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

No doubt they had reason to record it and you're now angry that there is a rwcodrong of your unreasonable behaviour on file, backed up by evidence.

How did you 'accidently' find out?

I don't see the problem? All calls made in a professional capacity are recorded (yes i guess there's some exceptions)

It is not illegal, in any way, for one party in a telephone conversation to record the call, they don't have to notify the other person they are doing it.

What they do with the recording may or may not be illegal.

@UPSETPATIENT And in answer to your question of how you can complain; you could contact the GMC or contact the Information Commisioners Office (not sure if ICB was a typo for ICO?) ico.org.uk/for-organisations/report-a-breach/

That is not correct. It is a breach of GDPR and of GMC guidelines.

Get a grip.

As the GP practice is quite within their right to record the conversation and doesn't have to tell you they are, you can't complain about that.

If however the OP suspects the recording has been shared or the information within it used in such a way to break GMC / ICO rules respectively, there can be a complaint, but not about the recording itself.

It should be clearly stated if a call is recorded.

I'd be unhappy to be recorded without my consent. People are missing the point here. Healthcare is built upon informed consent. Patient's have a right to know they are being recorded imo. There is a difference between a GP written note (which are usually short and to the point- I work in healthcare) Vs a voice recording which has everything you say word for word. You might be going into detail about something very personal e.g. disclosing past trauma. There is a difference between 'patient made disclosure about past abuse' in a note vs a voice recording with loads of added detail. Some people wouldn't feel comfortable with the latter 🤷

Idk, maybe I'm just particular about confidentiality. I just actually think patients don't realise quite how many people often end up viewing records due to things like MDTs. I'm a MH nurse so make very detailed notes, but I'm sure to be very clear on who might access the information, and I'm very clear to ask patients if they are okay with very sensitive things being in their notes. Obviously if it's related to risk, it has to be recorded, but not everything is.

You are mistaken, the law permits the recording of conversations, even without consent. The said recording then is classed as data, how that data is used/processed informs whether GDPR is breached, likewise with the regulations of the GMC.

No they are NOT within their rights to secretly record. I quoted upthread. Here the full link: www.gmc-uk.org/professional-standards/the-professional-standards/making-and-using-visual-and-audio-recordings-of-patients

Is your concern that they recorded the call without your permission, or that they made the recording without telling you it was being done - the title of your thread and the content of your post seem to confuse the two.

Essentially, a GP practice don't need your permission to record, but they do need to have told you it was being done - whether in advance of the call or at the time the call started.

FFS. Gp practices are on their knees and you are kicking up a stink with this, wasting everyone's time? Seriously get a grip. It sounds like you might have behaved in a way you are embarrassed about and are ashamed it was captured in all it's glory

There is a lot assumption being made in the thread. I never did anything wrong. I found out when I made a SAR as to provide medical evidence for PIP. I never knew that the GP record telephone conversation. The conversation was highly sensitive - I found it uncomfortable to listen to. This is not conversation, I would want recorded. The GP never told me that my telephone appointment were being recorded. If they had informed, then I would feel differently.

Are you projecting? Is that how you behave with your GP?

The conversation was sensitive - I was never informed that GP record telephone appointments. I feel uncomfortable anyone can listen to that.

Thank you for sharing this.

Agree, if mine are recorded, I have no idea that it is being done. I am surprised at all the people saying it is routine.

Thank you for your response.
Someone who actually get it.
The conversation was sensitive and found it triggering to listen to the conversation.

When I did SAR for my PIP.

Absolutely not. I work in healthcare and I regularly see how much services are struggling. Resources are scarce as it is and you are wasting people's time imo

@UPSETPATIENT as I said earlier, there are weird attitudes to the NHS in this country and evidenced on this thread. Medics don’t have a free pass to do what they want on the basis that you should be grateful to be given any medical care. This attitude is really damaging.

There wasn't the case with my GP. Also the GP contacted me unexpectedly. It wasn't planned.

I was recorded without my consent. I was never informed that GP recorded telephone appointments.

Maybe the original poster is a GP or medic who secretly records patients.