Medical notes

[007999]

Would you fire a doctor who doesn't keep your medical notes correctly and writes wrong clinical information in his referral letter?

[bluebug]

Yep - I presume you aren't in the UK?

[007999 in reply to bluebug]

Actually I am in the UK.

[bluebug in reply to 007999]

If it is a private doctor you can fire them.

If it is an NHS GP you can try and change practices.

In some areas it is impossible to do unless the GP, not you, thinks the relationship has broken down. If this happens you need to be careful not to end up at a worse practice as some times GPs can act like a cartel.

[Jazzw]

Depends what he said. In order to "teach him" to be more careful a complaint to the practice manager might be of more use.

[LtAngua52]

You have the right to ask your doctor to amend anything you don't agree with. If they don't change it you can add a statement to that effect to be added to your records. Have a look at the data protection act 1998. I'm sure the information will be in that.

[q_62]

Report to Healthwatch

[waveylines]

Sorry to hear what's happened. There are certain GPs that I'm afraid I avoid at my practise because of plain incompetence/or appalling attitude. I was once told I was diabetic by one as that GP didn't like me asking questions and objected to me being fairly knowledgeable about thyroid treatment. I checked with diabetes uk the blood test result he had 'deduced' I was diabetic from, knowing he was incorrect -he was! Diabetes has never been mentioned since and I have never seen that GP again. Clearly he had hoped to scare me -arrogant idiot!

Is there another GP in the practise who you do have confidence in? I would book to see that GP and politely express your concern re the referral letter. It could be this GP will send additional information to the Consultant.

It is of course your right to complain. I have certainly written letters to consultants when they have written glaring errors in their correspondence and have received apologies from them. So sometime confrontation can work well especially if it is done calmly and matter of fact. Whether you feel this GP would accept such an approach is down to your judgement -a lot can't!

[007999 in reply to waveylines]

Would you say that that kind of doctor doesn't really care much about the patient. He calmly accepted my comments about his errors, agreed to amend the letter, but I feel that I can write a better letter and as I am going to see a private consultant, I learned that I don't need a referral letter at all.

I am trying to take responsibility for my own health.

[waveylines in reply to 007999]

007999 in your shoes I would think of the outcome you are wanting & focus on that. Your GP has accepted & amended his letter -good! You are going to see a private doctor who no doubt will try to convince the GP to carry out some programme of medication. Keep the GP on your side as you may want him to prescribe the meds on the NHS. This GP though nothing was said am sure will be aware how reasonable you have been over his poor letter.

You can if course kick a stink up, make a complaint and would be within your rights to do so but there may be a consequence in the future if you need their goodwill.

[Angel_of_the_North]

Yes. But report him to the practice manager.