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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

School Mum starting at GP

280 replies

KnowlWay · 20/03/2021 11:03

Is there any way to ensure she can’t access my medical records? She’s very mouthy. We get on okay but I don’t want her knowing anything about my health. I don’t think I’m being unreasonable. My husband does and thinks she won’t get a chance to be nosey.

OP posts:
sixteenslater · 20/03/2021 17:27

I'd change GP if you can. I live in an area where the only 2 GP surgeries I'm in catchment for have this issue - one I used to be registered with has a GP who I know because she has a child in my dc's school year. I switched to the other practice, but then a neighour got a job as a receptionist there. It's not that I even think there's any gossip or breach of rules going on at either practice, and the two women are very nice people. I just feel really uncomfortable if I see someone socially and know that they might have know some very personal stuff about my medical history (mental health stuff mainly). If I had the option of a third practice I'd go there, just for peace of mind and privacy.

newrubylane · 20/03/2021 18:07

When I was at school, one of the mum's of twin boys in my year was the local practice nurse. These boys mysteriously knew when certain girls had gone on the pill and made sure everyone else did too. In my kinder moments I assume it was as innocent as their mum saying 'oh I saw so-and-so today' and that they extrapolated the reason (it being the most obvious reason why a sixteen-year-old girl sees the nurse). But surely she shouldn't even have been telling them that?

Kitkat151 · 20/03/2021 18:14

@FrankieFalcone

I’ve only read up to page 2, so apologies if this has already been discussed!

Can I just ask, why do receptionists need access to your medical records? You call the surgery, they have to access your name, address and date of birth but why do they need FULL access? Even if it’s a case of calling to ask about test results, yes occasionally I’ve been told ‘negative, no further action’ but if something does require further appointments you’re always told that this can’t be discussed over the phone and an appointment needs to be made with your GP.

I’d feel the same as you tbh, OP. In fact, I’m in a similar situation at my GP surgery and would be hugely uncomfortable if the person I know, could read my medical history. Can’t change surgery either as there is one in the area I live, wouldn’t be accepted in any outside of the area.

They may be asked to scan letters on....or print off letters or referrals from the record.....or vaccination reports....loads of legitimate reasons for an admin staff to access a record
fishonabicycle · 20/03/2021 18:19

I work at a GP surgery as a receptionist. We can all access everyone's records, but are not allowed to discuss them outside the practice.

Jumpjumpjumper · 20/03/2021 18:22

Have not RTFT. Well, I did half.

Anyway, I'm a GP receptionist. We are not meant to look without there being a need. However, we can if we wanted. (I don't, I value my job too much).

You can ask for a restriction. We have a few patients who have restricted their records. Only doctors and managers can access them. No need to change practice.

FrankieFalcone · 20/03/2021 18:44

@Jumpjumpjumper this sounds like something I would like to do, restricting my records. How do you go about this?

Solongtoshort · 20/03/2021 18:45

One of my customers is my doctors receptionist, she is a lovely receptionist but so rude as a customer, anyway l rang up for information a few weeks ago and she has to pass my question on as she couldn’t view my medical records.

FrankieFalcone · 20/03/2021 18:48

@Kitkat151 understandable, never thought of that.

Even the app I have doesn’t give me access to all of my file. Makes me feel exposed somehow.

Like I’ve mentioned, similar circumstances to OP, but someone who I wouldn’t want to view my medical records.

FrankieFalcone · 20/03/2021 18:49

@fishonabicycle but you’re only not allowed to discuss while you work there.

FlyingBurrito · 20/03/2021 18:50

@fishonabicycle

I work at a GP surgery as a receptionist. We can all access everyone's records, but are not allowed to discuss them outside the practice.
Not being allowed to doesn't stop someone doing it, you know that, right?
PinkiOcelot · 20/03/2021 18:51

@goldielockdown2 i knew exactly what you meant.

PinkiOcelot · 20/03/2021 18:54

I used to work in a GP surgery. It was paper notes then so I could have looked in anyone’s notes had I wanted to. I didn’t though, because I have not one shiny shite what you was in there!
Do you honestly think she’ll be rubbing her hands with glee about looking in your notes?! Do you think that you’re that interesting that she’ll give a shit?!

Lollipop888 · 20/03/2021 18:55

“Yes people are that stupid, which is why I don't like the idea of parent helpers at schools (who then go to their yummy mummy coffee mornings and gossip).”

This has definitely happened, I’ve heard people do it. I’m pretty sure some parents only offered to help out with reading to check how their kid measured up to others.

FrankieFalcone · 20/03/2021 19:04

Can I just ask, when the receptionist answers the phone to book your appointment OR logs that you’ve arrived for your appointment, can they access your records then?

