I can’t sort this out can I?

[MustBeInthewater]

Many many years ago I lived with someone (friend) We were the same age and they had a lot of MH issues. Some very specific things and there were some incidents that happened relating to MH.

I recently decided to get life insurance - pretty straightforward claim (I thought) until they requested a gp report. Documented in MY medical notes are presentations at a+e for things that never happened but the times dates and details are the exact medical history of my friend. I can only assume that my name and dob were given on arrival. This was such a long time ago and I’ve had no idea at all. It’s never been mentioned and seemingly was buried in my notes but the gp doing the form had gone through everything with a fine tooth comb and uncovered this .

my GP will not entertain the idea at all that this is not my history. Short of getting a confession from the person involved (which won’t happen) I’m now stuck with serious inaccuracies on my record.

I don’t know what to do. Repeatedly telling my gp has now resulted in a situation where they are saying that I’m in denial and that this is a potential issue as I am not dealing with things and they would have hoped I would say ‘yes this happened but I’ve worked through things and it was a long time ago and I’m in a better place now’ but WHY would anyone admit to something they didn’t do . For one element of it I said I could go in and show that I don’t have something that was in my notes as proof but they said no.

i don’t really know what the point of me posting this is but I feel so frustrated. It also made me think how on presentation at a and e obviously ID isn’t checked and this had gone unnoticed for so many years that it’s too late for me to rectify it. I’m feeling very angry and let down

yes, we had the same gp at the time - so I’m absolutely astounded that they hadn’t realised something was wrong. I then changed gp a few years later and this information was apparently in my paper notes - when I’d moved surgeries some had gone into electronic records and some kept as paper records. When doing the medical report my currently gp had gone through both and this is when they’ve found this information

I did say I could go in and show parts of my body that were referred to and that I had no evidence of what is documented but the gp said no.

If this would help you to prove what you are saying - e.g because you don't have scars on an area that would definitely have left scars - I think you are entitled to insist o this. However, if there is any possibility that the injuries wouldn't have left any scars or similar, you obviously wouldn't have been able to rely on his.

So there is a small possibility she perhaps just gave the address and they’ve selected the wrong name - would that show up ? (From electoral roll details?)
I feel like the alternative and more likely situation was unfortunately that she did what she did , was ashamed and regretted it and didn’t want it on her record as the way she told me that there’s nothing on her record was strange.

My gp seems to be concerned that I’m denying it, the more I say about it the more they seemed frustrated back at me that I don’t just say ‘ok yes it was a long time ago - I feel better now and it’s in the past’

I would assume (although I can’t be 100%) that if hospital treatment was needed then even all this time later there would be some scars. I did also see some of her injuries at the time and I would definitely think some marks would remain so I want to go in and say look there’s not one mark anywhere on me. Every time I raised this I was ignored or told it’s not necessary as my name and dob are recorded so basically that’s it above anything else the gp views that as conclusive proof

I’m just so frustrated by it. Having this on my records when I didn’t do this is just so upsetting. I’m almost angry at myself for doing the application I keep thinking if I’d never applied for life insurance this woukd have remained buried in those paper notes and never seen the light of day.
obviously I’d rather my records were accurate but I feel like the best of a bad lot would have been to never have known about this and not to have had it ‘discovered’ because now I can’t seem to prove my innocence

Have you looked at the dates to see if you can prove that you were elsewhere at the time? At work, for example

Do you think your ex flatmate deliberately gave your details at A&E to avoid things going on her record? Is there a plausible alternative?

I read it that OP had accompanied flatmate to A&E and had given her own name, which then got accidentally recorded as the patient.

But it says in the OP that her details were probably given on arrival - i.e. because she accompanied her flatmate to hospital.

I read it that the friend gave OP’s details so it wouldn’t be on her own record.

The implications of this are horrific. Particularly worrying with A&E admissions, as patient is usually discharged after treatment. DV victims could be coerced into giving different details to avoid detection. Drunken injuries attributed to friends as may affect career development.

Hi OP i know it was 15 years ago, and life was different back then, what social media sites were around then? Did you or your friend use them? Do you have old photos with your friend showing say her left arm bandaged but you're atm is fine on a day your details were used? Do you still have old phones that may contain old text messages confirming you are else where during appointment times?I

Do you still have any old paper diaries Or calendars?

Of course you also need to do credit checks with everyone as well to ensure she didn't take out loans etc in your name.

Personally with the GP I'd actually make a physical appointment with them for something else. Then when you get there say can you take a look at this sore on my left arm. And when they say what sore? You can say oh there's nothing there, no 6 inch scare either, like it says on my medical records!I

Good luck!

Just chipping in to confirm that mistakes absolutely DO happen

About 10-12 years ago I found out during a hospital appointment that my records and another patients had actually been ‘merged’ together - presumably just because of a name/birthday coincidence.

