Cause for complaint?

[DennisSkinnersMolotov]

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?

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.

No, but they should be able to tell you what you need to do to achieve the desired result, be it fill in another form or make a phone appointment with the GP or whatever else.

Ebearhug but this is a problem with the (lack of) system in place, not with a particular receptionist. There is very little point in blaming one receptionist who didn't pass on the information when there are 9 other women who would not have called in the first place. The receptionist may not know either that the midwifery service does not communicate with primary care!

this is a problem with the (lack of) system in place, not with a particular receptionist.

But it's unlikely to be an uncommon problem, so I would expect the receptionist to know what hoops a patient needs to jump through to get round the deficiencis in the system. I'm basing this assumption on my own GP practice, where the receptionists seem to have a pretty good knowledge of which forms you will need to fill in for various different things, be it online access for repeat prescriptions and appointments, or exemption forms for prescription costs, or how to book various tests and referrals. They may not be able to do it, but they can usually furnish you with the information and paperwork you need, and to hand it on to the relevant people - and if they can't help with that, then yes, it is a failing of the receptionist.

My consultant tried to prescribe me tramadol when I was 34 weeks

some people can actually take tramadol while pregnant although it's obviously not the best option