Comments my gp left on my health record

[watermelonlipbalm]

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.

YABU. You went for advice. The advice was not to repeat the tests unless it continued for another couple of cycles. You didn't like the advice. Pushed for what you wanted and got it. She wrote up the call accurately and neutrally. GPs are notoriously over stretched atm, you got what you wanted. No, it wasn't like the bedside service and feel investigations of House or Doctors yet you yourself agree with with the note in question.

Really hope you get everything resolved and are back to normal soon.

I mean if that's the case then fair enough, however, it isn't unreasonable for me to not know this when I didn't get this treatment last year and I had other symptoms alongside it.

I don't understand what was wrong with her comment that if it was cervical cancer they would have seen it in your previous examinations?

So you're allowed to say it was a difficult call, but she isn't?

She didn't call YOU difficult. She noted that the call was difficult, because it's important for anyone else dealing with you regarding this issue to be aware of that. Then they can approach their communication with you with extra care.

This is the downside to access to medical notes. People note down their interactions with us in all kinds of situations, but health records are kind of unique in that we are entitled to read what people have said about us.

OP, if you want, you could go on to the NICE website and look up your condition, it will probably state the NHS protocol the GP’s are largely obligated to follow - so it might say (I am guessing here) for example - in a young healthy woman monitor this over x no of cycles/ then consider referral if symptoms don’t settle - or try x medication for a period of x months or similar.

Most of the anxious patients are a nightmare for Gp.Patients go to Gp expecting her/him to do something for their problems on the spot.Gp have to refer /investigate according to guidelines,when guidelines say wait for three cycles ,that means THREE cycles .end of.If you refer ,the letter gets rejected straightaway.
but anxious patients dont understand this.They go and complain ….

It might not be 'wrong' to record that a call was difficult, however it has been pointed out more than once that the patient has no right of reply.

I had a similar experience recently, but with a hospital procedure (and have referenced it in related threads).
The doctor read fucking butcher because that was what he was wrote in my report that I 'tolerated the procedure with minimal discomfort'. The truth is that it was agony and despite being in obvious (and extreme) pain, I was ignored and had to ask for pain relief which was far too long in being given (and even then wasn't enough). I then continued to be ignored apart from being told to breathe more slowly (once). The whole thing was very traumatic.
I only read the report after arriving home, or I would not have accepted it. As it was, I've written to PALS about it, in the hope that no-one else is subjected to similar, never mind the fact that I feel the doctor concerned need to be retrained (and ideally I should be offered some form of apology).

I think a difficult call is different to a difficult patient. If the GP deviated from protocol I can understand why she would want to document the justification for doing so.
Whilst I appreciate that your symptoms the last time were different the fact is that the tests you had were likely the same ones and anything abnormal would have flagged through those and regular smears, plus a history of abnormal cycles probably tips the odds towards being a cycle problem rather than cancer etc.

The thing is op, she’s trained for 7 plus years to do her job. As far as she is concerned, she has a lot of medical knowledge on and advised that she wouldn’t want to order scans or bloods unless it had be 3 months (based on expert knowledge) You then basically said (presuming without any medical training) that you would not go with her expert opinion and insisted on the test.

I can see why she could have got annoyed by the situation.

for what it’s worth, I also would have asked for bloods and a scan because it would worry the hell out of me (health anxiety) but just playing devils advocate.

@Discovereads why did I refuse to end the call? What a strange comment? What am I supposed to do just hang up when she said she would do my tests? Is that what you do? Just hang up when you have finished your point?
There was a conversation which followed this I didn't just sit in the phone demanding tests which I've been granted.
I didn't even argue with her. I literally said I was really worried and asked for tests as this is what they did last time.
I'm sorry I really don't understand your point in this.

Complain about what?! It's not their job to had out tests just because patients want them, these things need to be clinically justified. The lack of respect for medical professionals has become unreal. We only have OPs side of the story but even if GP was being a bit short on the phone, she is only human, possibly dealt with much more difficult calls that day and frustrated that she has to keep justifying her professional experience and knowledge. GPs have been made the enemy. The profession everyone loves to hate. They are leaving in droves. Early retirement or retraining. You couldn't pay me all the money in the world to do that job.

I think this makes a lot of sense.

As an aside, apparently it's up to a GP practice whether they share this information with patients. Under my health record section, I can only access medication info, everything else says no access.

Seems like it should be standardised and not another postcode lottery.....

And I bet you would have complained had you not been referred…it’s NOT a service industry and you are not a customer
NHS is based on clinical need, but it’s swamped due to ridiculous demands from patients. Congratulations on adding even more work by putting a complaint in (these can take up a lot of valuable time and cause huge stress to Drs but go ahead and fill your boots)
Honestly the lack of awareness of some people is mind boggling

But also, as people, we all know that people can get things wrong. I've always been told by family, friends, doctors, colleagues to ask for soemthing if you want it or don't understand.
What else was I supposed to do? Just hang up and worry for 120 days when I had no reason to believe this was a protocol because it didn't happen to me in the past.
I also don't think that a credible doctor would speak to someone like this 🤷🏼‍♀️

It was a difficult call. What do you want her to do? Maybe she had to cover her back incase anyone asked why she was referring you rather than waiting for 3 cycles (as it sounds like that may be policy).

I wouldn't worry about it drs very rarely look back on notes like their supposed to and potentially only look at your last appointment so it will soon be forgotten. I have a lot of health problems so have had a lot of medical appointments and allsorts is written in my medical records and I honestly couldn't care less about what a dr thinks about me their my dr not my friend and their opinion is irrelevant

@Ghislainedefeligonde me putting a complaint in is potentially protecting other patients from a very rude doctor.
Hopefully she well get the further training and support that she clearly needs ☺️

I've always been told by family, friends, doctors, colleagues to ask for soemthing if you want it

And what's their advice if what you want isn't possible?

Also, I had a breast cancer scare as I had a lump. It was a two week wait referral. If I get another lump the policy is I have to wait a certain amount of time before going as its more likely to just be a cyst again. So I can see why she would have preferred you wait.

OP you do sound difficult just on this thread...

I do sympathise OP and hope you get this sorted out soon.
I've noticed a few errors on my medical notes on the app and it frustrates me that patients can't add their own comments as I'd like to correct a few inaccuracies.
'Difficult call' indeed!

Based on your posts, including ones which quote other posters, I can see that it was a difficult call and that you are difficult to work with.

@moksorineouimoksori it's probably easy to make that assumption when you aren't the person who has been unwell and worried.

YABU

Or she'll think, 'sod this, people don't want a gp, they want to come and tell me what to do and prescribe, I've had enough, I'm off.? But clearly with your little 😊 is it more about getting her into trouble?