There was another “Mrs Jane X Doe” who shared my birthday (although she was 3or 4 years older) and lived a few miles away. We share a very common Christian name, same middle initial and had both married men with the same unusual surname. I already knew she existed as when paying for things in local shops by card a couple of salespeople had commented (she was known locally due to her job) - but until this hospital records mix-up came to light I obviously had no idea that we also shared the same birthday. She probably remains unaware that this error had ever occurred and I’m now wondering if it was corrected properly at the time. I never followed it up or considered future implications

good luck with sorting this OP, so frustrating for you

At the false events were ultrasounds or xrays ever taken? That would be one way of proving? Can you go through the notes for any distinguishing entries -.scars, cutting, blood tests, height taken etc etc anything that can physically be compared to you?

OP, are you saying this happened on more than one occasion at A & E and that you weren't present in so far as accompanying your friend? If so, it's sounds like it's definitely identify theft and not some ghastly mix up at reception. Even if you had by chance taken her there, why on earth would you need to tell the receptionist your DOB? I would not trust her at all.

A long time ago but do you have any indisputable evidence you were somewhere else at those times?

Plot twist.... the flatmate only ever existed in OPs mind.

(sorry OP) 😂

You need Colleen Rooney!

only joking, you can totally get this sorted out. It’s identity theft and don’t give up until you clear your name.
Don’t contact your ‘friend’ again.

can you go back to the original gp and talk to them? Bring a photo of you and your friend. Explain what has happened. They might remember you and be able to help you.

I work in life insurance and this comes up during the medical underwriting quite a bit.

Not someone using your name and DOB but medical records inaccuracies. Normally the GP can amend things if you book a face to face appointment to go through everything but trying to get an appointment is nil and void at the moment.

Things on your med record can make your premiums go up, and also if a claim were to be made and it's inaccurate it may not pay out.

You need to let the insurance company know ASAP that there are inaccuracies and they will put the application on hold. Push your GP for an appointment to get these things up straight (say you need your medical records for legal reasons or a job application or something made up) and it's going to effect it detrimentally if things aren't accurate.

If not, I'd be going down the legal route.

But I'm most cases that I've seen with insurance the GP has a booked appointment with the patient to go through and fix things, but I know that'll be hard to do.

Sometimes the cases I see are that someone has the same name and DOB as you, not necessarily someone trying to pretend to be you.

Can you go above the GP's head to someone like the practice manager? They can't keep insisting that the fact that it's on your records is conclusive when you can prove that at least some of it must be incorrect. Ultimately I guess you may be able to take it to the Health Service Ombudsman if they still refuse to consider the evidence.

I was never present , I knew some of the occasions she had gone but I never went with her as she was accompanied on a couple of the occasions by her mum (but now I’m questioning why wouldn’t she have pointed out the mistake of wrong name ??!)

I’ve had phone consultations with the gp and the manager but I’ve got absolutely nowhere with it all.
the insurance company had been very understanding and I had wanted to cancel the whole thing hit they said to put it on hold and they will find someone who will cover me but it’s become such a source of stress I honestly wish I had never decided to do it

I’ve also put it in writing and I wrote a statement that I wanted added to my records where I have said it is NOT anything I EVER did which they have added but I’m not satisfied as I really want it removed

I wish !!!

The place to get your record changed is NOT the GP. They cannot remove something a 3rd party entered, they can only add.

You need to go to the Hospital who created the record. They usually have a Patient Advice and Liaison service.

I have been through your situation where a 3rd party said pt admitted to drug use - pt adamant she has not but even after legal advice we could not remove - we had to add. 3rd party was still adamant they would not have made a mistake.

Perhaps speak to police about identity fraud and see if this gets friend to acknowledge- mention how her scars will match the report on your record. Tell the hospital her information and tell her GP. Show hospital you have no scars and they need to amend and notify GP.

@MustBeInthewater

So there is a small possibility she perhaps just gave the address and they’ve selected the wrong name - would that show up ? (From electoral roll details?)

I'm a paramedic so have booked a lot of patients in over the years. The first thing they ask for is date of birth or NHS number, then name and then they confirm the address and GP.

It may vary between hospitals but I can't imagine they would ask for the address first because people move so it's quicker to find a patient by DOB.

The going on about how horrendous it is to be mistaken for someone that attempted suicide is verging on offensive tbh. Why couldn't someone with severe mental health issues 15+ years ago not have a baby? According to your records you did and nobody questioned it.

It seems clear this woman hasn't physically harmed anyone due to her issue because if that was the case I imagine either this wouldn't have happened because the police would make sure the ID was correct or you'd be more worried about having a criminal record you don't know about.

You say there's not as much stigma about MH these days but look at the associations you're making yourself. Look at the way you're being treated at the GP. MH stigma is alive and well.