Opinions of MyGP app: Wanted to ask other peoples... - Thyroid UK

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Opinions of MyGP app

Karen154 profile image
55 Replies

Wanted to ask other peoples thoughts regarding the all improved new GP app. Marketed as easy access to your records. Full access to bloods, consultations, sharing information and the brillant new messaging service.

I won't swear but I feel like swearing as I believe the nhs is taking the .... out of patients with this app. You can guess the gap. Lol

Firstly, they have removed the graphs for bloods, making bloods very difficult to understand. The old app was brillant and you could clearly see when your bloods were out of range or the wrong side of normal.

How many Dr's have told us that our bloods were normal, when they weren't. Without a graph and range mark it makes easy for Dr's not to treat patients as patient can't argue about an abnormal blood test when we can't see it. Great news for Dr's thinking about their budgets and those who can't be bothered. Sorry to sound cynical but I have met so many of them.

Sharing information. Is it me but can anyone actually view where their information has gone on this app.

A month or so ago I was quite taken back by my GP's receptionist. I asked for a appointment card to show my employer. The receptionist said,"I'll fax the appointment through to them and give the details of what the appointment was for".

Once I was over the shock of the total lack of respect for my private data. Not to mention that it is illegal to share patient data without consent. Unbelievable and rude as she was. This must actually be happening to patients. Employers can ask for your records and we have the right to refuse but would a patient know it was happening with this app. Someone please correct me if I'm wrong.

I have full access to my records and could view consultant notes. This has all gone. I intend to request again. But I get the impression that this is it.

The messaging service looks great. Sent a message and received a response saying its unmonitored and I may not receive a reply. Please phone instead.

Rant over. What are your thought

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Karen154
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55 Replies
MichelleHarris profile image
MichelleHarris

Ive just got the Patient Access app and on line access ( took months for my surgery to get me on line as surgery was not linked up but was really). Pretty disappointing!

No Thyroid results apart from the ones from last year that I already had (post diagnosis of Hypothyroididm). No Iron levels at all although I’ve been Anaemic all my adult life. One line record of a few ( not all) recent GP visits. No record that Ive had Shingles twice. Only Thyroxine record on repeat prescriptions.

Pretty sparce and only some recent info and so diappointing!

Karen154 profile image
Karen154 in reply to MichelleHarris

Hi, i used the old app for 12 months and it was do much better. I have real concerns regarding our blood test as it is difficult enough to try and get Dr's to me treat me when I can see bloods are abnormal. I don't think I have any chance of treatment now.

I'm also thyroid and iron and have few other abnormal bloods.

Patients have a legal right to view Dr's notes relating to treatment and the app has taken this away.

MichelleHarris profile image
MichelleHarris in reply to Karen154

Yes I’m wondering what other people think too.

I’m wondering whether to write to the surgery asking where my other records are x

Karen154 profile image
Karen154 in reply to MichelleHarris

My be better to write to the MP because this app is here to stay.

DJR1 profile image
DJR1 in reply to MichelleHarris

This is so frustrating all surgeries have to set up the platforms. Most GP Practice staff haven’t got a clue. In Patient Access they can choose a Practice Setting for Detailed Coded Record Access. There are then other settings which they can choose for example “make letters visible from (date)” make test results visible from (date). My GP uses EMIS which works with Patient Access, they gave me access only from my date of registration excluded free text, letters etc. Very often it is the GP Practice who determine what you can see in an App and often fail as they haven’t a clue how to do it properly

DJR1 profile image
DJR1 in reply to DJR1

If you are having problems viewing information on a particular App it is often worth contacting the App tech team through the helpline if they have one. I use Evergreen Life and Patient Access and they have been brilliant. They have even phoned my Practice to talk them through setting up record access properly at Practice level when things have not been visible. I do not use the MyGP app so I can’t give specific advice

Karen154 profile image
Karen154 in reply to DJR1

Hi, i can see all the letters but there is no option for the notes which were previously there.

Is anybody at all concerned that we can't see who the GP practice has chosen to share your information with??

The receptionist was quite happy forward my details to my employer. It seemed normal to her.

I too am unhappy.

At my last visit to my Endo my thyroid results were written down for me ,straight from the screen :TSH 0.29 , FT4 10.5 , FT3 4.7.....My comment was " that doesn't sound good " but no comment from the Endo( Nov '19)FT4 and FT3 had gone down

My follow up letter stated my FT3 as 5.8 whi ch is not only wrong but is the result from my previous visit in May '19.- range( 3 .8- 6.0 )which was good.

