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Original poster

Doctors receptionist called my husband because I missed app

68 replies

deadsexy · 04/03/2019 20:50

OK random I know but this has been bothering me.

I had an appointment today for a asthma review, was at 4pm.

I knew around 3.30 there was no chance I was going to make it, was stuck at work and for various reasons I couldn't get away. I tried to call them no less than 20 times but they were engaged.

All forgot about left work at 16.30, came home, DH arrives home at 17.30 to say doctors have called saying you missed appointment and you need to call them.

I was quite surprised but now I think I'm abit miffed about data protection/privacy/confidentiality.

I'm going to call them tomorrow....

OP posts:
RandomMess · 04/03/2019 21:55

I once had the HV phone up and congratulate the man that answered our phone on my pregnancy...

Fortunately it was DH and DH knew I was pregnant and it was planned

I did complain it wasn't her only privacy breach!!!!

herethereandeverywhere · 04/03/2019 22:02

I suspect GDPR applies equally, though, to hairdresser & the dentist & the GP.

There is enhanced protection for things like medical information so it doesn't apply equally. Though simply stating there was a GP appointment may not be enough to divulge specially protected data.

steff13 · 04/03/2019 22:02

Are you sure you haven't signed something that says it's ok to call him? I went to the doctor just today for my annual physical, and I had to sign a form that says who they can call about my appointments, diagnoses, etc. I always put my husband (although you don't have to put anyone) and my sister-in-law.

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MadAboutWands · 04/03/2019 22:05

Even if it was a landline, the GP surgery cannot tell her DH that she had an appointment.
Yes complain.

Tiredofit · 04/03/2019 22:06

Our surgery has a notice board telling you how many appointments were missed the previous week. It’s quite shocking.

When you phone to apologise op you could mention to the receptionist that, in future, you don’t want your husband called.

Mum2jenny · 04/03/2019 22:08

It's totally a data protection issue. Remind them that they can only discuss your appointments or your issues with you.

BlimeyCalmDown · 04/03/2019 22:13

There's a high chance you have put his number down as an 'alternative number' when registering or updating them.

Melroses · 04/03/2019 22:14

My doctors are like this. They called to tell me to pass on a message to my adult DD that she had missed an appointment that they had made for her to review her 'medications'* In fact it was the actual doctor who did this. She also need to remake the appointment and get some blood tests done Confused This was in addition to ringing her on her mobile (working so not picking up so they left a message), and texting her.

Contacted DD who had contacted them twice, once to cancel and once to make sure.

Totally unprofessional Hmm

*she is not on anything; we went through the same palava last year.

Splodgetastic · 04/03/2019 22:16

My pet peeve. I had a similar experience with an asthma review. My GP has two surgeries. One is in the next town. Apparently they left a voicemail on my landline to say that my appointment was no longer in my town but in the next town as the asthma nurse had resigned and left the practice. To be honest I don't really check the landline as I use my mobile phone for everything but I must have registered with the GP with the landline number to prove that I was at the same house as an existing patient (DH - before that I lived in London and had to ask the local health authority to be allocated a GP, which was a real palaver I can tell you!). But I was also a bit shocked that they would leave a message on the landline rather than sending a letter or at least trying my mobile, which they did also have. I then immediately told the receptionist that they did not have my permission to leave voicemails on the landline. Anyway, I had to run down the high street to the taxi rank to get to the new appointment once the receptionist had told me this, which I'm sure didn't do much for my peak flow! My DH is in no way controlling but he is no better at checking the landline than I am (I have historically not checked it or answered it for other reasons - we have had nuisance calls that I would rather not deal with), but everyone is entitled to a modicum of privacy. I appreciate that receptionists are busy, but if someone leaves the surgery they must surely have at least a month's notice!

SpeedyBojangles · 04/03/2019 22:29

Yep, I'd complain.

Same thing happened to me, I had an appointment with GP and then later that day my DH had an appointment with same GP. The GP told him he'd seen me earlier.

Not a problem for you or me, but imagine a DV situation..... totally irresponsible and unprofessional.

Original poster
deadsexy · 04/03/2019 22:37

I highly doubt I have signed anything, not that I have a problem with him knowing anything, but I just wouldn't sign something like that.

How should I word it with them tomorrow.

