My medical records have large mistakes in and receptionist is asking me to email her about it?

[InaccurateMedicalNotesProblem]

Recently, I had to ask for a summary of my medical notes. To my surprise, there are a number of large mistakes. As an example, one is that it states I had an active eating disorder until last year. I had an eating disorder in my teens and am in recovery for almost 15 years.

There are other mistakes similar to this about my physical health too. All correspondence is over email, when I called originally the receptionist said I had to put my request in an email to the general admin address of the surgery. This person responded with my record attached.

I emailed back to say there were mistakes and the person who I can only assume is another receptionist (she refers to the practice manager, so isn't in that role) has asked me to write out this very personal information including what is wrong and what needs to be changed.

I feel this is a little inappropriate - I have no idea who she is, she signs herself off only using a first name, and I feel uncomfortable about the confidentiality about my medical records. I feel uncomfortable about detailing the ins and outs of details over my health in this way.

Am I being unreasonable or silly? Is this just how it tends to be done?

Also, they say if I want a copy of my whole records that is £50. Is this normal too?

I work in a surgery to be honest the receptionist probably do a lot more than most people on here seem to think. I can remember one person telling me they they were surprised we could open the patient records. It's pretty much always an admin person who deals with things like this you could write to the practice manager but in the surgery I work they would just pass to admin.If you would rather not email would you prefer to write it out and take it in to the surgery? If this makes you feel any better we sign the same confidentiality agreement as all other staff and receive the same training around it breaching is gross misconduct for every member of staff. If thr admin cant deal with it they will pass to the GP. If you are uncomftable with this you could absolutely ask to speak with the practice manager and discuss the process in more detail.

Yes receptionists can open records, but their access is supposed to be restricted to what is required for their role.
Everyone has an access card that is coded and has to be inserted into the computer. Using anyone else's card is a disciplinary offence.
Not suggesting that anyone does that, but anyone with restricted access wouldn't necessarily be aware of what they couldn't see, and I would hope that my complete, confidential records would not be accessible to all.
One of the receptionists at my GP surgery is a deeply unpleasant woman and a terrible gossip. Fortunately everyone else there is lovely, and professional.

I understand the staff working there can see my records, are responsible for filing when eg a letter arrives from my hospital consultant, etc. No problem with any of this.

What I do not want to do is engage in discussions about the intimate details of my body and its functions with the receptionists - that feels like poor boundaries to me. It doesn't feel comfortable or appropriate. Maybe I'm stuffy and old fashioned, but that's how I am.

As several of you have mentioend, I think it would be good to deal with it with the practice manager or the person responsible for records, and in person with clear dialogue. Not vague, clipped emails that don't really do anything but maximise confusion and crossed wires.

would you be better writing out what needs correcting?

I've had to do this but tbh I just assumed an administrative staff member would be correcting the details.

I left a paper copy for my GP, the Practice Manager, and a spare!

It is bizarre what they get wrong. I only found out because I had to see a specialist for something and they flagged up a condition I don't have!! It will be coding etc. Nightmare. I didn't have to pay to get records.

@InaccurateMedicalNotesProblem ; I understand where you are coming from.
I would via email/in writing request a meeting with the practice manager to discuss this in person as it would be more efficient face to face.
You want reassurance that the situation is being rectified as part of the patients charter or you will be seeking advice from the cqc as you have concerns about confidentiality and your personal information. As a pp said, NHS email is not secure!

Dd only asked to see hers because her insurance company queried something in them and it wasn't her medical history. Initially she believed that the insurance company had mixed her up with somebody else but when they said it was from her medical records she asked to look herself.