I have now received a blood test form from my GP for Cholesterol and Urea to be done by March( my birthday month )but no Thyroid testing. I phoned my surgery to make them aware that my thyroid test was not on the form and was told that it doesn't need doing as has been done within the last year.

So ,my GP has an inaccurate thyroid result on record and I'm the one who has to put him right! He also needs informing that raised cholesterol can be linked to under medicated hypothyroidism . Once again,thank goodness for Thyroid UK.

Yes, it makes you feel you need to go private,for the sake of your health.

Karen154 profile image
Karen154 in reply to

Private health won't cover you if you have a previous health condition. Not for that condition anyway.

I've had similar experience with my Dr's practice. I've had to do all the leg work between the surgery and hospitals so the practice has the correct information. The admin staff actually tell me to contact the hospital for the information. (Wonder what they are paid for some times).

So basically hospital and Dr's practises aren't sharing information (notes or bloods) t looks like patients can nolonger view GP notes. But the nhs is sharing patient private data (address and full medical history) for marketing which the nhs have labelled research and planning.

Patients have to opt out of this.

I think it's disgusting. Who are the planners and researching selling our information to? Information which nhs won't allow patients to see.

It's so wrong.

in reply to Karen154

My hospital went paper free ages ago.

In future I shall take a print of my blood test forms and take that with me for all follow ups and ask for results to be written on them.

I refuse to be uninformed of results.It's a sixteen mile round trip to my hospital.If I have to make that amount of effort to get to my appointments with my Endo ,( often during the rush hour traffic) then I expect consideration in return,especially as I am soon to be 79 years old. We spend our time making the appointments as required of us and travelling to them .My Endo raised my T3 meds to 20mcgs last year and within 3 weeks I had a letter telling me to carry on taking 10 mcgs.No wonder my level went down from 5.8 to 4.7.Does the right hand know what the left hand is doing?

I was always full of praise for my thyroid treatment,from both Endo and my GP who followed my Endo's recommendation, but not at the moment.

Gilbo72 profile image
Gilbo72 in reply to Karen154

How DO you opt out???I think I agreed years ago, when they sent a letter through the post, but as I do t seem able to view my own medical history, I don’t want it shared anymore!

Howard39 profile image
Howard39 in reply to Gilbo72

Just a letter is fine.

Also the gmc can’t see your records too. Which has to be a good thing!

5219 profile image
5219

I have just requested access to my medical records. Waiting for response fro Surgery practice manager. I have access to my blood results on the NHS app but don’t have graphs just printed numbers.

Karen154 profile image
Karen154 in reply to 5219

The old app used to have a graph and and a bar reference which highlighted in red when bloods were out of range.

5219 profile image
5219 in reply to Karen154

Ah right I have only recently gone on to the NHS app so don’t know any difference. A graph would definitely been easier to understand.

xeena profile image
xeena

Hi there - i had the same thing happen to me - i had Patient Access and could see everything about my blood tests and it stated that they were all abnormal and my blood test for my ckd was not available. I made an appointment to see my gp which was the 3rd October 2019 and i asked him what was wrong with me as my bloods were all abnormal and he said they were okay - so i queried one result that showed i had hyperparathyroidism to which he agreed and he said he was sending me to an endocronologist - he then asked me if wanted my B12 injection - to which i said yes and i gave him my B12 ampoul (as i never asked them to use theirs) he started laughing and said make an appointment for the next one - but little did i know that there was already a letter in the post for me that i got on the 4th October 2019 which must have already been posted for me to get it the next day after my appointment and it said i was no longer registered at that surgery and to find a new GP - so i did not get the appointment with endocronologist. Well i have tried NHS England - CCQ - CAB - Healthwatch and other places - but they do not want to know - i have been without medication as i just cannot afford to buy them - i have COPD - Ashtma - CKD - osteoarthritis - fybromyalgia - my eyes just water all the time - tortuous aorta - B12 injections and Vitamin D - enlarged fatty liver - high cholesterol which i asked the pharmasist in Tesco to test my blood pressure and he told me to go straight to the hospital as i have no GP so i rang 111 and they said if you get any chest pain then get back to us - i did have chest pain but i really do not want to be here any more as i do not see anyone and i live alone - i am struggling as i had been on diazepam for over thirty years and everything including my cholesterol medication was suddenly stopped - i was also given Gastrografin medication in September from the hospital with no information as to who should take it and it has had a terrible affect on me and i am still suffering as a result of taking it (constant diarrhea) - i have tried PALS at the hospital and have left lots of messages on the answer phone - they never get back to me and so it goes on - meantime i am and have been stuck indoors since my last appointment with the GP. I am sorry that this is so long but i do not have anyone to talk to about these problems. I wish you all well and hope that you all get more joy than i did with your GP's.

