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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Cause for complaint?

30 replies

DennisSkinnersMolotov · 05/06/2019 10:33

I've just returned from a doctors appointment for a whooping cough vaccine as I'm 25 weeks pregnant. When I got into the appointment, the nurse told me that there was nothing on my medical records to indicate that I am pregnant.

I have had several midwife appointments, had the usual scans (including nuchal translucency screening with returned results), GTT booked for next week, all I assume were booked using my NHS number. Yet still there is nothing on my main records with regard to this pregnancy.

TBH, the implications of my pregnancy not being recorded didn't hit me until I got home. Supposing I was prescribed something harmful to baby or me because of the no record?

The practice nurse has assured me she will sort it, but I'm wondering if this is something I should raise with the surgery?

OP posts:
Sparklingbrook · 05/06/2019 10:38

I think you might have cause for complaint of you were prescribed something unsuitable, but not sure you can complain about something that might have happened in this scenario.

adaline · 05/06/2019 10:40

Surely you would check any medication was safe before taking it anyway?

Original poster
DennisSkinnersMolotov · 05/06/2019 10:40

I don't think I mean complain necessarily - I think I mean follow up to ensure my records have been updated if you see what I mean? I wasn't sure how to word the title.

OP posts:
Original poster
DennisSkinnersMolotov · 05/06/2019 10:42

Adaline I was thinking more in worst case scenario - something administered in an emergency when there was an alternative. I know it's wildly unlikely but I'm quite surprised at the lack of record.

OP posts:
Sparklingbrook · 05/06/2019 10:42

Yes, definitely follow it up and check your records are all up to date next time.

I agree with adaline, it's always wise to let HCPs know you are pregnant when given a medication anyway just to be sure.

Namechangeishard · 05/06/2019 11:06

I assume were booked using my NHS number.

But the systems aren’t all linked. I regularly have patients sitting in front of me saying “I was at the hospital last week......”
but we haven’t had the letter through from the consultant yet so had no clue they even had an appointment.

itbemay · 05/06/2019 11:10

The GP records do not contain everything. It is your responsibility to let them know.

If your GP surgery referred you to maternity services then they should have a record, if you went directly then you should have let GP know you were pregnant.

MorondelaFrontera · 05/06/2019 11:13

You are very naive if you think medical staff have access to your medical records even in case of emergency!

If there's nothing about your pregnancy, just ask them to update your records? Surely you would tell any medical staff that you are pregnant anyway?

Original poster
DennisSkinnersMolotov · 05/06/2019 11:19

If your GP surgery referred you to maternity services then they should have a record, if you went directly then you should have let GP know you were pregnant

My surgery don't make referrals, but I did let them know.

Surely you would tell any medical staff that you are pregnant anyway? Of course I would, however I have obviously been naive in assuming my reported medical history would actually be recorded.

OP posts:
MRex · 05/06/2019 11:30

I've been asked if I'm pregnant recently before being prescribed something, before being given a vaccine, and at the dentist before an x-ray. That's the process, they ask you, so you weren't at risk.

It's a nerve-racking time being pregnant, just make sure you inform any HCPs if you're worried they aren't taking account of pregnancy.

MRex · 05/06/2019 11:31

For info - at our GP they can download info from the hospital and vice versa, but specific info isn't there unless they actively do so.

CuriousaboutSamphire · 05/06/2019 11:49

Take a deep breath. It's scary but easily remedied.

Contact the Practice Manager and ask for a meeting, or tell them over the phone. They will be able to esnure your records are updated and show you what is entered once it is complete.

It happens. The 2-sytem NHS computer weirdness causes this more often that you might expect!

Original poster
DennisSkinnersMolotov · 05/06/2019 11:53

TBH I wasn't really too concerned until I got home and told DH who was the one who mentioned the possible implications. I'll give them a call tomorrow to check it's been done.

OP posts:
mylittlefidget · 05/06/2019 11:57

If you are able to book your midwife booking appointment without going through your GP, then it's entirely possible that there is nothing on your GP notes about your pregnancy. They have no access to your scans or blood tests unless the person organising them (MW or secondary care) sends them a copy or alerts them to the fact that you're pregnant. You can complain, but I'm not sure who to. Not your GP, that's for sure.

HK2009 · 05/06/2019 12:28

I think the midwives use a different system than the GP, so the midwife will have all your notes logged with the hospital/NHS but not necessarily added it to the GP's system.

