A minor rant - GP records

[HairsprayBabe]

How difficult is it to actually keep very basic patient notes!?

I have just got off the phone with the GP after submitting a repeat prescription request that has been declined as the they don't have a recent blood pressure reading on file. So now I have to book a whole appointment that I don't need wasting my time and their resources because they didn't keep proper records!

It's only the bloody pill (which requires BP reading annually) I have no issue with that but I have taken up 4 unnecessary appointments in the last year because they keep doing this!

Not that much of a big deal in the grand scheme of things, but this is the 4th time this has happened and I am annoyed with no one around to moan to!

But have you actually had a recent BP reading done?

@Soontobe60 I have had 4 done since this time last year because they keep making me have one every time I request my 3mo prescription - I tried to extend it to 6mo also and that got missed off the notes too!

@Soontobe60 last one was in early august

Can you buy a BP monitor and do it yourself at home? Much simpler than making appointments.

Are you in England? You can get the contraception pill through your local pharmacy.

@Abra1t they won't accept self reads as I could just make it up - regardless why should I have to buy a bp cuff purely because they are unable to write anything down.

It must vary GP practice to practice as I always provide my own readings for HRT.

Do they have a blood pressure machine at your surgery? The last few surgeries I’ve been at all have one, then you just hand the printed slip into Reception.

I’m really surprised they don’t accept self-reads, though.

My GP practice has a blood pressure reading machine in the waiting area so you can just go in and submit one anytime.

I also put self-reads through because my blood pressure is always higher in a medical setting.

@Itisme567 I would still have to go for a bp reading as if I went to a pharmacy it would count as a new prescription

@LaserPumpkin the sister surgery on the other side of the city has one, my local one doesn't

Self reads would be useful but it is the lack of records keeping that is really annoying me.

Possibly. But you'll leave the pharmacy with your pill?

The omissions are mind boggling at times.

For your own sanity, might be worth trying tye sister surgery - and maybe someone different handling it will do a better job of updating the records.

It pisses me off when they ask me what meds I'm on - look at the flipping records in front of you! As for medicine reviews - Jesus I've had 3 in the last year because they can't keep records properly. The other day I was in and they had me as " used to smoke" . I have never smoked in my life !

Ours accepts self-reads by email.

I just realized yesterday when I went to my GP that there is a blood pressure station right in a corner of the waiting room.
I watched as a pregnant patient visiting the GP took her own blood pressure before going into her appointment.
What a great idea!
I've visited my GP several times recently and never once was it suggested that my BP and other vitals be taken to be recorded.
You can also have a blood pressure reading at a pharmacy and the pharmacist will send your reading to your GP.

The pharmacy can do blood pressure there and then. No GP appointment needed. Seriously go to the pharmacy, this is not the old prescription collection setup, there is a scheme now for contraception, they don’t involve the GP at all, the pharmacist just tells them the pharmacy is prescribing it for you.

My GP wanted to talk about my diabetes last time I saw her. I’m not diabetic…(But yes, I did double check with her after she said that - it was confusion about why I’m on medication more commonly used for diabetes)

Can you see the results on your NHS app? All my test results are on there as that’s how they are uploaded to my NHS records when they are sent back to the GP surgery. If they’re not in there, it’s not the GPs fault, it’s the back office not doing their job properly.

@Darragon I still need to make an appt at the pharmacy if I want to go through them - and they only do morning/early afternoon appts - so I will have to take time off work for that. If I could do it at the same time I would normally collect the prescription - eg after work it wouldn't be an issue.
Regardless of being able to solve the problem I am annoyed that I have had to have a BP read 4 times completely unnecessarily purely because someone can't seem to make simple patient notes.

@Soontobe60 it hasn't been recorded anywhere - all the pill checks I have been to are on there - with height bmi and smoking status but no BP

Have you asked for 6 month or 12 month prescriptions? Doesn’t solve the immediate problem, but no one can but it would reduce your number of touch points with the GP going forward

@CryMyEyesViolet I have asked for a 12 month every time they tell me it is noted then it magically isn't and they only give me 3mo because my notes don't say anything - then they tell me don't worry it's noted just ask for the longer prescription next time.

I have a bang average bmi and I'm 33 never had a high BP in my life or any other pill red flags its maddening!

I'm on Yasmine and have been since I was 25 - minus having children

Go to any old pharmacy that has a BP machine, get a reading, take a photo of your reading on the bp monitor with date/time stand and send the photograph to your GP. That should be more than enough.