To think this is much more serious than they seem to think it is?

[OnceWasBadEnough]

A few months ago I went for a job and had to give permission for my medical records to be seen as part of the process. I gave permission and then was told I hadn’t got the job because of something they had found on my records. I was shocked and went to my GP to ask to see my records and found out my sister’s history has been put on my record by accident! I found out info about my sister that she may not have wanted me to know (I explained to family and she then told me this applied to her). Before this she had been for an appointment and they’d called out my name instead of hers! It was like they had completely mixed us up. We made a complaint and they seemed not to be bothered really, asking ‘what do you want us to do? We’ve taken the info off now and put it right’ That was all they said. Yesterday I went back to the doctor about something else. I had a vaccination while I was there. When I went through afterwards to see my doctor, the GP told me I shouldn’t have had this because I’m pregnant. My sister is pregnant, not me! Again, the practice manager is totally not bothere, saying ‘we’ve removed it now-don’t worry.’ We’re planning to take this further this time. Not good is it?!

This is really poor. Apart from all the advice about complaining, Ineould request copies of my whole GP record, including what they have on
Paper and electronically. You can then go through it yourself and see if there is anything else. Your sister should do the same.

I had an occ health report done at work. They were meant to email it to me before submitting to my manager. After 48 hours I chased them for it. Turns out they had sent it to another email address and also submitted it straight to my manager. The woman on the phone was completely non plussed in a "don't worry. I'll just send it to you now" kind of way. I had to make a fuss and complain that it was a GDPR breach for them to take it seriously. They said that they would report it to the information commissioner but ultimately that's it. There's no remedy for me given that all of my medical history plus date of birth, name and address have been to a stranger.

Sue the nhs yep great idea 😡

Why not? Sorry, I don't understand why there are people who seem to think that the NHS is a sacred cow that should be treated differently. If your builder cocked up, you'd sue them. If your solicitor cocked up, you'd sue them. But the NHS, no, free pass.

OK, this isn't botched surgery or something of that ilk, but putting aside that this has cost someone their job (!), their response to the initial concern raised by the OP was wholly and utterly unacceptable and if the only way to get the point across to ensure this isn't happening to other people may well be to sue. If so, so be it. The NHS is not a sacred cow.

I'm appalled by some of these stories. At my workplace a prescription was given out with another patient's prescription accidentally tucked inside it.
The patient whose prescription had been affected wasn't bothered much, but there was a full investigation with every reception staff member interviewed and new procedures put in place. It was a massive deal.

Btw I wouod seriously think abiut reporting it to the ICO too
ico.org.uk

This is so appalling. It costs you a job. It could cost you and your dsis much more.

I'm a GP and this is very serious.
I'm struggling to see how it happened with the computer systems most GPs use, are you twins? Have very similar first names? Even then it's tricky. I wonder whether there's been some sort of central error with your nhs numbers.
Not saying there's no chance it's human error at the surgery but it would have had to happen several times and probably by several people from what you describe.
Is there any chance your sister deliberately used your name? We did have something vaguely similar where a sibling who wasn't entitled to nhs care was using the name of one who was - caused havoc when they had the same conditions and the medical history just didn't add up.
Not suggesting your sister has done that though, OP! Just trying to think how it could occur.

I’d certainly report it.

Also I’d go to another GP practice to ensure it ended.

Did the job offer get sorted?

While I'm not a fan of suing at the drop of a hat, I'm not sure it's unreasonable in this case as it has cost OP her job!

And it wouldn't be suing the NHS it would be suing the practice, headed by the partners, who would carry professional indemnity insurance for this kind of situation.

Whichever way you slice it it's illegal, potentially deadly, the practice don't seem to have actually fixed the issue or care. OP would be completely justified to do whatever she can to get redress. At the moment she doesn't even seem to have had an apology!

This is utterly appalling. Who else have you approached about this other than the practice? You need to go to the ICO. And yes I would consider going for compensation considering the fact it lost you a job.

I once went to the GP with a small ds with tonsillitis or some such, and when the GP looked at the computer it said he had polycystic ovary syndrome . She thought the last time he'd been to the doctor, the doctor had typed the next patient's information on his details instead of the next patient's iyswim. So presumably that person did not have the polycystic info on her records!

I went for my 20w scan a few years ago & looked up on the screen waiting to see the image of my baby only to see the details of the last person who'd been scanned in that room. By pure coincidence, it was one of our friends who hadn't told us she was pregnant. She told us a few days later & we faked surprise so as to not ruin the moment. I still kick myself for not saying anything to the sonographer.

It happens more often than it should. We nearly missed dd's jabs because the practice was convinced she'd moved to Birmingham and had taken DD off roll (despite both parents still being on roll) . They told us an address and everything but we hadn't moved at all for years. Clearly another baby's information had been put on my dd's records by mistake. Massive safeguarding risk, as they had no idea which baby actually had moved to Birmingham.

When I was at Uni there was another girl with the same name as me. I had a chest infection and dragged myself to the doctors on foot and then to the pharmacy, sat down and looked at the prescription to find it had the wrong DOB and address on it. I felt so crap and couldn't face walking back so I didn't say anything at the time. I tried getting it sorted when I felt better but I don't think they really cared. She probably has a random chest infection on her records.

OP your situation is much more serious and if it was me I would be complaining to everyone possible.

Girlinthegarden it's happened in my workplace too. I flagged it up to the Practice Manager and nothing was done about it probably because no-one complained. It really annoys me that staff can be so slapdash and Management indifferent.

However if a patient complains about me as they have an axe to grind and make up something I've (not) said I get hauled into a room and grilled!

I would be consulting a solicitor considering they’v cost you a job.