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Original poster

Comments my gp left on my health record

163 replies

watermelonlipbalm · 17/08/2022 21:44

Hi all, I'm just wanting an opinion as to whether it was appropriate for a GP to note these comments on my health record.
I've only just really realised that you have access to your medical records via the NHS app so I was having a nosy through them this morning and I was just a bit shocked to see what a GP had wrote.
I had a telephone call with a GP a few weeks ago. I actually obtained the contact details from the practice as to how to put a complaint in about the doctor because she really upset me with her attitude towards me and my worries when we had our telephone appointment. Unfortunately I just haven't gotten around to actually write the email yet, but nevertheless, the conversation did leave me feeling upset.
I won't go into exact detail, but I've been really worried about bleeding between my periods. It was completely unusual for me, it started faintly but ended up being quite heavy and I was passing a few clots aswell. Last year I had some bleeding between my periods, albeit completely different to this. I spoke to the Doctor Who referred me for bloods and a scan immediately. So I don't think it's surprising for me to not expect this to happen again. So when I had a telephone call from her I requested this and she shot me down pretty much straight away. She said that she would want me to bleed for three cycles before they would investigate further. I was quite surprised and just said that I didn't really agree with this and I would like to have bloods and a scan like I did last time. She became very abrupt with me at this point and despite agreeing to refer me she made it abundantly clear she wasn't happy about doing it and even said to me "i'm not gonna sit here on the phone arguing with you when I have other patients to call". The conversation wasn't an argument. It was me expressing my concerns and her not reassuring me enough for me to feel happy leaving the call. Whenever you see Doctors on telly, online, in magazines they're are always telling you that they are happy to help your queries. I did not get the impression from this doctor. And it just really upset me.
Anyway going back to the app this morning I noticed that she noted that the call was "a difficult call". Now I know that that isn't exactly an offensive term, but I don't really see the relevance of putting that on my health record. The call was a difficult call because she was clearly in a bad mood that day and wasn't that interested in my concerns. It's frustrated me even more than what I already was at a worrying time for me. I'm just after opinions really. Is this a relevant thing to put on a health record?
I work with vulnerable customers albeit in the financial industry and not medical. We would never be allowed to make a comment like that on somebody's file. You can only really state facts and not opinion. I mean I suppose is a fact that it was a difficult call, but I don't really see what relevance that has to my health and why it should be documented for other professionals to read. Insinuating that I was the one being difficult and not her which is what the issue actually was.

OP posts:
KindergartenKop · 17/08/2022 21:47

It's swings and roundabouts. Maybe she thought you were being difficult because she has certain protocols to follow (three cycles before referral) and you demanded to have your way.

It's sounded to me that it was a difficult phone call either way. She didn't actually say you were being difficult, that is just what you have read between the lines.

RicherThanYew · 17/08/2022 21:47

Hmm, I wouldn't be happy as I've only ever seen those comments on my cousins medical records when he's been verbally abusive to his GP and the staff at the surgery. Could you perhaps ask for an explanation as to why the doctor wrote it, maybe it would put you at ease?

Ukholidaysaregreat · 17/08/2022 21:50

Hi OP I think that is out of order to write a difficult call on your notes. It's not like you get a right of reply to say ' hey I wasn't being difficult just passing huge blood clots when it wasn't even my period' Think you had a bossy GP and if it is a larger practice ask for somebody else next time. I have doctors I like at mine and Doctor appointments I would change cos I don't want to see them.

Thefoxsays · 17/08/2022 21:52

But you said yourself it was a difficult call? There was a difference between her protocol and your expectations. Nobody other than health professionals can see these records and it will only convey that you are worried, it is not written that you were rude, difficult etc. for me this is such a non issue - but I appreciate it has upset you. I would however still complain if you feel you were dismissed, I wouldnt be upset by the wording in the notes but I would absolutely still complain if I felt the consultation was negligent.

Confused101687 · 17/08/2022 21:53

its very frustrating go on the nhs app and put those symptoms in it would tell you to ring your GP. I think a lot of people now don’t want to ring them (I don’t I feel I have had a few issues come up recently) currently having a gynae type issue and I don’t want to ring for being dismissed. I’m sorry you felt that way and absolutely should fight your corner when you don’t feel something is right. Loads of women would call in your situation. Definitely put a complaint in. So many times your get told if something doesn’t feel right it’s best to be checked out

Blowyourowntrumpet · 17/08/2022 21:53

Well, it sounds like it was a difficult call 🤷‍♀️

snowflake29 · 17/08/2022 21:58

I don't think the GP was wrong to write that. I have written similar in patients notes for various reasons and isn't a reflection of the person, just the conversation.

Have you looked at NICE guidelines for bleeding between periods? Maybe that says it needs to be 3 or more cycles before it's a concern if you've been investigated for it before?

choosername1234 · 17/08/2022 22:02

So you had already had bloods and a scan quite recently but wanted them done again? To be fair, I can see why the GP wanted to wait a bit

Original poster
watermelonlipbalm · 17/08/2022 22:02

It was a difficult call, however, those comments can be taken completely out of context and when I'm wanting another health professional to take me seriously and non biased based on the colleagues notes I really don't think that's fair.
What's written on my health records is about my health.

I am not in any form a confrontational person. I was really worried about something and I asked, not demanded, the same treatment I got last year.
I told the go I was worried about cervical cancer as I had the symptoms from the nhs website and she told me " if you had cancer they would've seen it on your examination ". I wonder what people who have cervical cancer or the consultants would think of that that comment!

OP posts:
5YearsLeft · 17/08/2022 22:03

I’m a chronic patient and as such, I’ve seen things written in my health record that I wish I hadn’t sometimes. But it’s always been to provide more information, not to personally insult me, and her statement is that: information, not a personal insult.

