GP surgery rang my husband after I ignored their call

[MyAquaCrow]

First of all I am new here so please bear with me. I am overdue a smear, and my GP surgery tried to call me twice today to book it. Both times I was unable to pick up the phone, so after the second missed call they then dialled my husband's mobile phone. He could not pick up as he was under the kitchen sink at the time, but the fact that they called him has really angered me. He is listed as my NOK, but his number is not down as a contact number for me. Is this right?

@Workhardcryharder the pictures were cartoon drawings of toddlers. Holding pink hair care appliances.
Why do you think that would catch the attention of a woman in her mid 20s plus in relation to smear tests?
I thought it was an advert for a nursery school. Or a toddlers play area.
I had to stare at that crap for minutes to establish what it was even meant to be about.
Absolutely pathetic it was.

Caught your attention though! 😄

Thats complaint territory for me 😡

They may have called him to check that they had your current contact number; not necessarily to discuss your smear test.

@Workhardcryharder I guess so. But more because I was bored, but if I needed to know to get a smear test the display would not have made me do so.
Don't you think it's ridiculous to put such childish imagery?

Totally out of order if OP is true. Should not be calling anyone multiple times anyway for a non urgent test booking.

Call me, text me, message me, leave a VM, and I'll get back to you when I'm ready.

I suspect the non return of the OP means she got it wrong and the surgery were calling her DH about his own issues.

Oh for goodness sake! Jumping to assumptions aren’t you? Probably a vague message asking if her contact number had changed and could she ring the surgery. No need for hyperbole about the male patriarchy in this context.

@shiverm I'm glad you got treated. But still, to call someone else about your medical stuff is breaching GDPR.
I get a lot of texts about smears. The thing is I can feel up there and know it feels the same as always. But I guess that's not necessarily enough. Pink balloons don't make me want to go it, that's for sure!

@BobbyBiscuits goodness no, I wouldn’t expect that just feeling it would be a test. And (even though in this situation it may not be the case) I do see the issue with a gp phoning a partner. I mean who knows what that relationship is like and whether they’re even together for one. And being strict on gdpr is really important. I wonder if in a medical context there is a softer border, like if someone is named next of kin (though op wasn’t sure that was true in this case), or if it’s to protect the individual in some way. Though that’s a slippery slope. Like I, Robot doing things for the good of the person but harming simultaneously. Hopefully in this case it wasn’t the case, or that there was previous consent to share.

This. I really don't understand the drama over this, it's such a non event.

I’ve been silent for a few days as I’ve been unwell. I’m grateful for all of the replies, even from those who’ve made assumptions about me and think I should just suck it up. I have a few things to say about that before I continue.

1. I’m neurodivergent and secrecy is one of my quirks
2. I’m a survivor of SA
3. I have PTSD and a side effect of that is (unusual, but related) a fear of telephones.

Since making my first post the surgery rang a further 6 times, left 3 voicemails and sent 4 texts - all in the space of just 3 days. I’ve ignored them all and it has made me feel bad due to my issues. Surely one message is enough? Two at the most.

They have thousands of patients. There will be a “to call” list and whoever’s job it is that day will just call down it and only cross it off once they speak to you, to make sure no patients are falling through the cracks. It’s just an admin process.

I'm sorry to read about your issues. Does the GP know about them?

My GP contacts me via text if I need a reminder for anything. They never ring. I had text reminders for flu and covid jabs last year.

Massive drip feed.

Does your surgery know about this ?
Have you explained to them ? Or are you assuming they know that you have a fear of telephones? (In which case, ringing your partner, might be considered a work around, by some - with your permission of course, which you would presumably give, if you are unable to answer your phone, or respond to a message left on your phone)

i suggest op@MyAquaCrow that you either call them back or pop in to see what they wanted

They're damned if they do and damned if they don’t. Your smear test is overdue, if you don't want them to call you with reminders just tell them that.

Do you wish to opt out of cervical screening? You can send this form to your gp after reading the informed choice leaflet. https://www.csas.nhs.uk/patients/
If you have contact preferences you could ask the surgery, but it is difficult to individualise more than their systems allow.

exactly. I've never been FORCED to have a smear. I've received reminder letters, and some gentle nagging at check ups when I'm overdue.
I hate them. they leave me bleeding and in a lot of pain for several days. but I do appreciate they're important. so it does take me a while to psyche myself up for it. and once it's done, it always feels like a huge weight off my mind.
at the last one, I explained how bad my experience usually is, and she used a smaller speculum, and was extra careful with me. I still gushed all over the bed, but I didn't have the days of painful cramping I'd had in the past. took some painkillers and just had a little bit of cramping that day. because she understood I was more delicate than average and took more time over it than is necessary in most cases

How childish to keep ignoring the calls. They aren’t phoning to be a nuisance - it’s for the good of your health.

I work at a GP and we aren't allowed to leave voice mails. If we get no reply we email. Still no responce you get a letter. If it's for something like and asthma or diabetic review and you don't respond we put your meds onto a weekly prescription making it inconvenient for you until you some in. We are evil