Karen154 profile image
Karen154 in reply to xeena

This is terrible. Why are you without a GP. Why were you discharged. As far as I'm aware it is illegal to leave you with a GP to issue medication.

What a horrible Dr laughing when he knew you had been discharged.

This is really appalling treatment. You need to place a complaint with who ever pays the practices wages. You really need some sort of formal support. May the CAB could put you in the right direction with your legal right to a DR.

xeena profile image
xeena in reply to Karen154

I was discharged after 18 months of being with the surgery as it was decided that i was not in their catchment area - which i hasten to add i am in their area as we both come under the same area - i have checked it out with the Council Offices - i am only point eight of a mile from the surgery and it only took me five minutes by car to get there and i was always early so as not to spoil other peoples appointments. I do not know who pays them their wages and i have tried the CAB - Healthwatch - NHS England - Age UK - i have tried every avenue - NHS England told me to go to a GP in Barnet - Cricklewood - Balham - Mitcham - i said that going in to London was miles away and i could not do it as i am disabled and i live in Sutton in Surrey. The CAB did give me a name and phone number of a solicitor - so i rang her and she asked what did i want and i tried explaining but she cut me short and said that she did not deal with these kind of problems - the lady at the CAB also rang the surgery to try and speak to the practice manager (who i had already tried to contact but was told she was not there) and the same thing was told to the lady at the CAB but then they put her through to the assistant practice manager who said i was out of their area. So i just take each day as it comes now. Thank you for the reply - i wish you well - bless you.

Karen154 profile image
Karen154 in reply to xeena

They have a duty of care. Your a patient who needs medication so until you have a DR they should be prescribing your meds.

May be try the local news paper. Ask your MP to highlight your treatment.

xeena profile image
xeena in reply to Karen154

Hi Karen - i will look up my MP and see if they can help me - i know they are conservative so fingers crossed and thank you so much for your help - it is truly appreciated.

lesbud1 profile image
lesbud1 in reply to xeena

go to the press

xeena profile image
xeena in reply to lesbud1

Thankyou for the reply - yes i know i should but i am too scared as it will not be private and i am scared that i will be made to look like i am in the wrong. Keep well.

Karen154 profile image
Karen154 in reply to xeena

The MP can ask them why you were discharged without a Dr to prescribe.

xeena profile image
xeena in reply to Karen154

I am going to try with the MP and hope that he maybe can help me. Thank you.

Karen154 profile image
Karen154 in reply to xeena

The MP could publicity ask via local paper if any other patients in your area have been excluded from the register.

xeena profile image
xeena in reply to Karen154

I am waiting for the MP to get back to me - i will let you know what they say - thank you - keep well.

Howard39 profile image
Howard39

This is off at a slight tangent but still important. My specialist is fab and so v helpful. I’ve just changed GPs so cannot comment on the full service but my specialist is insistent everyone opts out of sharing info.

The gmc then has access to our history and drugs.

My friend takes a reasonably high dose of thyroxine which could be affected as it’s outside the nhs guidelines. She buys her own t3, like myself.

So in a nutshell unless you are rushed into hospital a referral to a consultant will be sent with a covering letter anyway.

I agree don’t leave yourself open to anyone not understanding the law re sharing info.

If it takes a tad longer for a letter so be it.

My specialist sends me an approval of her notes b4 they hit my file and also a drag letter if one is to be sent.

If she can do it right ( one specialist and 5k patients) then GPs surgeries can too. We’ve have to be our own advocate tho.

Karen154 profile image
Karen154 in reply to Howard39

I'm glad its working well for you but it isn't for me. I wait weeks to speak to a GP and 5 months for a consultant which is a good part of a year gone without treatment so a tad longer doesn't work for me. As I expect them to have the blood results and then do something about it.

Howard39 profile image
Howard39 in reply to Karen154

I use my specialist more than my gps. But she’s a one off.

It’s a month re apt at docs. So that’s poor.

V cross re selling information to Amazon that’s awful.

Karen154 profile image
Karen154 in reply to Howard39

I guess that patient information was sold as the nhs need funds and have no reason to share medical info. There was a news paper articule about it a few weeks ago. Must try to find it and paste the link. Or if any readers read it and can post.

