Secretly Recorded by GP

[UPSETPATIENT]

I am seeking advice on a matter. I found out my accident that my GP recorded a telephone appointment without permission. I have complained to the practice and ICB, however they have not done anything. Does anybody have any advice or suggestions

Medical professionals record all consultations. Whether typed during consultation, phone calls, econsults.
Standard practice.
Why are you upset?

Wouldn't an appointment be recorded to write up records?

All calls are recorded. Doesn't natter whether it's a telephone consultation or you are making an appointment.

It is not necessary, in person appointments are not recorded.

It should tell you on the phone system or the website. The calls are for everyone’s safety not just training

Yes, I understand they may be, but people should be told if they are being recorded.

When you say you found out by accident, what do you mean exactly?

If they told you about it because there was a dispute about what was said, that wouldn’t be by accident. Did you accidentally hear part of the recording or something?

Stop being a dick to NHS staff and you'll have nothing to worry about.

I don't understand why it's an issue.

All GP calls are recorded. I suspect you’ve been not so nice to the staff. Why did you suddenly find out and why are you bothered?

Most GP calls are recorded and you would have been advised of this with a automated announcement when you called. If you weren't then I think you have recourse to complain. Not sure why though, almost all calls are recorded to companies/ shops

Boy do I have some news for you about practically every company you speak to on the phone!

Aren't all GP calls recorded for training and quality purposes? Why are you upset about it?

It’s to cover their backs not to incriminate you.

Yeah, I would be very surprised if I spoke to a company and wasn't recorded.

Is it possible that you signed some sort of a blanket release when you first started going to that doctor that said that calls would be recorded or something of that nature?

It’s not a secret! They all do it!

Surely this isn't a genuine post!

@UPSETPATIENT I am going to go against the grain and say that you have every right to be upset. If I call an insurance company, that company would have a pre-recorded message telling me the call was recorded and for what purpose. I have never heard that on a call from a GP. They can’t just assume consent, the person they are speaking to may not even be a patient; it could be a relative; my Mum has me as her contact.

I’m surprised at the laissez-faire attitudes to this; I think there is a tendency to accept processes associated with medicine on the basis that we are ‘lucky’ to have ‘free’ medical care. I wholly back the NHS but not the subservient attitude many show to it.

I don't understand the problem. With a recording, they can go back and listen to details in case they missed something you mentioned. It can also cover them/or not, if you claim you mentioned something and the doctor ignored it, and it isn't on the recording or if it is.

When sitting with a doctor in the room together, it's easier for both of you. Phone appointments get tricky.

I hope my DH's phone appt. today was recorded. His PSA went up again. 😟

Even if they weren’t supposed to do it, I think I would let it go. I think GPs are too busy with other things than to deliberately record the appt for some sinister or manipulative end. Unless you have some other concern about them, be kind and forget it, I think it will also be easier on you if you let it go.

I think that people are missing that it seems that the op was unaware that they were being recorded. If this is the case then I don’t think that you are being unreasonable to have wanted to have been made aware of this. We don’t know the reason for not wanting this.

I do predict a massive back story though!

Wouldn't bother me if it helps things be recorded accurately. I also appreciate the medical professionals needs to cover themselves too these days.

To be absolutely clear. Recording conversations without adequate notification is a breach of GDPR.

The GMC says ‘Telephone calls from patients to healthcare organisations may be recorded for legitimate reasons, for example, for medico-legal purposes, staff training, and audit, provided you take all reasonable steps to inform callers that their call may be recorded. Given the sensitive nature of calls to medical advice lines or similar services, you should pay particular attention to ensuring that callers are aware that their call may be recorded. You must not make secret recordings of calls from patients’

if the circumstances of your call @UPSETPATIENT are simply as you say, that is a breach of GDPR and GMC. Forget ‘be kind’; there are rules for a reason.

if you look on the website and listen to the options most GP surgery’s will advise that they record calls. It can be used as training if something went well or if something needs improvement. You would be shocked at some of the claims made following calls. Recordings clear those up quickly.

That’s not what the GMC say https://www.gmc-uk.org/-/media/documents/Making_and_using_visual_and_audio_recordings_of_patients.pdf_58838365.pdf

They have to seek the consent of the patient.

Not that it would bother me.