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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

About patient's confidentiality

63 replies

GuendalinaCatEyes · 13/03/2015 18:04

I don't get it. I went to the cardiology clinic for an echocardiogram last month. It's taken 4 weeks for them to write a letter to my GP. I haven't been sent a copy of the clinic letter.
I spoke to the GP's receptionist today and she said that she couldn't let me have a copy until the doctor had agreed to it.
Are we fucking kidding here? It's MY LETTER. Why would I not be allowed to see it?? Am
I missing something?

OP posts:

hackmum · 14/03/2015 13:55

Countess, I think you should try harder to be condescending. It's not coming across enough.

Thesuperswimmingdolphin · 14/03/2015 14:02

I don't think countess is out of line. The op has focused her anxiety on the wrong part of this process and was demanding something she doesn't have a right to. No bad thing to have a reality check and this IS AIBU after all. General health is much gentler. Also waiting a month is usually a good sign - if there's something really scary in the tests they will tell you quickly.

Lifesalemon · 14/03/2015 15:56

I think she was out of line not because of what she was saying but the rude way she said/wrote it. There is no need to be so hostile even if you disagree.

gobbin · 14/03/2015 16:04

Surely if the OP made an appt with her GP she'd be able to ask to discuss the contents of the letter now the GP has it.

Nomama · 14/03/2015 16:23

gobbin do sod off dear! You are guilty of talking sense

(Now prays gobbin will read that how it was meant!)

PilchardPrincess · 14/03/2015 16:26

We have had copies of letters about all sorts of stuff, it seems to be something they do these days.

So OP saying that the hosp told her they would write to her GP and copy her in isn't exactly in the realms of fantasy!

OP call the hosp on Monday say you haven't received your copy can they resend pls.

MrsMcColl · 14/03/2015 16:46

YANBU. I don't understand the replies you've had here. I thought copying letters to patients was standard practice. My DD is seen regularly by a number of consultants, and we get copies of every single letter that any health professional sends about her to another. We regularly get the copy-letter before the GP has it - I know this because when I call the GP to request a prescription, for example, as per a letter from a consultant, the GP sometimes hasn't received it yet.

We haven't specifically requested copy-letters - they have always been sent. Isn't it the same in adult care, then?

Wailywailywaily · 14/03/2015 17:24

It is normal practice to copy the patient in on consultant letters to GPs about the patient. And the patient has the right to see everything that is written down about them. Your medical notes are just that - yours! You can request a copy anytime you like all you have to do is write the request down and sign it. Sometimes there is a charge for releasing the notes but that is just to cover the admin costs.

kali110 · 14/03/2015 18:10

Why not just go see your gp? Or just wait for the letter?gp's receive letters electronically so a lot of the time will get them before patients.

snowchic83 · 14/03/2015 20:16

I've been a cardiology secretary for 10 years and i don't routinely copy patients into letters unless asked. However I've had plenty of patients ring me and ask if I could send them a copy of their letter in the post (I always check with the doctor first) and this has never been a problem.

snowchic83 · 14/03/2015 20:23

I should say however that both my DDs are under paediatrics and we always get copied into their letters. I'm not sure why it's different but I don't know any adult medicine departments in the trust I work for that copy patients into letters as a mafter of routine.

gobbin · 16/03/2015 11:53

Lol Nomama ! I wouldn't have houseroom for all the medical letters that have been written about me over the years. If there's anything crucial, they soon let me know.

sashh · 16/03/2015 12:06

Do you know what the normal ejection fraction is? The normal thickness of your myocardium? What are you going to do if the report says you have mitral regurgitation? Will you turn to Dr Google and scare your self silly? When in fact a small amount of regurg is not a problem and lots of people live quite happily never knowing they had it.

What if something is flagged as 'abnormal' - again will you worry? Abnormal in medical terms means, well not normal, so I'm 'abnormal' because I am shorter than average, it does not indicate a medical problem.

Basically OP unless you are a HCP (and apologies to you if you are) you are not going to understand the report and will need your GP to 'translate' it for you.

Oh and BTW it hasn't taken 4 weeks to 'write a letter' it has taken 4 weeks for a clinical physiologist to write a report and send it to a cardiologist who has then reviewed both the report and the 'footage' of your echo and written a second report and or countersigned the first one.

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