GP using childs birth name over tannoy

[prumarth]

My recently placed son recently had to go to our GP and due to an electronic queuing system, he was called over the tannoy by his full birth name as well as the name being highlighted up on a plasma screen to direct us the correct office. This left me shaken and angry - I had begged reception prior to attending to find a way around this but was told they couldn't use anything else but the birth name plus the computer system couldn't cope. I tried to change the appt to my name but couldn't as the bloody computer also controls access to the correct notes and booking under an incorrect name would result in chaos! I therefore had no choice and unwittingly had to attend, the reception was heaving - I was really freaked out.
My son's birth family live very close - 20mins at most and his birth names are very unique and if you know the name, it's unlikely there is more than a handful in the country never mind our small local authority area. Unusually we were advised by the Adoption Agency as well as the matching panel to change his name and not even keep his birth name as a middle name for his and our security.
Can I ask if anyone else has experienced this and if this is normal? I have complained both to the gp and emailed the practice manager but seem to be getting a blank response.

That's ridiculous! Surely they could have just done the "old fashioned" way of the doctor popping out of his/her office and calling the (correct) name!

It's also terrible that they haven't responded to your complaint, especially as it's potentially a child protection issue! Our new GP surgery has this sort of system too, I thought it was pretty futuristic for an NHS surgery.

Not sure what to suggest but hope they at least offer an apology and sort it out for next time.

If the child's name is not legally changed, then the GP records will be the birth name...which will mean that name is what the GP sees. However in this situation they should have not used the annoy and display and come out to call you in.

Can you not get the name change legalised?

I had exactly the same issue at my surgery-with the announcement system.
When I took my dd to register her at the surgery I spoke to the practice manager who added something to her notes meaning that they are to call my name and not hers.
My surgery team sorted it out very quickly and easily, if they hadn't I would have changed surgeries tbh.

My GP knows not to call out his name and to use my name. But actually the doctor just appears at the door and beckons us in.

Personally, I think I would tell the surgery if this cannot be rectified you will need to change surgery and you will be complaining as well as moving. Then I would start looking for a new surgery. Just my humble opinion.

I refused to state my name or address verbally in shops when returning things, collecting a prescription, etc for ages, and, come to think of it, I still do.
I keep a post it note pad in my bag and I write it down and hand it over.
I've always felt quite uncomfortable about other people overhearing when giving out personal details.
I do get some very strange looks from shop assistants though!

our gp can put up a bogus name on the screen thingy.
lots of mary jane and tom jones type of name are called up.

This would have worried me too and I would certainly be complaining. I remember having to take DD to a hospital appointment in a hospital near her birth family's home town and whispering her name when we arrived. So paranoid was I that someone who knew the family (unusual surname) would be there.

I can't believe they couldn't find a way around this!

Not quite the same but I had to take DD to A&E about 12 months after we got her (she had fallen & broken her arm), I booked in at front desk under her new name (we had also been advised to change her name). All was well in first waiting room, then got sent up to x-Ray, sat in waiting room, nurse comes out & shouts DDs birth name in front of full waiting room. I was completely shocked! I spoke to receptionists on the way out and they apologised and said they would try to make sure it didn't happen again. DDs family are so close she had been born in that hospital so the computer must have linked up the NHS numbers?

I'm sure the GP surgery must be able to fix this for you, speak to your social worker if necessary and ask them to help.

Once adoption order granted, we got a new NHS number so links shouldn't be made.

You can ask prior to AO being granted to have a 'known as' name (I.e. New surname) at schools and doctors.... assuming their system can cope with it!!!

What a horrible experience OP. I don't have anything to add, just want to give you a hand to hold.

If you contact your Health Visitor or school nurse they should be able to sort this out for you.. If not find out the name of the named nurse for looked after children (who works with your Health Visitor /school nurse) or the designated nurse for looked after children who works for the local health authority /PCT (they oversee GPs ) as this is bad practice!!

If you can't find the number for these professionals the number for the names nurse for child protection should be easy to find with abit of googling... and s/he will have the number for the LAC nurses.

Even on the new NHS systems you can put in a "known by name " until the name change is allowed....

I work for the NHS so you have this in good authority!

That's awful

When we registered our DD at our GPs during intros, the very kind receptionist agreed to register her under her new name, despite us not even having applied for the adoption order at that point.

They can be helpful if they choose to be.