Really stressed about what I told my GP

[User7288911]

I was a heavy drinker for about 10 years. A couple of years ago I had a minor health issue (unrelated to alcohol) and admitted to my GP that I was drinking around 70 units a week. Due to wanting to improve my health and stop feeling like crap every day, since last summer I’ve cut down enormously, to the point where I drink about 10 units a week and have several dry months in the year as well.

When I spoke to the GP two years ago, he said I was drinking far too much, but didn’t prescribe me any medication or suggest I attend AA meetings. He just advised that I should cut down to the recommended 14 units per week. I haven’t had any further dealings with him since, as I’ve had no need to see a doctor. I’ve no idea what’s actually on my records.

What I’d like to know is, who can see my medical records and could this admission to my GP affect my ability to get a mortgage or start a family in the future? I regret ever saying anything now, but I assumed at the time that everything discussed with a doctor would be 100% confidential Does anyone know?

If you apply for life insurance, they might send your GP a form to complete, but this can only be done with your permission. These forms typically have a section related to alcohol, but many will only ask for the last 3-5 years of information. I’d be inclined to ask your GP to record your current alcohol intake at your next appointment.

Nobody can see your GP records except other GPs in the same practice (if they have reason to access them) or in a new practice if you move and ask for your records to be transferred.

Thank you! That has put my mind at rest a little bit

I'll keep it simple as no, I'm not a GP or nurse or indeed qualified but....
To put your mind at rest I would ask for an appointment with the nurse for a WWC/WMC (well woman or man check).
They'll do blood pressure/weight etc and send you for a routine/basic blood test which covers FBC (full blood count) kidney, liver/cholesterol etc which will highlight any problems or none as the case may be. This will then be on your GP records.
There are lots of elements to each blood test; for example, liver function won't just highlight an alcohol problem. FBC won't just highlights if you're aneamic, they cover so much more.
The only thing it might possibly effect is if you were to consider fostering or adopting as your medical records are scrutinised for obvious reasons but for mortgages etc, no.
disclaimer - only going by personal experiences and knowledge to help OP not to worry.

Don’r Worry OP. Heaps of people drink too much when younger and all they need is brief advice - which is exactly what you did.
As above go and make WWC with nurse.
You could write a letter to doctor too thanking him/her

The only thing it might possibly effect is if you were to consider fostering or adopting as your medical records are scrutinised for obvious reasons but for mortgages etc, no.

Oh god - so if I wanted to adopt in the future I’d be prevented from doing so? I wish I’d lied to my GP tbh.

I actually did a WWC at the time I admitted this to the doctor and all turned out fine.

User7288911
As you will see from my post I said 'possibly effect' and also emphasised I was going by personal experiences and deliberately put this as a disclaimer.

Nobody can see your GP records except other GPs in the same practice

That’s not quite true - everyone who works at the practice who has an account on the IT system (so everyone) can technically see your records.

Obviously, they’d need to have reason to access them though.

OP - are you over 40? If so, you’re eligible for a free NHS Health Check. This would give you the opportunity to provide up to date figures on your alcohol intake, so your notes could be updated.

Heavy drinking is so common in the UK. Historical heavy drinking couldn''t possibly be automatic fail for adoption or anything else. Jiat get up to date info recorded somehow.

You can put in a freedom of information request to the GP surgery to get a copy of your records. That was you can see exactly what has been written

To give you some reassurance, maybe;

I have told doctors about self harming and also made a suicide attempt. It did not stop me being allowed IVF. They asked whether I was well at the time of the fertility treatment and wanted to know I had or was seeing a therapist. The fertility clinic found out about my suicide attempt through my medical record.

Thanks all. I feel I’d have been better off lying to my GP rather than telling the truth, which isn’t great!

Thanks pisspaw and sorry to hear you’ve been through such difficult times x

I imagine it would be something social services would ask you about if you wanted to adopt but given your recovery and lack of ongoing problem it wouldn’t be a complete barrier I don’t think.

I’m not sure but when I changed practices the new GP had all my old information - I guess it’s all on one large server?

It would have been noted so it will be on the records and they wouldn’t offer medication or suggest AA at that stage. They would generally just note it and add a comment “suggested pt reduce alcohol intake” or “advised re alcohol intake” or something similar with it being the first mention.

Well done on reducing your alcohol BTW!

You can ask for your records to see what on there

Amazing to have reduced your intake, well done and definitely keep it up!

Ask for a copy of your medical records
Ask for your medical records to be private and taken off the national system. So in future they will not be available to anyone at all (Do not do this if you have a major health problem or chronic condition)

Agree with PP that you get your current alcohol use recorded in your notes.

My GP knows that I drink around 70 units a week and have been doing on and off for the past 10 years at least.

I have regular blood tests because I am hypothyroid and the GP adds liver function test every time.

I have access to my records online (and everyone can if they request at the surgery and fill in the forms)

Nowhere does it show how much alcohol I drink though it does show my regular liver test results which are all fine.

Re adoption
Please don’t worry, OP. You would still be considered for adoption providing you can demonstrate that the drinking is not part of your current lifestyle. What SWs will look for is honesty about your past and a willingness to discuss the journey. I say that as someone who has adopted twice, despite having had medical issues in the past.

Nobody can see your GP records except other GPs in the same practice (if they have reason to access them) or in a new practice if you move and ask for your records to be transferred.

This isn't true. Apart from the practicalities - other people in the practice, hacks and so on - if you are ever involved in civil litigation in which you make a claim for personal injury, your medical records are disclosable documents. This means you have to give copies of them to the defendant, his/her medical expert and lawyers. If you are ever involved in criminal activity, the police or the CPS may be able to access your medical records again if relevant and the lawyers will see them.

Most of the time it is unlikely that others will see them but its wrong to say will never happen.

OP if you do choose to go through adoption or fostering in the future you will be required to have an up to date gp medical at that time. That will ask for past medical history but will mainly detail your current status, plus you'll be in the room with the doctor so will know exactly what they write at the time they write it. I work in the nhs and, with regard to adoption etc, have not once been asked to provide copy medical records, only the gp medical.

A GP cannot give your medical records to anyone without your explicit consent, except as mentioned above if you are involved in a criminal litigation whereby the court orders it. Civil litigation is different and you would be required to give your consent for a solicitor to access your medical records.

Insurance companies may request a gp report when you request a quote, or apply for a mortgage or wish to make a claim, however when you initially complete the forms they will state they may need to ask gp for a report and you can choose to see the report at your doctors before it is sent back and can therefore have a say in what is sent.

And to put anyone's mind at rest, not everyone who has access to the gp system can see your notes, there are levels of authorisation depending on the job they do and you can always ask your gp for their policy on accessing records if you want further clarification. It is an offence to access any patient's records without a genuine reason for doing so.

Please do not feel you wish you had lied to your gp, that took courage and you've done a bloody good job by yourself, with little support. Remember a GP is there to help you, not hinder.