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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask, PLEASE, if you take any medication

123 replies

drinthehouse · 26/03/2019 18:02

always have an up to date list of your medication on your phone (because I’ve yet to see a patient who doesn’t have a phone with them).
I work in A&E. I can’t guess what medication you take if you tell me it’s oblong and orange and begins with a b. There are thousands of medications out there. I may not have access to your previous hospital notes, and your GP will only email me your medication list....most likely in 2 days time.
If every patient could manage to bring a list of their medication including doses (just take a photo of your repeat prescription), that alone would save the NHS thousands of pounds a year in time spent by doctors trying to find out what the purple round pill beginning with r is.
Please tell your friends. Take a picture of your granny’s meds on her phone, have a copy on your phone, put this on fb. And update it when your meds change. Please. Thank you (it’s been a long day).

OP posts:
HeritageCarrot · 26/03/2019 19:35

Thanks OP. You’ve just reminded me that I’m on two new drugs that I haven’t added to my list on iPhone. Wonder if you can answer this question while you’re here? If I had a tattoo stating ‘Do Not Resuscitate ‘ on my chest, would medics be able to act (or rather not act) on it?

EggysMom · 26/03/2019 19:38

iPhones have a handy medical/emergency section. Google Nexus phones appear to have one. But what about other Android phones? Have Android never thought of adding this? For now, I've edited my Lock Screen Signature to have details of my meds, but it seems clumsy.

EggysMom · 26/03/2019 19:41

^^Ignore my moan about Android. You have to risk clicking the 'Emergency Call' option on the unlock screen, to find that it doesn't actually make a call but instead takes you to a dial pad and also gives you the Emergency Information option.

Oysterbabe · 26/03/2019 19:41

It's a good idea. It is annoying though that in this day and age you can't just whack someone's NHS number into a computer system and get all the information you need.

DramaAlpaca · 26/03/2019 19:43

Good idea OP. I'm going to put a list in my phone today.

HalfPintPixie · 26/03/2019 19:46

This is good advice. I had all my meds saved in notes, but I’ve now added it to the health app as well.

I only recently found out that my gastroenterologist has absolutely no way to access my (extensive!) mental health record. I just assumed all that was available to him, until he started suggesting my long term mental health issues might be caused by a recent change in diet lol

I think many people assume that hospitals, Drs etc have access to a lot more information than they actually have. I certainly did!

Original poster
drinthehouse · 26/03/2019 20:25

To all the comments in this day and age, yep, couldn’t agree more. A few years ago I had a patient from the US with an extremely complicated medical history; I could access all his history online. The NHS is still a long way off.
heritage.....it depends, if you looked young and otherwise healthy it would probably be ignored (because it isn’t a legal document.....it could be your first boyfriends initials) if you looked like you had some terminal illness and were close to death anyway, it might be acknowledged......

OP posts:
marvellousnightforamooncup · 26/03/2019 21:39

Thanks to you OP all my emergency stuff is now on my phone, as is my DS1's prescription info, will put it on his phone tomorrow.

Hyacintharehighersincelasttime · 26/03/2019 21:45

Plenty of elderly people don't have smart phones, perhaps they should keep the details in their handbags /wallets

PencilsInSpace · 26/03/2019 21:48

Thanks for this, I'm not on any meds but DM is on about 50. She'll only use an old brick phone but you've inspired me to scan her list and stick a paper copy in each of her handbags.

Hyacintharehighersincelasttime · 26/03/2019 21:49

Prescription repeat might suffice

bakebeans · 26/03/2019 22:12

There are notices in a lot of hospitals now that say to bring the medications but in a lot of cases, the ambulance crew insist the patients leave them at home.
It is frustrating as there are some which may not be on formulary in the hospital and therefore not in the emergency stock which means the patients have to wait until the pharmacy is open.

Hazeintheclouds · 26/03/2019 22:16

Are you a doctor, OP?

April241 · 26/03/2019 22:31

Having a do not resuscitate tattoo wouldn't matter a jot in a situation that you're needing it, even if you had "a terminal illness and were close to death".

Having a copy of an advanced directive would help.

Original poster
drinthehouse · 26/03/2019 22:43

haze yes.

OP posts:
SgtFredColon · 26/03/2019 23:00

What is a prescription repeat slip?

GabsAlot · 26/03/2019 23:18

great idea op also thanks to pp for the android emergency info-never even knew it was there

Happynow001 · 27/03/2019 02:22

I already do (after I was unexpectedly asked and I couldn't remember the combination and doses of one of the meds I was taking). Just makes life easier - especially if I'm tired, under stress or having a senior moment! 😀

Gingerkittykat · 27/03/2019 02:50

@Becca19962014 If you go onto the diabetes uk forums there are loads of stories about terrible care given to diabetic patients in hospital ie refusing insulin, deciding you still need to take normal dose of insulin despite eating and the like. It's bad enough for people who have the ability to advocate for themselves but it's really worrying for vulnerable patients.

When I see my hospital consultant or have phoned NHS 24 and been seen at out of hours they always have access to my main medical records including meds. Is that not standard practice?

Is there an app for android that can store this?

ImposterSyndrome101 · 27/03/2019 03:01

iPhones have an emergency function on the lock screen that can be accessed. It has a medical id section stating the name, dob, medical conditions, medical notes and need to know info (so mine says autistic and then how to provide care without causing a meltdown when panicked, like explain what your doing while you do it and warn before touching if possible), allergies and reaction list, medications list, height and weight list and emergency contact list.

It's helpful when I have an asthma attack and can't speak.

sashh · 27/03/2019 03:12

I carry a paper copy, I had an emergency admission and although I know all my meds I do take 10 different ones which take time to write down.

I also have a list of my allergies. I'm going to update my phone now.

Birdie6 · 27/03/2019 03:19

I have a health app on my phone , with all previous illnesses and a list of my medications. And I agree, it's a great thing to have. I went to A+E a few months ago with a severe kidney infection - I was quite woozy and not thinking straight. But I did know to show the doctor my phone , and she was able to see everything straight away.

CurlyWurlyTwirly · 27/03/2019 03:19

Have shared on fb OP. Will update my phone today

Rottencooking · 27/03/2019 06:22

I'm actually surprised you can't access all NHS information everywhere. [santa]

iVampire · 27/03/2019 07:14

I’m not remotely surprised. The attempt to make it so was an absolute fuck up, the system was nowhere near secure enough (this isn’t just sensitive data, it’s confidential health info).

A database of the names dobs addresses and detailed health info on every single resident in the country? Accessible from any and every NHS computer? It’s a fuck up waiting to happen