The heading was"nhs closed door meeting with amazon discussing patient records".

If you have a amazon account with a address and the nhs has shared or sold your information with your address then data isn't anonymous.

Maybe we could get pur missing records off amazon lol "joke". But i thinks close to the truth.

in reply to Karen154

Absolutely Karen. It takes no time for Amazon to match their customer records with the NHS address data. So they know more about us than we do.

Miffie profile image
Miffie

My surgery uses The Waiting Room, the only functions patients can use at present are appointments with GPs, these are limited, and repeat prescription requests. Goodness only knows hoe long we will have to wait for any other services on the app.

DJR1 profile image
DJR1

Fantastic! Your GP has clearly given you full Detailed Coded Record Access with free text and all documents without restrictions. This is what every patient should have but GP are private businesses and can choose the level of access outside the minimum stated in their contract. Treasure that GP clearly progressive!

DJR1 profile image
DJR1

EMIS the software that a GP Practice uses with their computer system Patients have access to their information by a variety of Apps such as Patient Access, Evergreen Life etc The GP is responsible for putting the correct information into the system for it to work properly. GP also set individual settings which dictates what you see. Hope that helps

Karen154 profile image
Karen154 in reply to DJR1

The thing is, my under treated thyroid bloods have gone. The date they taken is there but the test result isn't. I'll contact the IT team.

ZeilaJee profile image
ZeilaJee

Try nhs Wales! It's snail mail here. Apps? Information loaded and available? Not a chance.

Have requested my blood results from hospital and GP: as said earlier - they don't talk to each other and no info has been sent to me. Blood tests are requested separately to monitor my thyroid!

Does anyone think we should make people pay for a first GP appointment - fewer appointments for larger concerns, people turning up on time (even turning up) and a better nhs? This service is no laughing matter.

Karen154 profile image
Karen154 in reply to ZeilaJee

Well, i won't be paying for private apts when their not testing properly and genetally fobbing me off.

I think most GPs are worse then solicitors when it comes to money and think it was a mistake to take the budget away from consultants and hand it to a GP.

Sadly patients are suffering when a consultant has a ask a GP to please treat the patient. ie the hosital asking the dr to please send the patient to outpatients after a op and the GP won't.

Been in this situation and it isn't great when your not well and need to go back.

Karen154 profile image
Karen154

The nhs have shared private information to Amazon (profit making information)with patients addresses. So I don't feel that it is anonymous. Why do they need your address if they just medical data?

Redroz1e profile image
Redroz1e

I use Patient Access which I used to think was really good but of late not so much. I’m sure certain things that were on there aren’t any more. Various test results and diagnosis’s are no longer visible. Of late any details of consultations are no longer visible either but I thought that was because I upset my GP when I questioned him regarding details of my thyroid condition.

Karen154 profile image
Karen154 in reply to Redroz1e

This is my point. There are GPs don't want treat or discuss anyhthing with you. This app makes it easy for them.

Redroz1e profile image
Redroz1e in reply to Karen154

What can we do about it though. I doubt we can change it as they are in control.

AnneEvo profile image
AnneEvo

It sounds like a good idea for them to fax the appointment to your employer to save you getting a card with the appointment on to take in. However it's shocking that the receptionist was quite happy to also let your employer know what the appointment was for! Mind boggling. I would raise that issue with the practice manager - staff need to be reminded about data protection or maybe even be taught all about data protection in the first place.

Karen154 profile image
Karen154 in reply to AnneEvo

I think she was just being nasty. It does worry me as my employer results medical records which i decline. But if they make a request and admin let it go then I have no way to know via this app. The practice would deny it.

Personally think faxing takes longer then picking a card up and writing on it.

Karen154 profile image
Karen154

Yours sounds good. Theres no graph on mine and i really miss the range bar. Thought it was much better.

Theres also misding info on mine. I will chase the consultation notes and hopefully get them back on the app.

Personally speaking, i feel the design of the app isn't as good ad the old. Thats my oppinon and I would like the access to view if my information has been shared as that has gone now.

To me, when i look at the bloods. Its difficult as there is a figure for some (a lot are missing) and no range. No graph. So I'm not keen.

Bob00752 profile image
Bob00752

I use Patient Access as it is what my GP offered. I did install MyGP but it offered less detailed data, though I didn’t ask MyGP or my GP practice to give me more access/detail.

