To be so cross and upset that I'm going to see the doctor tomorrow

[ScrotesOnFire]

And try and get an item removed from my medical records?

I can't go into any detail for fear of outing myself, but I saw my midwife today and she brought up an item on my records.

From many MONTHS ago which means that she must have been nosy and been rifling through my medical history in order to come across it

I was not aware that this information had been shared, I would not have given consent for it, it has no relevance to my health, was dealt with long ago and can only possibly be used to cause me distress, not improve my care in any way, shape or form.

I am absolutely furious that she has been rifled through my history like this, who else is this information open to?!?!
Any midwife, nurse, doctor, receptionist etc could read about it.

I haven't been able to relax all day about it, I am so upset and distressed.

I feel like not seeing my midwife ever again. Or the doctors.

Feel violated actually.

My booking appointment was at a hospital 130 miles away from my doctors surgery and all of my medical records from the doctors were there with the midwives. I'm sure they didn't go rifling through, it is just standard procedure.

This is obviously very distressing for you, OP - I have no advice, and know nothing of NHS records, but I hope you get the result you want

Looking back to my pgs, the errors made in my notes ny midwives were incredible. Wrong dates for miscarriages, incorrectly recorded health issues, failure to correctly record my wishes re breastfeeding. DS2's weeks of delivery incorrectly recorded. Inability to order the correct blood tests relating to my medical condition.

At 56 I dread to think of the errors in my medical records. I think it is disconcerting that there is a record kept about me that I am not automatically allows to see or amend and over which I have no control. Why does the NHS hold my record? Why can't I have overall control over it. Is it because I'm more stupid than anyone who works for the NHS.

I think a line has been crossed. People's notes should belong to the person not the state. The French do it better.

I am sorry you are so distressed about this, OP, and hope you feel better after some sleep.
I do think it's fine for a MW to look through a mother's medical records, but I wonder why the MW brought this issue up if it were entirely irrelevant to your situation and ongoing mental / physical health. Do you really think she was just being nosy?
Did she ask you to further explain the issue? How did she justify asking questions? Were you noticeably distressed at the time of her bringing it up?

I'm guessing that this is something like previous child abuse or rape. We do record those on records, as others have been said it can be made sensitive. I would suggest an appointment with the practice manager in the first instance (don't make a GP appointment) and if, as you say, you're going in calm and not all guns blazing then I'm sure you can arrange something,

I'm a GP and if you came in and said "if you don't take this off I'm never going to use the NHS again" we'd just think you were a bit nuts, say goodbye and consider a social services referral re your current pregnancy. It isn't a useful threat. But I think you've moved on from that post

good luck with it all

I think it is disconcerting that there is a record kept about me that I am not automatically allows to see or amend and over which I have no control.

you can see it (for a fee which covers photocopying etc) and you can add a note if you dispute it. You can't amend it because the notes are all we have to protect ourselves if a patient sues, and because lots of people would want to amend it to remove inconvenient medical history before applying for insurance.

Midwives are nosy though. The ones I had chattered all sorts of nonsense and asked some really stupid stuff.

I am so sorry you are so distressed and hope you feel a little calmer in the morning.

I just wondered if you are concerned that the issue you are worried about might be inadvertently mentioned to your partner/family? If that is it I can totally understand why you are so upset. Hugs. x

I'm going against the trend OP as I don't work in the medical field but in one allied to mental health and I think it's quite clear that this midwife handled this very insensitively otherwise you wouldn't have been so upset. She could have asked if there is anything in your past history that was causing you concern about your mental health during this pregnancy. If you said no, she could have allowed you your privacy and just flagged in your notes as something that may or not become relevant pre- or post-partum. I don't mind medical professionals knowing my history; but I don't expect them to do an archeological dig each time I return to the surgery. As for the doctor who was pleased to wash her hands of you . May I suggest you refer on anyone who has any mental health concerns because you have zero empathy.

OP. I hope you won't less this spoil your enjoyment of your pregnancy and the birth of your baby.

Pretty much every inquiry into a homicide or suicide in my field of work (MH) mentions contributory factors of HCPs not knowing the full history and/or not documenting appropriately what a service user has told them and it therefore not being passed on to other HCPs.

If I'm assessing someone and ask them if they have a history of self-harm and they say no but their records say yes, I have to ask them about it. A) to check it's accurate and B) to try to establish if there is a current risk. But I approach it in a sensitive manner. Past incidents often increase current risk so needs to be discussed.

Most events in GP records can be relevant to someone's MH treatment and often, the print-out of records we receive from the GP listing significant incidents or interactions go back years.

I hate threads like this, if you cannot state what the "issue" is then no one can help, all this to and fro saying to it isn't XYZ is just pointless, and people trying to "guess" is again pointless.

For me this is the same as facebook, when people post a status and then say "il in box you"

Its just fucking pointless and attention seeking!

For those saying how important medical records are the most significant issue in my experience is that unless they are read, they are utterly pointless.

I could quote lots if examples of medical professionals failing to read the notes ir take an accurate note.

For blue carpet do you not see that notes about the patient should be owned by the patient and not the state. Especially when so much goes missing. Surely if a patient has to sue it would be safer for both parties to have access to records so the patient could demonstrate records gad been changed by those about whom complaints were raised. I am presently opted out of the computer records business because I have no faith in the integrity of the data storage and access.

