensuring that diagnoses have been recorded in medical records.

martynhooper.com/2017/07/01...

[fbirder]

😡😡😡

[clivealive Forum Support]

I think my P.A. diagnosis record was scribed either on parchment or a cuneiform tablet back in 1972.

It was definitely "pre-decimal" currency era because it was as a result of a "Schilling" (sic) test

[Frodo]

This is a general problem with diagnosis and medical records, not just PA and medical records.

For example, I had a long appointment with a nurse/skin specialist where I was told very seriously I had (tiny) moles that were probably cancerous and should be removed. Before the follow up appointment I changed GP practices. I wondered eventually why my new GP had not followed this up. He looked at my records. The only thing written there was 'moles'. He assumed I was inventing the diagnosis.

I also had an abdominal scan, and the health professional told me I had something that might be a hernia and I should go back to the GP and request a different kind of scan. The GP told me I was making this up. Presumably it wasn't on my records or any report from the scan.

My son had a severe reaction to a vaccination and subsequently the nurse told me this would not be on his medical record, so he should inform medical practitioners about it himself if he was offered any further vaccinations.

I have B12 injections but no diagnosis of PA as my GP believes you must have anaemia/macrocytosis to have PA. It's all right for now, but it is a worry as it means my treatment could be stopped at any time.

[Sleepybunny]

How do we ensure that GPs record diagnoses?

My understanding is that letters to GP are filed with medical records so I suppose that where a patient receives a diagnosis of a potentially serious condition they could write a letter to GP that names the condition and the date, place diagnosis was made and name of person who made diagnosis.

I think the experience of the person mentioned on Martyn Hooper's blog is perhaps a lesson in the value of getting a set of medical records and checking them carefully.