I can see selected test results from 2001 onwards. The range of test results I can see increases from late 2012 onwards coinciding with the diagnosis of hypothyroidism and type 2 diabetes.

My understand is that Patient Access operate the database that NHS GPs use in England (might be UK). As other’s have said, it depends on how your GP sets things up as to what you can and cannot see.

I can’t see GP notes about me but can see most test results. Hospital tests and results of cardio tests done by both hospital and GP don’t appear, possibly because they are more than a list of numbers by dates. I also notice that some tests seem to come into and go out of fashion, also they may get renamed and you then have to combine disparate measurements yourself!

I serve on a diabetes panel for the local CCG and am involved with a local diabetes group, which might mean that my GP gives me more access due to my NHS contacts and wanting to keep me sweet!

Karen154 profile image
Karen154 in reply to Bob00752

I wasn't aware the old access was still in place. Thought MyGP has taken over.

Bob00752 profile image
Bob00752

Actually going back into MyGP it says “soon you will be able to access your medical records through MyGP” so for me the functionality I like in PatientAccess ain’t there yet in My GP. That might be something that varies from GP to GP......

Karen154 profile image
Karen154 in reply to Bob00752

Ooooh good. Im going to leave feed back on the app and hopefully they return some of the old features.

Bob00752 profile image
Bob00752 in reply to Karen154

Correction. Found this on another discussion site: Patient Access is made by EMIS Health, who also supply the clinical software to just over half of the UK. Therefore if something goes wrong it's probably easier for it to be corrected, because it's the same company dealing with both components.

So it may depend on which service your GP practise uses. I use my app to -

1) order repeat prescriptions online which are then sent electronically to my preferred pharmacy for collection.

2) make GP and nurse appointments - this only works for standard length appointments such as blood tests, GP and I think jabs such as flu. My regular diabetic checkups by a DSN are 20 minutes and have to be booked via the receptionist.

Look at online medical records, mainly of blood and urine tests plus DSN measurements such as weight (hence bmi), random blood glucose, waist size, risk tests such as heart attack risk. Where there are multiple measurements taken over time for TSH, HbA1c, lipids (cholesterol), serum, urea, blood counts, pulse, oxygenation, prostate, FBS etc Patientaccess will give you a graph and highlight abnormal values. Note that the normal range can change over time and if the lab processing the test changes (eg the way that cholesterol LDL is calculated has changed over the last couple of years and may now be a new series and hence new graph).

Karen154 profile image
Karen154 in reply to Bob00752

Thought i'd send a update. I waa referred to skeleton muscular hospital dep. Who wrote to my GP and issued bloods to be take at GP practise. This was 3 wks ago had the bloods done two back. Theres no letter on the MYGP app. The practise have rejected the bloods based on old information which was uploaded to the app woth a current date.

So im not treated because old out of date info was normal.

No one should loose their time like this and suffer.

serenfach profile image
serenfach

I am glad someone else in Wales replied - I was beginning to think I was living on another planet! I can book an appointment on line (5 or 6 week wait) but if I phone to book an appointment it is always a week earlier. I can book a repeat prescription but if there is an item missing or wrong, I have to contact the chemist and not the GP as the surgery "does not handle repeats". As for seeing blood results, that is like getting blood from a stone! If I want hospital results, I have to wait 4 weeks until they have been "archived" and sent to another site. I fill in an online form which is out of date as it wants to charge, and proof that I am who I say I am, print it all out and send it by mail. I get the results back within 3 weeks by post.

It took 2 weeks, 5 phone calls and two visits to get my last printed blood results from my GP.

Karen154 profile image
Karen154 in reply to serenfach

This is also my experience of trying get blood results. I thinks quite dangerous that you GP and hospital can't view the same information.

Achilles_Pain profile image
Achilles_Pain

I ûsed Patient Access and it was great, but then my GP surgery merged with another and I had to move off to either myGp or another app I can't remember the name of. The other app just didn't work, couldn't do anything at all, so I'm stuck wth myGP. I can make an appt and request repeat prescriptions, that's it. The surgery has tried twice to set it up so I can see all the blood results I could see previously but hasn't managed yet (they say the don't know how to).

Karen154 profile image
Karen154 in reply to Achilles_Pain

Just a total mess. You would IT would be properly tested and scenarios identified before the system goes live.

Wonder what problems the GP are experiencing but bound by contract not to say.

MichelleHarris profile image
MichelleHarris

I have just had a response from my GP surgery about my sparce online details. They say they can give me paper copies of my records and say that my details are not being given to any third party for research or otherwise x

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