NHS notes sharing

[insecureegg]

Can a dr in one place access confidential notes from another?

For only the purpose of being nosy on someone

Say both doctors specialise in the same thing, one you're treated by and one you meet socially outside of the patient - doctor relationship but happen to tell them you've had treatment

I know under data protection they shouldn't access your info for anything other than the purpose you disclosed it was intended.... but CAN they? Is it possible?

they would lose their job for doing it and the IT gods would see.

I think you would get into massive shit if you did. I would have thought it is technically possible if it is stored on a database to which both doctors have access to though.

If they were working within the same nhs trust and had access to the same system then theoretically they could- although would be grounds for misconduct if they did.

I think it depends on what speciality they are in and what context.
For example, a Dr on a ward in hospital can only access your gp records that are very basic (name, meds and some certain conditions i think) but you can sign a piece of paper at the drs which allows the dr's at the hospital, if you are admitted to see more of your record (and you can choose what's on there).
Someone correct me if I'm wrong but I think that's how it works.
If one dr from one gp surgery has been treating you, and then another gp from a different surgery wants your notes, they can't just see them as they won't have access as it's a different encrypted system (i think)

What littleblackno said basically

Depends. In my trust if you dont have a relationship (ie see the patient as a health professional) it askes you to fill in an it form which is sent to your manager and takes 5 minutes and loads of warnings. Ive never gone further than that by accidently clicked on wrong name but i believe you have to wait for access to be granted so phone call to it and manager. However if both doctors see you i dont know as thats why the notes system was set up so that a full medical history is known.

But like ilovecold saw it be limited. If its the same practice same work yes they would. If different areas id say limited.

Only if you work in the same trust. Every hospital I've worked in has a different computer system which is a fucking nightmare

But you can get in trouble if you look up things you aren't suppose to.

i cant see how a doctor would have time for snooping on someone they know socially

It's a serious sackable offence to look up notes of someone that isn't your patient.

Major data breech.

What norma says!!!

In all honesty if those doctors socialized, chances are common patients do get discussed (even though they strictly shouldn't). Practically everyone in my extended family (dad's side) is a doctor and they get asked advice about previous patients they treated at tennis/squash/cricket matches, bbqs, you name it.

The best thing to do is not discuss your medical treatment (including name of doctor) at all unless you have concerns.

If they are GPs they could access your record if at the same practice and them accessing it would show on the record. Otherwise only if they asked the doctor treating you and they would have to have a good reason and almost certainly your permission. The only info GPs can give out on patients without consent is anonymous numbers e.g. 63 of our patients over a certain age have a particular condition.

Hospitals don't get the same records that GP surgeries do. I am not sure how those work and think it varies between hospitals and even departments. I know one junior doctor with 7 different logins! I expect most systems would show who had looked at the notes though.

If they work together and are the same specialty I can understand information sharing to ensure the best care for all patients (whether one doctor knows them personally or not).

I was quite ill earlier this year and was quite an unusual case. All the consultants and juniors in the delay knew the details of my case - whether they were the ones treating me or not. There had been lots of brainstorming for the best direction for my care. I was grateful and not remotely bothered. But then I suppose I didn't know any of them personally (not that I expect that would have bothered me).

*department, not delay. Not sure why my phone decided on that autocorrect.

Not if they work in different places - I can't see GP notes, or anything from other hospitals.

I can see everything in my trust (regardless of specialty), but I don't go trawling through random acquaintances' notes because a) I'd get sacked if caught, and b) it's really not that interesting. It is to you, but we've seen 90 patients with whatever you've got, so it isn't scandalous any more. I have plenty of friends and family who've had treatment in my trust, and it has literally never occurred to me to look them up.

If both are counsellors? Would thoughts shared in a session remain confidential?

I can't say it has ever occurred to me if they could. There must be a way though because you aren't seen by just one doctor your whole life.

Whenever I go to my GP, he often scrolls back up to find something relevant that happened previously or to check a date. Not all of the things he finds were entered by him.

It must be incredibly useful having it all in one place but I suppose they must monitor it somehow to avoid this.

IIRC, Possible but not easy. The sort of offence that means they would be struck off by GMC, if purely done only for nosy purposes.

Why are you worried about this OP?

If both drs specialise in the same thing it's possible dr 1 has asked dr 2 for advice on treatments etc as well

Two doctors within the same Trust and speciality will have access to all the same patients' notes. This is because patients are often passed around the clinical team for second opinions, trying different treatments etc. There might be exceptions to this is some departments with different confidentiality policies (mental health maybe?) but I haven't come across any.

However, unless they've seen the physical set of notes (sat on a secretary's desk for example), there will be an electronic record of their request for your notes/search for your name/reading of your file etc so an audit will show who has looked at what. If they have looked at a patient that they have no clinical interest in (and who they know personally) it is gross misconduct and could be a sackable offence.

I would imagine they technically could. Isn't that what happens when you change Drs? Although I would have thought they would need your NHS number.

Tbh I don't really know. Why do you ask?

It depends if they work on the same system and if it's the same unit i.e both at the same hospital. If they're at different places then it depends whether you've previously agreed to your profile being shared for anyone who requires access or if you've kept the access restricted to each individual unit.

It is against the law for the doctor you personally know to look into your notes though without your permission.

I know it's not allowed.

Just wondered if a counsellor could see what you'd told another counsellor.