I can’t sort this out can I?

@MustBeInthewater Did you ever get this resolved?

Do you have the same blood type? Would they have tested blood at any point?

Any progress, @MustBeInthewater ?

I disagree. These aren't her medical records, and as they're MH records, they're very difficult to prove without looking like you're having 'another' MH crisis, suffering paranoid delusions that the records aren't hers but an old friends. It's like something out of a Netflix drama.

If she ever does seek treatment/medication/counselling for her MH, OP would now have a huge 'history' that will be read and have an effect on the treatment she's offered. She's already used the example that if she sought help for PND, because of her incorrect records the medical response would be far greater and more serious because they would think she had a history of self-harm and suicide attempts. Any resistance and denial simply compounds the belief by doctors further that she's unstable.

It's really not about stigma, it's about needing accurate medical records for any current or future treatment, life insurance, travel insurance... it's a given that your records should be yours.

FWIW OP I discovered I had someone else's notes mixed in with mine, when I went for a psychological assessment after a very bad car accident. The psychologist suddenly dropped on me, 'and tell me about this sexual assault that happened when you were 5'... I was like WTF? All sorts running through my head thinking I'd repressed some traumatic memory or something, until I asked her if I could have a look at the notes, and someone else's name was printed at the top - nothing like my name. The psychologist shrugged and said, 'well I can't be expected to check every detail like that', errrrm, that's exactly what I'm paying you to do actually! The practice manager was very dismissive as well, 'mistakes happen'. Well sorry, but now I know that someone called XYZ who lives in my village was sexually assaulted when she was 5. And I doubt she'd want a stranger to know because one of your staff didn't do their job properly.

The going on about how horrendous it is to be mistaken for someone that attempted suicide is verging on offensive tbh. Why couldn't someone with severe mental health issues 15+ years ago not have a baby? According to your records you did and nobody questioned it.

It seems clear this woman hasn't physically harmed anyone due to her issue because if that was the case I imagine either this wouldn't have happened because the police would make sure the ID was correct or you'd be more worried about having a criminal record you don't know about.

You say there's not as much stigma about MH these days but look at the associations you're making yourself. Look at the way you're being treated at the GP. MH stigma is alive and well.

@MustBeInthewater

So there is a small possibility she perhaps just gave the address and they’ve selected the wrong name - would that show up ? (From electoral roll details?)

I'm a paramedic so have booked a lot of patients in over the years. The first thing they ask for is date of birth or NHS number, then name and then they confirm the address and GP.

It may vary between hospitals but I can't imagine they would ask for the address first because people move so it's quicker to find a patient by DOB.

The place to get your record changed is NOT the GP. They cannot remove something a 3rd party entered, they can only add.

You need to go to the Hospital who created the record. They usually have a Patient Advice and Liaison service.

I have been through your situation where a 3rd party said pt admitted to drug use - pt adamant she has not but even after legal advice we could not remove - we had to add. 3rd party was still adamant they would not have made a mistake.

Perhaps speak to police about identity fraud and see if this gets friend to acknowledge- mention how her scars will match the report on your record. Tell the hospital her information and tell her GP. Show hospital you have no scars and they need to amend and notify GP.

Can you go above the GP's head to someone like the practice manager? They can't keep insisting that the fact that it's on your records is conclusive when you can prove that at least some of it must be incorrect. Ultimately I guess you may be able to take it to the Health Service Ombudsman if they still refuse to consider the evidence.

I work in life insurance and this comes up during the medical underwriting quite a bit.

Not someone using your name and DOB but medical records inaccuracies. Normally the GP can amend things if you book a face to face appointment to go through everything but trying to get an appointment is nil and void at the moment.

Things on your med record can make your premiums go up, and also if a claim were to be made and it's inaccurate it may not pay out.

You need to let the insurance company know ASAP that there are inaccuracies and they will put the application on hold. Push your GP for an appointment to get these things up straight (say you need your medical records for legal reasons or a job application or something made up) and it's going to effect it detrimentally if things aren't accurate.

If not, I'd be going down the legal route.

But I'm most cases that I've seen with insurance the GP has a booked appointment with the patient to go through and fix things, but I know that'll be hard to do.

Sometimes the cases I see are that someone has the same name and DOB as you, not necessarily someone trying to pretend to be you.

You need Colleen Rooney!

only joking, you can totally get this sorted out. It’s identity theft and don’t give up until you clear your name.
Don’t contact your ‘friend’ again.

can you go back to the original gp and talk to them? Bring a photo of you and your friend. Explain what has happened. They might remember you and be able to help you.

Plot twist.... the flatmate only ever existed in OPs mind.

(sorry OP) 😂

A long time ago but do you have any indisputable evidence you were somewhere else at those times?

OP, are you saying this happened on more than one occasion at A & E and that you weren't present in so far as accompanying your friend? If so, it's sounds like it's definitely identify theft and not some ghastly mix up at reception. Even if you had by chance taken her there, why on earth would you need to tell the receptionist your DOB? I would not trust her at all.

At the false events were ultrasounds or xrays ever taken? That would be one way of proving? Can you go through the notes for any distinguishing entries -.scars, cutting, blood tests, height taken etc etc anything that can physically be compared to you?

Just chipping in to confirm that mistakes absolutely DO happen

About 10-12 years ago I found out during a hospital appointment that my records and another patients had actually been ‘merged’ together - presumably just because of a name/birthday coincidence.

There was another “Mrs Jane X Doe” who shared my birthday (although she was 3or 4 years older) and lived a few miles away. We share a very common Christian name, same middle initial and had both married men with the same unusual surname. I already knew she existed as when paying for things in local shops by card a couple of salespeople had commented (she was known locally due to her job) - but until this hospital records mix-up came to light I obviously had no idea that we also shared the same birthday. She probably remains unaware that this error had ever occurred and I’m now wondering if it was corrected properly at the time. I never followed it up or considered future implications

good luck with sorting this OP, so frustrating for you

Hi OP i know it was 15 years ago, and life was different back then, what social media sites were around then? Did you or your friend use them? Do you have old photos with your friend showing say her left arm bandaged but you're atm is fine on a day your details were used? Do you still have old phones that may contain old text messages confirming you are else where during appointment times?I

Do you still have any old paper diaries Or calendars?

Of course you also need to do credit checks with everyone as well to ensure she didn't take out loans etc in your name.

Personally with the GP I'd actually make a physical appointment with them for something else. Then when you get there say can you take a look at this sore on my left arm. And when they say what sore? You can say oh there's nothing there, no 6 inch scare either, like it says on my medical records!I

Good luck!

I read it that the friend gave OP’s details so it wouldn’t be on her own record.

The implications of this are horrific. Particularly worrying with A&E admissions, as patient is usually discharged after treatment. DV victims could be coerced into giving different details to avoid detection. Drunken injuries attributed to friends as may affect career development.

But it says in the OP that her details were probably given on arrival - i.e. because she accompanied her flatmate to hospital.

Do you think your ex flatmate deliberately gave your details at A&E to avoid things going on her record? Is there a plausible alternative?

I read it that OP had accompanied flatmate to A&E and had given her own name, which then got accidentally recorded as the patient.

Have you looked at the dates to see if you can prove that you were elsewhere at the time? At work, for example