I switched GP's at 20 weeks and saw a midwife, who asked me to go back a week later to do my full booking in. Went back and saw a different midwife who then asked me to go back a week later for the same reason because midwife 1 hadn't put it on the system, nor had the receptionist who set me up as a patient even though i explicitly told her I needed to see the midwife when I handed in all the paperwork.

Don't worry, I think the two services are just crap at communicating but as long as you're getting all your scan letters etc it's all good

EBearhug · 05/06/2019 13:12

But the systems aren’t all linked.

This. I have recently had various appointments in hospital and at other departments, and there are no links at all. Well, there are, in that most of them are initiated by a referral from my GP, but that's all manual.

It seems really quite inefficient to me that there isn't a central system. Every different clinic seems to have a different method of booking appointments, and when I received a cancellation for one, with a request to rebook it, it wasn't easy to see which appointment it was for. I did work it out, but I can imagine that for people who may be less literate or who have other learning challenges, or are on drugs which cause drowsiness or inability to focus, or you have a condition affecting memory or mental capacity in other ways - it must get very difficult to keep up. And it also suggests that there's no holistic view of health management - I met someone who was recently diagnosed with T2 diabetes, who also has PCOS and another condition, and she wants advice on how to manage them all, and any interactions between them, and it's just not available.

I don't think this is just the NHS; a former German boyfriend seemed to have referrals all over the place, and nothing fully joined up, and though I think with the Kur system, they are probably better than we are. I don't know enough about comparative health care systems to know if anyone has really cracked it - but I think centralising appointment systems and at least being able to have an awareness of other current health issues without relying on patients mentioning it - that would at least give a chance of doing better. And would certainly make managing numerous appointments easier.

Original poster
DennisSkinnersMolotov · 05/06/2019 13:20

I'm quite shocked at how disjointed and inefficient it all is - no wonder services are stretched to the limit.

I was surprised that all my midwife forms were filled in by hand, then posted off to be input electronically elsewhere, it seems madness (and a waste of time, money and resources) that it can't just be done electronically in the first instance, especially as we were sat at a desk with a computer on it filling in paper forms.

OP posts:
TroysMammy · 05/06/2019 13:29

Hospital maternity notes are not linked to the GP records. That is why you are given a file. We would only know if you were pregnant if you've seen the Midwife in the surgery and your records will have lmp and edd recorded. The next info received will be hospital discharge notes once you had given birth.

MatildaTheCat · 05/06/2019 13:31

OP, believe me, your midwife will fully agree with you about the inefficiency of double entering data. It’s absolutely infuriating. However the NHS IT systems are not linked and never have been, it’s a really common misconception that they are.

I would certainly expect your blood test and scan results to be copied to your GP and going forward would ask your midwife to check that this happens ( directly from the lab if the GP details are added).

The lack of IT linking is why it’s so crucial to carry your handheld notes with you at all times wherever possible. If you get taken to another hospital or care provider in an emergency they will know literally nothing about you.

Yorkshirepudding1987 · 05/06/2019 13:37

YABU.
I dont think my GP had any idea I was pregnant. I had a whooping cough vaccine there but that's it.
They had no reason to know I was pregnant, I self referred to the midwife and all my care was with them.
Had I been ill and needed to see a GP, I'd have told the GP at the appointment.

Original poster
DennisSkinnersMolotov · 05/06/2019 14:28

@MatildaTheCat, thank you.

The practice nurse seemed to think it was highly unusual that there was nothing recorded with them so it can't be the general norm at our surgery.

As I have said previously, I have called the surgery before to advise that I'm pregnant as we self refer to the MW in my area.

OP posts:
LoudestRoar · 05/06/2019 14:33

I unfortunately had a miscarriage, which they discovered at a routine scan.
The same department rang me at what should have been around the time of the reminding me of the importance of scans, and why hadn't I booked in.
When I explained I'd had a miscarriage, she was shocked, as there was no notes. It broke me a bit, to be honest

LoudestRoar · 05/06/2019 14:34

Sorry, around the time of my 20 week scan.

Original poster
DennisSkinnersMolotov · 05/06/2019 14:39

@LoudestRoar that's awful. I'm sorry for your loss.

I had to correct my MW at my booking in appointment when I noticed she had written that it was my second pregnancy as she knew I had one DS. It's my fourth pregnancy. She didn't ask, she just assumed.

OP posts:
mylittlefidget · 05/06/2019 14:43

Your GP receptionist should not be recording clinical information on your screen, so you ringing up and letting reception know you're pregnant will not (and should not) end up on your medical notes. This is a systems problem and best taken up with the midwifery service to make sure their contact with you gets communicated back to the GP.