What would you do?

[Icecreamlover63]

Our close friend works at our Doctors surgery.

My husband is a patient there I am with a different surgery and always have been.

Within the last year we have been told various bits of information about other patients which we believe are confidential. This has concerned my husband as he is now wondering if his private details are being given out. However inadvertently!

He is worried that if he moves and tells the Doctors that he wants to move due to breaches in confidentiality that our friend, knowing his fine something wrong, will put two and two together and be upset.
I know what I would do and I’ve told him but I’m now asking all of you, as it’s a very difficult situation and he is a little torn.

You don't have to give a reason you're moving
But when this person says things about other people have you said 'I'm not sure you should be telling us this'

At the end of the day, in that job, any breach of confidentiality is wrong.

However... for me, how I feel about it would depend slightly on context.
E.g. a generic "oh my goodness, I felt so awful for a lady who was given a cancer diagnosis the other day"
vs
"Oh yes, your neighbour just booked an appointment as she's having trouble conceiving"

Probably best to move.
If she's divulging private information that could be identifiable then it needs addressing.

I can just imagine how dreadful this could be in the small village that I used to live in.

I would move without giving a reason and anytime your friend discloses person info of people in the future, shut her down immediately and say you don't want to hear it

My lovely DIL works as a doctors receptionist. She would never tell us a thing about her patients. In your DH’s position I would change surgery ASAP.

Definitely move.

I'm gobsmacked at how indiscreet some medical people can be.

My ex childrens doctor told me a story, no names but I clearly identified the woman involved. Ffs.

I moved practice and told several people why when her name was mentioned.

As it turns out a friend of mine went into her shortly afterwards and when she say her name she asked her was she related to X with the same name who had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Her BIL had the same name and she momentarily got a real shock, but fortunately it wasn't him. She too never went back to her. Gobshite🙄

No, don't just move, do something to stop the gossiping.

People have been killed simply for seeking contraceptive advice, let alone all sorts of other things from a doctor - there's a reason for confidentiality, whilst it might be a little embarrassing at worst for your DP, he needs to use his privilege to help others and stop the gossip, not simply save himself.

My husband was actually sent a message about another patient that he knew. I’ve been told my Son has gone into the surgery and I didn’t even know he had. He doesn’t even live with us!

I agree he should move. If they get upset tough. I don’t even think they need to know. It’s really horrible being put in a position like this.

Your last message would cause me huge concern, and yes I would bring it up with the practise manager.
This person will be fired. Rightly so.

Practice

Thank you I agree a new Doctors is the right move forward. I’m very upset that we are in this situation and think we should distance ourselves from this.

My husband really feels he can’t even go to the GP right now and that’s just so wrong.

Move practice.
Distance yourself.
Report to the doctor directly.

It reflects SO badly on a decent doctor.

When you have been told about cases has this been accompanied by identifying info of the patients?

Or is it that your friend appears to know stuff she shouldn't?

I'd ask her directly next time she says anyhting indiscreet - try asking if she had GDPR training.
And move.
Tell the practice if she comes out with anything else after you've pointed it out directky.

We was actually told one had passed away. We was told our son had gone in and seen a certain Doctor. My husband was told about a mutual friend who was visiting the doctors, but in that occasion that’s all we was told.

I personally feel very uncomfortable even though it’s my husband who is at that practice.

I don’t want to influence his decision and I’ve only given my opinion when he has asked for it. But I can’t see this situation changing and for that reason alone I think it’s best to move on.

What is GDPR training? Sorry I don’t know what it is.

This needs reporting to the practice.
It's not ok for you to move because you want to protect yourself when you are aware that this person is giving out personal information about other people.
By all means move, but report this breach.
The other patients deserve better.

After reading everyone’s replies we have made a decision.
We are going to talk to the practice manager but not mention the name of this person. We will just explain the situation in regards to confidentiality.

My husband wants to change now. He feels disappointed and doesn’t feel comfortable going to the doctors anymore, which is not good.

We won’t tell our friend he is leaving and hopefully they won’t ask. Because if they do it means they have looked at his notes and realised he has moved and they shouldn’t be looking at any notes!

You register with a new practice. Download the forms to fill in and deliver with proof of address and photo ID. You do not tell the old one you are leaving. Simple as that.

@Icecreamlover63

What is GDPR training? Sorry I don’t know what it is.

GDPR is General Data Protection Regulation. Basically anyone who handles any kind of information about people should have had training and follow strict guidelines.

It is not okay for your DH to be told ANYTHING about other patients.

This person needs to be reported. Who knows what they're telling to who. That is a breach of confidence. Friend or not, they are choosing to go against regulations.

If I, as a teacher, was to tell my friends personal info about any of the children I work with, I could be sacked and rightly so. I am trusted to handle their info, not go spreading it around as I wish. It's one thing to say "A child I taught once did this funny thing" but a completely different thing to say "This child, Kelly Tremain, is being assessed for autism".

Really…we don’t need to tell them. Would that mean we are listed at two doctors?

Now we have made our decision… if there are any medical people that could advise we would be very very grateful as to how we move practices.

@Icecreamlover63

After reading everyone’s replies we have made a decision. We are going to talk to the practice manager but not mention the name of this person. We will just explain the situation in regards to confidentiality. My husband wants to change now. He feels disappointed and doesn’t feel comfortable going to the doctors anymore, which is not good. We won’t tell our friend he is leaving and hopefully they won’t ask. Because if they do it means they have looked at his notes and realised he has moved and they shouldn’t be looking at any notes!

As far as I'm aware, records in the NHS track anyone who views them. So if someone at a GP surgery has no need to view a certain patient's notes, if they did view them they could get in trouble. (My work has something similar in place.)

@Icecreamlover63

Really…we don’t need to tell them. Would that mean we are listed at two doctors? Now we have made our decision… if there are any medical people that could advise we would be very very grateful as to how we move practices.

Your records get transferred. You won't be registered at both.

Thank you so much for taking the time to reply to me. I’m extremely grateful. I really feel for my DH. It’s hard. I know what I would do but I guess when you have been somewhere for a long time it’s hard to leave.
But I’m glad he has made a decision.