AIBU - to feel like this?

[Mogs43]

I've been feeling quite low for the past year or so (medication not really doing a lot). My GP suggested that I pay to speak to a psychiatrist (the local NHS waiting list is apparently years long). I did this and subsequently received a copy of the letter the psychiatrist wrote to my GP. I expected they might write (I have been low and had suicidal thoughts) but was a bit surprised by how much detail they went into and what they focused on (sexual abuse many years ago - which isn't really a big issue now and was only briefly mentioned to explain why I couldn't get support from another family member).

I have called the GP's surgery a couple of times this week to ask for a prescription re: the medication the psychiatrist had prescribed. I finally got through today and the receptionist said she had seen the letter and started reading bits out. I know personal information has to be shared but am slightly mortified that so many people will now know what has gone on.By way of background - I haven't had the same GP for years (different one every time/ all locums - including one who was a friend of a family member!). I know it is probably irrational/ that GPs obviously maintain confidentiality/see lots of personal information about people but I feel humiliated that this personal information has been shared- almost dirty. I could kick myself for saying anything to the psychiatrist and think I will be cancelling the next appointment.

It is not even like the GPs surgery acted on the letter or the concerns raised in it - it is now just there permanently on my medical records.It makes me want to hide and not contact them again. I know. I am probably being unreasonable but wondered if anyone else has experienced anything else like this and if so how you got around it? I obviously don't want to take any action, the psychiatrist must have felt it was necessary to share such detailed information but eek I feel humiliated.

YANBU, OP. You don’t know if there were any people in or near the reception to overhear, and it’s not the receptionist’s job to read out confidential information over the phone - you could have been anyone! At the very least your privacy has not been respected, and this has resulted in you now feeling humiliated.
I would seriously contact the GP manager and make a formal complaint about how your phone call was handled by the receptionist, and also point out that the GP has not acted on the advice given and prescribed you the alternative medication that was recommended.
Don’t hide away over this - you have every right to complain about the way your call was handled.

I think this is a massive breach of trust - the psychologist shouldn’t have shared anything you told him in confidence, it’s so completely inappropriate. I would make a complaint about him, this isn’t acceptable.

In my experience, it’s normal for what you’ve talked about to be reported back - mine is covered in things about my abusive childhood for the same reason. It never felt relevant and I was never told that it’d be shared, but apparently it’s normal for it to be done. I found it mortifying to begin with but most doctors haven’t seen it when I go, and it’s years old now.

But I’d 100% complain about a receptionist having read it and then reading bits out. That’s awful.

I think the shame you're feeling is part of your condition/state of mind, OP. The psychiatrist should have told you that they were going to share information with your GP so it wasn't a, surprise to you and the receptionist certainly should not have been reading parts of your report to you over the phone. However, they are medical professionals and to them, you're just another case, not hot gossip. Not to justify the receptionist's behaviour because I do think she crossed a line, but assuming you're in the UK, that Dr's surgery was most likely empty and even if it hadn't been, nobody would have known who she was talking to. I do think your case has been handled rather indelicately and warrants a letter if you want to. I also think - again not at all justifying - that sometimes medical professionals are so used to just treating people as cases, they forget there's a real person behind it, who has feelings.