MariaAngustias · 20/03/2021 19:10

She should not access your records unless she has a very good reason - and there is an audit trail of anyone who accesses clinical records for any reason which you can request to see . However, having said that, I know that people do look in records - for instance, if a famous person is admitted to hospital they usually discipline staff for snooping, likewise I once worked in a health centre and one of our patients appeared in the news and their records were accessed without reason by a few staff. I would either change GP or, if this is not feasible, I would contact the practice manager and just say you know someone who is going to start at the practice and please could they ensure she does not access your records. So it should not happen but in the real world it definitely does.

Nightbear · 20/03/2021 19:16

’Do you think that you’re that interesting that she’ll give a shit?!’

I think that people who are nosy and have a tendency to snoop will do so regardless of how mundane the information they find might be. There have been threads on here about looking at other people’s private info - things like seeing a pay slip on the side at a friend’s house and if you would you look. So many people thought that it was natural to look and that anyone who said they wouldn’t look was lying!

tenterden · 20/03/2021 20:20

My GP surgery still uses paper files. Any of the receptionists could select any file at any time and nobody would know, there would be no record of it.

A friends mother is a GP receptionist and she pries and gossips all the time about everyone she knows..........

littlepattilou · 20/03/2021 20:29

@PinkiOcelot

I used to work in a GP surgery. It was paper notes then so I could have looked in anyone’s notes had I wanted to. I didn’t though, because I have not one shiny shite what you was in there! Do you honestly think she’ll be rubbing her hands with glee about looking in your notes?! Do you think that you’re that interesting that she’ll give a shit?!
Why do you (and several others on this thread) think that just because YOU don't give a 'shiny shite' about someone's personal details and information, that no-one else will either? Confused

Breathtakingly naive at best. Newsflash: no two people are the same!

Another newsflash! Some people are dishonest, gossipy, and bitchy, and REVEL in spreading malicious gossip. Yep, even people in 'positions of trust.' As many posts on this thread illustrate.

giggly · 20/03/2021 20:32

Why would you assume she’d be interested in your health? Are you special?

Livebythecoast · 20/03/2021 20:53

@FrankieFalcone

Can I just ask, when the receptionist answers the phone to book your appointment OR logs that you’ve arrived for your appointment, can they access your records then?
Yes. If I was booking you an appointment, I would bring up your name and book you an appropriate slot. I wouldn't NEED to look at medical history to do that obviously, the same as booking you in, but I COULD. I could view your consultations, your results for bloods, scans etc, your immunisation history, your medication, past and present problems, everything basically. But unless I have a medical/administration need to, then I wouldn't. We get lots of calls for things like 'when did I have my last smear' , 'when did I see the GP about xyz', how many times have I had tonsillitis, when did I have my last tetanus ' etc etc. Obviously if a patient is requesting certain information, they're giving verbal consent to you looking. This is what I said in an earlier post, it's called malicious viewing if you are using patients records to look at information that isn't directly related to the question/advice in hand. Someone posted earlier that only clinicians should have access to your notes but that isn't practical if you just want to ask a quick question that the receptionist can find in minutes. You couldn't ask a clinician every time somebody wanted to know something. Unfortunately it's a question of relying on the receptionists to be professional and respectful to the patients and only look at what they're meant to and help the patient. Like I and many others have said, every patient you go into is logged to your log in but it would need to be flagged up and questioned why you're accessing someone's records without a professional need to do so.
abeanbaked · 20/03/2021 20:57

Why would she specifically want to look at your records, OP? YABU. Our village GP was our next door neighbour, the nurse was his wife, I went to school with the receptionists son.. most small practices will employ people who live in the area. These people are in a position of trust, it is unlikely she is going to put her job on the line by looking into your records and gossiping about it at the school gates.

saraclara · 20/03/2021 21:10

There's so much naivety in this thread. Just because purple aren't allowed doesn't mean they won't do it. Of course peoole in here who respect confidentiality will post how they feel, but there are many people who have no sense of privacy or confidentiality, and it's unlikely that they'll be caught,c whatever the systems.

As I said in an earlier post, I know someone working in admin at my surgery who I know to be a massive gossip and nosey parker. When you say 'why would anyone be interested in you?' someone like her would be interested in everyone she knows. I world be astonished if she's kept to the rules of her surgery. And I know they still have some of those manilla paper records because I can see the racks of them behind the reception desk.

saraclara · 20/03/2021 21:10

Purple= people, obv

NeverDropYourMoonCup · 21/03/2021 10:48

Why do you (and several others on this thread) think that just because YOU don't give a 'shiny shite' about someone's personal details and information, that no-one else will either?

Because we don't believe we're some super duper, specially honourable paragon of virtue, compared to everybody else doing similar jobs?

FireflyRainbow · 21/03/2021 10:51

She can access your records. My sister mate works as a drs receptionist and used to tell her personal stuff about people we know, then she would tell me. My sister moved drs so her friend wouldn't know personal stuff about her.