Hi All,
Just read this and, even though most of us on here know what doctors are like, I was still shocked at the scale of errors and possible reasons behind GP's not wanting us to have copies of our medical records. Makes for interesting, and worrying, reading.
dailymail.co.uk/health/arti...
Moggie x
Have read this too Moggie. Will keep article but dare I mention it at the next Patient Participation Group at our GP Surgery? You never know when the opportunity will arise, but I can feel the Practice Manager's eyes boring into me when I mention things he doesn't like. A couple of weeks ago I got a TUK leaflet put into the Patient Information Folder, but he wouldn't let me put one on the notice board!
Didn't know there was such a thing as a "Patient Participation Group". How exactly do you participate?
Moggie x
Evidently all GP surgeries should have one, but don't think it is compulsory. We are meant to help with feedback to surgeries and give advice to patients by having a help desk at the surgery. I feel this is giving lip-service to the patients in making us feel we are involved with health and are being used as non-salaried helpers and I am always having to bite my tongue, so don't know how much longer I am going to participate!
Well done you - I don't think I have got the right personality for that as I wouldn't be able to bite my tongue. I must say I have never heard of it.
Moggie x
I had a letter saying there was a group at my surgery and a survey link - funny I wasn't invited 'tho! J x
OMG! That's shocking!!
"It restricts what they feel able to write.." They shouldn't be writing anything they wouldn't say to the patients face anyway!!!!
I dread to think what mine say!!!!
Ditto
I would mind betting that mine have the words "argumentative know all" or words to that effect.lol.
Moggie x
Pity they wouldn't give them extra funds for monitoring people with Thyroid problems !!
Or extra funds for putting people on T3 - there would be a sudden rush to get as many thyroid patients on a drug that most GPs/Endo's say doesn't work (well that seems to be their view in Suffolk anyway).
Moggie x
Think this view is catching as it's the same in the next county, Essex. Janet.
Norfolk too
I dread to think what's on my records, I've complained about so many doctors! lol I just used to go out to reception and announce loudly that I didn't want to see that doctor ever again, he was too rude, or whatever. Although my records probably don't still exist in England and the French system is different.
So either the doctors are very good in France or you haven't learnt to complain in French yet - which one?
Moggie x
Oh, neither! I complain marvellously well in French!!! I've had a lot of practise. And the doctors are rubbish same as they are everywhere else. No, I meant the record keeping is different. Each GP keeps his own records and they aren't passed from GP to GP.. I've got through a lot of GPs in my 38 years in France and not one has ever asked me who my last doctor was.
When it comes to specialists and hospitals, you are given your xrays, notes and blood tests results to cart around with you from appointment to appointment. Can be a bind, and I was always afraid of losing or forgetting a vital bit, but the system has it's advantages;
There is also the Carte Vital, which is like a bank card, with a chip, and it has information like your social security number, etc. And there are terminals in pharmacies and places where you can read the info on your own card. They were talking about putting all the patients records on it, but I don't know what happened to that idea.
Hugs, Grey
Hi Grey,
It still sounds better than our system where GP's can write exactly what they want, when they want and you can do nothing about it.
Italy's system sounds good and as Jane said it would certainly keep our GP's on their toes.
Moggie x
p.s. Glad you are still able to complain in whichever country you happen to be in.lol.
In Italy each patient has the keep their own records and take them to the doctor whenever they visit. It's the same for the dentist.
That would shake up a few GP surgeries here I imagine if they knew they had to restrict their comments.
Jane x x
In France, with the dentist, you keep your xrays but he keeps his records. Although all they consist of is the xrays he's done and diagrams of teeth! lol He shows them to you each time you go.
Hi Jane,
It would certainly stop them claiming people had illness's that they get extra payments for, which was what I found most shocking about the article. Can you imagine being taken to a hosp unconscious and the A&E staff reading on your records that you are diabetic and treating you with insulin, which isn't beyond the realms of possibility in this country.
I like Italy's system - keep your own notes so you can keep an eye on what's being said and done.
Moggie x
Good Medical Practice and the Data Protection Act make it quite clear what a doctor should write in the medical record.
Good Medical Practice states:
19 Documents you make (including clinical records) to formally record your work must be clear, accurate and legible. You should make records at the same time as the events you are recording or as soon as possible afterwards.
20 You must keep records that contain personal information about patients, colleagues or others securely, and in line with any data protection requirements.
21 Clinical records should include:
a relevant clinical findings
b the decisions made and actions agreed, and who is making the decisions and agreeing the actions
c the information given to patients
d any drugs prescribed or other investigation or treatment
e who is making the record and when.
The fourth Data Principle states that:
Personal data shall be accurate and, where necessary, kept up to date.
The body enforcing the Data Protection Act states (specifically about medical records)
Q: How do I get information (including medical records) held about me corrected?
If you have any concerns about the accuracy of your personal data, you will need to raise it in writing with the organisation concerned. You should be clear about exactly what you believe is inaccurate and how the organisation should correct it, providing evidence of the inaccuracies where available. Be aware that the Data Protection Act only obliges organisations to keep information factually accurate, it can't be used to alter or remove opinions, including medical diagnoses, unless those opinions themselves are based on inaccurate factual information. If you are dissatisfied with their response, we (the Information Commissioners Office) may be able to help.
A couple of years ago I went to give blood with the nurse and she had my records on the screen and it was just each line tick boxed. Well, against alcohol there was a tick and the amount of units perday. I can't remember how many but it was the equivalent of about 4 bottles of wine. I rarely drink and made an appointment to see the doctor and he was quite blasé and just said that it would have been the wrong box ticked. I should have asked to see the boxes either side but didn't think. Any way he said that it would be corrected. and l never checked back.
Jo xx
A couple of weeks ago I saw my notes on computer screen at the Surgery.
..............It said warning: Aggressive Depressive!
I'm still reeling from the shock. They really are wicked and depressing people!
I can guess were this came from. Six years ago when I persisted in asking an endo why I could not be put onto NDT because I felt so unwell on Levo. he 'floated' this theory to me about my mental health - I just looked at him rather disparagingly - which I thought his attempt to 'misinterpret me' deserved. I did not respond any further, or engage him in conversation about his pathetic attempts to derail me.
Now it seems this has been written into my notes and carried forward for 6 years?? as if it were a properly made psychiatric assessment - If such a thing exists! ( I looked up this particular 'condition' and discovered it was dreamt up by a Dutch Psychiatrist in the 1990's!).
It is outrageous!!
I am currently ill with a 3 month chest infection, which is stressing my energy levels greatly. I will have to try to find the energy to get my comments added to this load of rubbish ( which from reading this article seems not a simple procedure) It does however explain the way I have been talked to by many Doctors in the past 6 years.
Why do so many with power choose to abuse it ?
OOS
Cheers Moggie x
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