Wasn't anything important at all was it, could understand if it was serious, but an asthma review? 🙄

OP posts:
Sophisticatedsarcasm · 04/03/2019 22:40

I always feel there is a double standard when it comes to drs surgery, like they can be late, but if your late it’s the end of the world, you try calling them 50 Times before you can get through but if you miss the call by a second they start getting sketchy. Rant over

DippyAvocado · 04/03/2019 23:05

My surgery won't even allow me to make an appointment for my husband so I am incredulous that yours thinks it's ok to phone your DH about this.

I also completely agree with Sophisticated. I always assume I'm going to have to wait at least 30 minutes for my appointment and more likely an hour. Once, after waiting with my baby for over 30 minutes for a vaccination, I was eventually told, with no apology, that they'd actually booked the appointment at a different surgery 20 minutes away and I would have to head over there. However, on the occasion I turned up a few minutes late because I'd been stuck behind a broken-down lorry - and had tried to call several times without being able to get through - my appointment was cancelled.

I understand that missed appointments cost money, but surgeries ought to be able to differentiate between patients who regularly book appointments that they don't turn up to and those who arrive a few minutes late once because of circumstances beyond their control.

Justaboy · 04/03/2019 23:10

We do our appointments all online now:)

wigglypiggly · 04/03/2019 23:11

Ask them to alter his mobile from your records, say it's for emergencies only. Say to them it's a breach of confidentiality, did they try and call you, ask why they rang him. Is there a msg on your phone if people cant get through that directs them to your dh.

TalbotAMan · 04/03/2019 23:20

Personally, I'm not bothered if the GP leaves a message with DW. I trust her.

What does irritate the heck out of me, though, is that the damn GP receptionists have a habit of calling me on my mobile, which comes up as 'private number' and if I don't answer (which is often the case because there are a lot of times at work when I can't be interrupted and so turn the phone off) they don't even leave a voicemail. When I turn the phone on it just says 'missed call from private number'.

Last month I turned up for an appointment to find they had cancelled it because the person I was supposed to see was away sick. There was a 'missed call private number' two days earlier. . .

Spotsbeforemyeyes · 04/03/2019 23:43

Go said to my dh on one occasion when he'd gone along to an appointment, "how is your wife? Last time I saw her she was expecting"

I hadn't told him I was pregnant, it was unplanned.

As I'd already miscarried by the time the gp said this and never told dh I managed to convince him gp had made a mistake.

HelenaDove · 05/03/2019 00:14

My DH once came home from the surgery with a prescription for me that they had given him for my Depo Provera.

If i had been in an abusive marriage involving reproductive coercion (im not at all) it could have caused a major problem.

HelenaDove · 05/03/2019 00:15

It wasnt an ovesight . They had given it to him as it was ready the same time as his.

EnidButton · 05/03/2019 00:33

If i had been in an abusive marriage involving reproductive coercion (im not at all) it could have caused a major problem.

Exactly. I feel like some posters are missing the point. It's not a matter of trust or like a salon appointment. Someone could be keeping the appointment secret from an abusive partner because the partner won't allow them to see a doctor for anything. They could be seeking help for domestic violence. They could be pregnant and not want their partner to know for numerous reasons. Dozens of reasons why the receptionist (or gp) shouldn't call anyone except the patient about a missed appointment or any results.

That isn't the case here but if they're that casual about it, it could easily happen to someone who does need it to be kept strictly confidential.

AornisHades · 05/03/2019 00:47

No they shouldn't have phoned him and spoken to him. If I have to request a call I always say it is fine to leave a message on the land-line or speak to DH because the default is to speak to me.
They have to consider all sorts of things a partner might not be told (STD, pregnancy or illness)

CluedoAddict · 05/03/2019 06:39

You completely wasted an appointment that someone else could have used. I don't see what you have to complain about.

SnuggyBuggy · 05/03/2019 06:46

I think it's bizarre. Obviously in a medical setting you have next of kin contact details but they are more for urgent things not a missed routine appointment.

Confidentiality issues aside it just wouldn't occur to me to bother contacting a next of kin to tell them about this. You'd normally just generate an automated letter telling them to call and rebook.

U2HasTheEdge · 05/03/2019 07:05

You completely wasted an appointment that someone else could have used. I don't see what you have to complain about.

So because OP missed an appointment she doesn't get to be concerned when the surgery break confidentially?

Bizarre logic there.

Thefarawaytrees · 05/03/2019 07:32

@CluedoAddict

They are two entirely separate things. The OP isn't upset per se that the surgery told her husband but concerned about their procedures since as in the examples above this could cause a terrible situation for a woman seeking help

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