Secretly Recorded by GP

Is your concern that they recorded the call without your permission, or that they made the recording without telling you it was being done - the title of your thread and the content of your post seem to confuse the two.

Essentially, a GP practice don't need your permission to record, but they do need to have told you it was being done - whether in advance of the call or at the time the call started.

No they are NOT within their rights to secretly record. I quoted upthread. Here the full link: www.gmc-uk.org/professional-standards/the-professional-standards/making-and-using-visual-and-audio-recordings-of-patients

You are mistaken, the law permits the recording of conversations, even without consent. The said recording then is classed as data, how that data is used/processed informs whether GDPR is breached, likewise with the regulations of the GMC.

It should be clearly stated if a call is recorded.

I'd be unhappy to be recorded without my consent. People are missing the point here. Healthcare is built upon informed consent. Patient's have a right to know they are being recorded imo. There is a difference between a GP written note (which are usually short and to the point- I work in healthcare) Vs a voice recording which has everything you say word for word. You might be going into detail about something very personal e.g. disclosing past trauma. There is a difference between 'patient made disclosure about past abuse' in a note vs a voice recording with loads of added detail. Some people wouldn't feel comfortable with the latter 🤷

Idk, maybe I'm just particular about confidentiality. I just actually think patients don't realise quite how many people often end up viewing records due to things like MDTs. I'm a MH nurse so make very detailed notes, but I'm sure to be very clear on who might access the information, and I'm very clear to ask patients if they are okay with very sensitive things being in their notes. Obviously if it's related to risk, it has to be recorded, but not everything is.

As the GP practice is quite within their right to record the conversation and doesn't have to tell you they are, you can't complain about that.

If however the OP suspects the recording has been shared or the information within it used in such a way to break GMC / ICO rules respectively, there can be a complaint, but not about the recording itself.

Get a grip.

That is not correct. It is a breach of GDPR and of GMC guidelines.

@UPSETPATIENT And in answer to your question of how you can complain; you could contact the GMC or contact the Information Commisioners Office (not sure if ICB was a typo for ICO?) ico.org.uk/for-organisations/report-a-breach/

It is not illegal, in any way, for one party in a telephone conversation to record the call, they don't have to notify the other person they are doing it.

What they do with the recording may or may not be illegal.

I don't see the problem? All calls made in a professional capacity are recorded (yes i guess there's some exceptions)

How did you 'accidently' find out?

No doubt they had reason to record it and you're now angry that there is a rwcodrong of your unreasonable behaviour on file, backed up by evidence.

That’s not what the GMC say https://www.gmc-uk.org/-/media/documents/Making_and_using_visual_and_audio_recordings_of_patients.pdf_58838365.pdf

They have to seek the consent of the patient.

Not that it would bother me.

if you look on the website and listen to the options most GP surgery’s will advise that they record calls. It can be used as training if something went well or if something needs improvement. You would be shocked at some of the claims made following calls. Recordings clear those up quickly.

To be absolutely clear. Recording conversations without adequate notification is a breach of GDPR.

The GMC says ‘Telephone calls from patients to healthcare organisations may be recorded for legitimate reasons, for example, for medico-legal purposes, staff training, and audit, provided you take all reasonable steps to inform callers that their call may be recorded. Given the sensitive nature of calls to medical advice lines or similar services, you should pay particular attention to ensuring that callers are aware that their call may be recorded. You must not make secret recordings of calls from patients’

if the circumstances of your call @UPSETPATIENT are simply as you say, that is a breach of GDPR and GMC. Forget ‘be kind’; there are rules for a reason.

Wouldn't bother me if it helps things be recorded accurately. I also appreciate the medical professionals needs to cover themselves too these days.

I think that people are missing that it seems that the op was unaware that they were being recorded. If this is the case then I don’t think that you are being unreasonable to have wanted to have been made aware of this. We don’t know the reason for not wanting this.

I do predict a massive back story though!

Even if they weren’t supposed to do it, I think I would let it go. I think GPs are too busy with other things than to deliberately record the appt for some sinister or manipulative end. Unless you have some other concern about them, be kind and forget it, I think it will also be easier on you if you let it go.

I don't understand the problem. With a recording, they can go back and listen to details in case they missed something you mentioned. It can also cover them/or not, if you claim you mentioned something and the doctor ignored it, and it isn't on the recording or if it is.

When sitting with a doctor in the room together, it's easier for both of you. Phone appointments get tricky.

I hope my DH's phone appt. today was recorded. His PSA went up again. 😟

@UPSETPATIENT I am going to go against the grain and say that you have every right to be upset. If I call an insurance company, that company would have a pre-recorded message telling me the call was recorded and for what purpose. I have never heard that on a call from a GP. They can’t just assume consent, the person they are speaking to may not even be a patient; it could be a relative; my Mum has me as her contact.

I’m surprised at the laissez-faire attitudes to this; I think there is a tendency to accept processes associated with medicine on the basis that we are ‘lucky’ to have ‘free’ medical care. I wholly back the NHS but not the subservient attitude many show to it.

Surely this isn't a genuine post!

It’s not a secret! They all do it!

Yeah, I would be very surprised if I spoke to a company and wasn't recorded.

Is it possible that you signed some sort of a blanket release when you first started going to that doctor that said that calls would be recorded or something of that nature?

It’s to cover their backs not to incriminate you.

Aren't all GP calls recorded for training and quality purposes? Why are you upset about it?