Is it normal for GP records to flash up your job title?

[Onepac]

Just been for bloods and noticed on the screen as I walked in that my records had a front page notice of “patient is a registered nurse”

Now the poor young HCA that was taking my bloods was a nervous wreck and admitted that she’d freaked out as soon as she saw I was a nurse. My arm turned blue with the length of time the tourniquet was on and I had to ask her to take it off as my hand had gone dead!! This made her even more nervous and after numerous attempts at taking my blood she got it but it’s left a ginormous bruise and my hand is still hurting an hour later.

Why does it say on my records that I’m a nurse?? Why is it relevant?

I used to have HEADTEACHER in biro across the folder the Health Visitor had!
I hadn’t told them I was either (plus I was actually only the deputy headteacher).

Mine does but I work in the local mental health service so I think really it's just a flag not to refer me to the mh service I work for or give me information I don't need. Sometimes GPs are aware when talking about my mh other times maybe not, either is fine.

On a general note asking a patients job and previous jobs is part of a standard history. It’s relevant to a lot of medical conditions so will
feature in referral and clinic letters.

I’m don’t work in a medical field but my GP has taken note of my job title on my record- he asked me my profession as part of a discussion around my general well-being.

I hate when this happens in the ward. "Such and such has had her first baby, breastfeeding well, blah blah blah... and oh, be careful, she's a lawyer!".

WTF? I treat my patients all the same. Do we really think lawyers go about their lives looking for people to sue? In fact, intimidating health professionals based on someone's profession often has the exact opposite effect, as the OP has found: they tend to lose confidence and become worse at their job.

My unemployed mums get exactly the same treatment from me as my health litigation lawyer mums.

They shouldn't but it isn't an ideal world. Healthcare practitioners are less likely to try to 'fob off' fellow hcps as they know they are more likely to be challenged if they try to. Ditto a solicitor, you could get sued, so you will do your level best to look after them well.
I wasn't arguing that this is a good thing, just that if I were a HCP, I would rather other people treating me knew that and I wouldn't be complaining about it like the OP. Your job could easily be relevant to your medical issues as well as others have said.

I wish I can say I’m surprised but I’m not!

I have a chronic condition and also cancer. My consultation notes always include a recap of my profession, treatment plan, last flare ups etc.

If your colleagues did a shift at your GP surgery perhaps it flags you as a health professional to protect your privacy and dignity with medical records?
If they did a sharing data request on patients then it might mean yours is only shared outside of your area that you work for the same reason?

This is interesting. I always get asked what I do for a living at appointments at my GP’s. I’d assumed it was just small talk, but thinking about it at least twice they’ve asked, “do you have a medical background?”. I’m wondering what they’ve got on there now!

It’s not the job record I object to - I can quite see how that would be useful. It’s the better treatment I think is appalling, and shows a complete lack of integrity and honesty on the part of the GP.

Very interesting. I’ve never actually been able to see my GP (welcome to the NHS!), but if I ever do, I’m going to very tight lipped about what I do. Not because it is anything medical, but in the hope that they think it is, and give me some of that special treatment HCPs get!

It’s not small talk it’s highly relevant to tailor the advice and medication accordingly (see eg lorry driver example). I usually say “sedentary desk based job” as “in-house medico-legal solicitor band 9 NHS” does tend to elicit a startle response.

This is interesting! In a way I don't like it but in another way I do

I.e I have crippling long lasting migraine and yesterday it dawned on me that perhaps I should avoid desk jobs. And seek something that doesn't involve 8 hours of screen time per day. But then my GP knows my job title - architect (although I don't know if they recorded it officially) - and I'm surprised that my GP and Neurologist haven't come to the same conclusion.

I'm on some extremely risky prescribed drugs. I need MRIs fairly regularly.

Problem is I'm only a month into my new job and I would feel very awkward about leaving.

This explains why my GP once phoned our lab number once to speak to me about my blood test results.

I always wondered how they remembered I worked in the lab (doctors is down the road, so I would often go in wearing my lanyard).

Even more surprising that they got the correct lab as well!

Never done it again since. Wasn't like the blood test was that bad or anything either 🤷‍♀️

I’d think it was really important they know your job - your diagnosis may have an impact on your ability to do your job, for example, or you could be given more relevant, tailored, advice. If you develop epilepsy, for example, you would not be able to drive for a few years, or if you work as a vet and get pregnant, you may be advised against working with cats, or to wear extra protection if you need to.

Mine does. But I had a bit of a nightmare with it. It labelled me as construction supervisor.

I am a senior leader in the construction industry but in the office. When I went to the doctors about not sleeping there was concern I was on site, getting 2 hours of sleep per night.

It was changed quite easily, but the first doctor thought I was lying to avoid having to discuss the danger. However, I still think my job is relevant. Stress, sat down for large portions of the day, lots of travel etc

I genuinely don’t see a problem with it being on records. Doctors should have a whole view of someone . That includes work.

It’s is relevant in many ways it’s to help confidentiality. It’s an extra step to make people think.

If a nurse is part of the GP surgery it’s to ensure people ask consent if they know that person before opening their records. Or to pass that person to someone they don’t know.

It’s to allow people in hospital not to be put on the same ward as their patients.

it’s for health visitors while pregnant to be given a private room to avoid being next to one of their cases.

Granted while having bloods done this isn’t a great concern but the system can’t guarantee what’s a minor reason or major reason for someone’s record to be accessed.

I'm a doctor and yes annoyingly it's on my GP records! I like the practice but I'm tempted to find a new one where I can be a regular patient and not one who potentially makes staff uncomfortable. I always get asked if I have health insurance (I do but don't want to use it for outpatient appointments, it's really for if I ever need hospital admission) suggesting that I'd get seen quicker that way. I know they're only trying to be helpful, but still...

I've found having doctor on my records a mixed blessing.

When I first developed asthma they all assumed I knew what I was doing, err no, I didn't treat primary care asthma and hadn't a clue! Saw a lovely asthma nurse who said she'd seen loads of clueless doctors and talked me through it on a very basic level which was exactly what I needed.

TBH I ask loads of people if they have health insurance now as so many have it as an employment perk, haven't thought to use it and the NHS waiting lists can be sooo long. I've just had an appointment through for 2025.