You say that you would only write facts in a report and that’s exactly what she’s done. “It was a difficult call.” This is pure truth. If she’d written, “OP was a demanding bitch,” I could see your point, but I’m not sure what the issue is here. You’re going to lodge a complaint, so you obviously agree it was a difficult call.

When your complaint comes up, it will probably help shed light on the situation. Perhaps she includes the line, “It was a difficult call,” as shorthand anytime she feels the patient wasn’t completely satisfied at the end of a call so that she can remember the appointment more clearly because those are the patients most likely to complain, just like you’re about to.

Original poster
watermelonlipbalm · 17/08/2022 22:03

choosername1234 · 17/08/2022 22:02

So you had already had bloods and a scan quite recently but wanted them done again? To be fair, I can see why the GP wanted to wait a bit

It was a different type of bleeding as I said in my OP.
The last time I had it it was very light and pink and lasted a couple days. This time it went on for 3 weeks, red, clots and pain in my back.

OP posts:
Teeheehee1579 · 17/08/2022 22:04

Very difficult to advise without hearing the call and knowing your history with the GP. I doubt she wrote it lightly and they have procedure to follow which you disagreed with and didn’t get your own way on so it sounds like factually it was a difficult call.

Original poster
watermelonlipbalm · 17/08/2022 22:07

Confused101687 · 17/08/2022 21:53

its very frustrating go on the nhs app and put those symptoms in it would tell you to ring your GP. I think a lot of people now don’t want to ring them (I don’t I feel I have had a few issues come up recently) currently having a gynae type issue and I don’t want to ring for being dismissed. I’m sorry you felt that way and absolutely should fight your corner when you don’t feel something is right. Loads of women would call in your situation. Definitely put a complaint in. So many times your get told if something doesn’t feel right it’s best to be checked out

Yes exactly!!! Everyone always says if you're worried about something get checked out! And I did just that and I thought if I wait three cycles then I'm going to be filled with uncontrollable anxiety. My cycles are 40 days as it is! What if there was something wrong, it'd be 120 days before they would even look into it!
Also why didn't they do this last time 🤷🏼‍♀️
But nether the less I'm having a smear and bloods and a scan. But I'm just upset with how a GP would navigate that call and then write that on my notes.
It just simply isn't relevant and is accessible to anyone who sees my record.

OP posts:
Original poster
watermelonlipbalm · 17/08/2022 22:08

Teeheehee1579 · 17/08/2022 22:04

Very difficult to advise without hearing the call and knowing your history with the GP. I doubt she wrote it lightly and they have procedure to follow which you disagreed with and didn’t get your own way on so it sounds like factually it was a difficult call.

It's not about getting my own way at all and I've made that abundantly clear.
I asked if I could have the tests she agreed to them but then became very abrupt with me about it and started making inappropriate comments.
She's a doctor, she should be able to identify health anxiety and felix with that appropriately but she absolutely failed to do this.

OP posts:
User4670 · 17/08/2022 22:14

I think it is reasonable for her to write that it was a difficult call in your notes as it sounds like it was for both of you. As someone else has said, this may be a prompt to remind her the next time she is in your notes that you were not satisfied with the outcome of the consultation. I would imagine that this may also prompt her to double check current guidance before future discussions with you about this to ensure that she can explain the rationale for her decisions.

Fireflygal · 17/08/2022 22:15

What was the outcome of the previous scan& bloods? I don't it's a valid assumption to have a repeat of the same tests so can understand why the GP pushed back at you. Therefore it was a difficult consultation for her.

walqlcv · 17/08/2022 22:17

I remember your other threads about this OP, the call was difficult, I don't think they have written anything inaccurate.

KatieB55 · 17/08/2022 22:20

You have a genuine concern and should be taken seriously. I wouldn't wait three months but ask to see a different GP in person.

Whoareyoumyfriend · 17/08/2022 22:21

Op, do you live in a town beginning with B? I was told by a gp "the hospital won't be happy with a referral because they are busy dealing with people who are actually sick." Sounds like the same GP!

Whatkindoflifeisthis · 17/08/2022 22:21

The GP has done nothing wrong, it was a difficult call. You were perhaps a little more difficult than you're letting on for the GP to have noted that.

Ncfreely · 17/08/2022 22:23

OP in the gentlest way, it was a difficult call. She did not say YOU were difficult. She has to accurately record the conversation. In my job I have to do attendance notes of every call and I always accurately record the conversation in case it comes back to bite me later.

I do think that if you are worried you should push or get a second opinion though. Always always worth getting checked out. Your concerns are totally valid.

NeverDropYourMooncup · 17/08/2022 22:24

As far back as 1992 when I was a mere kid in her first jobs, we were told that under no circumstances were staff to record negative judgements about anybody as it demonstrated unprofessionalism. We could record 'unhappy about ...' or 'requested review' or other such neutral comments, but never, ever anything that could be interpreted as judgemental.

Pussycat22 · 17/08/2022 22:25

For God's sake!

whatisheupto · 17/08/2022 22:27

Sounds awful OP, I feel for you. You must be very worried with those symptoms, I hope you're OK. I think the GP could have been much nicer about it all!

sunflowerdaisyrose · 17/08/2022 22:30

I had similar, GP who had obviously had a difficult morning, was stressed and rude and took it out on me. I ended up in tears and hung up, so it was a difficult call but still smarts to see it on the notes when unknown I was not unreasonable. I now only see or speak with other GPs at the practice, though he did apologise via text immediately after, though I think only because he didn't want me to complain (I didn't).

I have cancer and therefore have a lot of dealings with various medical professionals and never had this sort of thing before.