Example one: DD went to GP because she wasn't coping and was self harming by cutting and taking small overdoses. The latter wasn't disclosed to me but GP reassured dd that an urgent two week referral would be made to CAMHS. Because dd was over 16 the GP did not share all the details with me. Explained we were moving house. Registered with new GP who wouldn't see us until they had our notes. New GP did not make an urgent referral because she didn't read the notes and I didn't know how hard to push. Three months later with dd escalating CAMHS were useless anyway in the new area but we could have found that out faster if the GP had bothered to read the notes.

I agree very much with what lostforwords said.

Reflecting, my DD has a mental health nite I her notes now (she is much recovered because we could spend the required thousands on a private psychiatric referral). It bothers me greatly that at some stage in her future this note could be misinterpreted and used against her by a midwife or hv who will apply it in accordance with whatever the prevailing mantra might be. Sadly in my experience very few midwives ir hvs actually listen or understand what they are being told, hearing instead what they want to hear. My HV misrecorded something in my son's notes and the note kept on record was nit the same as made in the red book. I think it I of great concern that these staff have unlimited access to medical records and it I a concern.

Thankfully 22years ago when I was booked at a hospital the midwife worked at a hospital and could not have gone rifling through my records. A letter biting relevant facts was sent from my GP and that contained a significant error

To be honest every single person on the planet probably has some sensative information written down about them somewhere....ive seen some shocking things in patients notes....well they would be shocking to a lay person...but to a medical prifessional its part of the job and they are forgotten about fairly quickly...if you make an issue about it it will highlight it even more...make it no big deal..discuss with your GP but try to get past it....if its a mistake it will be removed otherwise it wont.....ive got plenty on my file that i wouldnt like people to know... but due to confidentiality i know it goes no further than my GP or practise nurse. They have a code of conduct that is very strict

I am shocked and angry and emotional which shows in my posts

I completely hear that in your posts and I am so sorry that you're this distressed
I had an awful period of anxiety when something horribly distressing was 'outed' (I ended up complaining that my confidentiality had been breached and although it wasn't technically breached I received a huge apology)

I'm going to send an unmumsnetty (hug) too as I think you could do with one

I hate threads like this, if you cannot state what the "issue" is then no one can help, all this to and fro saying to it isn't XYZ is just pointless, and people trying to "guess" is again pointless.
Its just fucking pointless and attention seeking!

What a horrible thing to say. If you don't the thread then get off it. OP is obviously distressed and has tried to find a safe place to vent. I'd suggest you have some compassion and leave her alone

*like

CallWaiting - I totally agree with you. It's incredibly unkind to be so nasty to someone who is so clearly upset.

Is it something you're ashamed about, OP?
Most of us have something unsavory in our past, and almost always someone knows about it. Myth to believe otherwise.

Did you see a private counsellor/psychiatrist? And assume it would be kept seperately to your media records?

What exactly is the problem with her knowing?

What is upsetting you about it?

Sorry but without knowing anything more about the information in question I can't conclude much except to say YA probably BU as it will be on there for a reason and the fact that you're so defensive about it is a bit odd. It's totally confidential information that is meant to help ensure you get good care, and your midwife is just doing her job (and doing it well at that).

Also why do you keep saying it's affecting your mental health? Irritating. Feeling upset or anxious occasionally is part of living and being human, don't pathologise it. Unless you have actual diagnosable mental health issues which is obviously different.

If you are pregnant, any information related to your physical or mental health is 100% relevant.
It has relevance to my mental health in that it has caused me an immense amount of distress and anxiety and worry at a time that I don't need.

It's not my first baby and the item isn't about my mental health.

Also why do you keep saying it's affecting your mental health? Irritating. Feeling upset or anxious occasionally is part of living and being human, don't pathologise it. Unless you have actual diagnosable mental health issues which is obviously different.

If the thread is irritating you I'd suggest you leave it. How can you possibly think it's appropriate to be unkind to someone who's clearly distressed.
If the OP is acutely anxious due to the situation then of course her mental health is affected. There are many people who have mental health issues without a formal diagnosis and non of us are in the position to judge the feelings or health of the OP.
She's pregnant and distraught- leave her alone and take your angst elsewhere

I haven't read all posts so sorry if it's been said, didn't want to read and run. Clearly you're very upset by this. What is it that you're worried about? Others knowing something about you that you feel uncomfortable for them to know? Is it because you thought it would only be known by the person you spoke to? Are you worried about how confidential it would be? Depending on computer system (most practices use a system called Emis now) different staff will have access to different areas I.e receptionist will not have access to all the area a GP would. There is also the facility to lock certain consultations so that they only appear in your records to those authorised. Ask for an appointment with the practice manager to discuss this. They're unlikely to be able to fully erase it so it can never be found but may be able to lock it etc.

Surely if a patient has to sue it would be safer for both parties to have access to records so the patient could demonstrate records gad been changed by those about whom complaints were raised.

perfectly reasonable for patient to have a copy and you can request this, if you pay for the administrative costs. not reasonable to request to change them - if you disagree you can add a note so that future doctors can see the disagreement.

I regularly get people asking me to amend their notes so that they can get insurance without the insurance company knowing their past medical history, or so they can get a job that they are unsafe to do given their medical history. notes are important.

I agree with trapdoor. Although you may feel extremely sensitive about the issue, and feel it's personal there are likely to be valid reasons for their appearance on your records. If for example there was an abusive partner, professionals need to be aware of that so they can ensure your future safety and the safety of your children. You may think that the issue is done and dusted but these things have a history of rumbling on ( even if it's dealt with as far as you're concerned). It would be irresponsible of other agencies not to share this information - especially as you're pregnant. Of course it's hard to say for sure as we don't know exactly what the issue is ( something like debt problems or an arrest may have no place on there depending on severity of the problem)