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

I do not know her well. She was the one who told me that all GP record patients.

Or then contact the practice manager, he/she will then tell you that all phone calls are recorded at the practice, so boom that confirms it

Unless you have an issue with the GP themself? If so crack on and complain, but make sure you string a coherent argument together

OP - even if they have recorded you without your permission, unless the information has been shared, there is no data breach.

As I said upthread, you can ask for your recording to be deleted and they will do this unless they are required to keep it for legal or safeguarding reasons.

You have learnt that recording phone calls is normal. GDPR applies to recorded phone calls. What is your complaint?

Tbh, @apoetsmuse I imagine that it's also to protect the medical practitioners, as well as to help with their notes. For example, a patient could accuse them of verbal abuse during a telephone appointment and they'd have no way of proving that it didn't occur.

I know that's being paranoid, but having a recording protects both the patient and practitioner.

Well , in hindsight it's a good job the call was recorded then!

If you think I do not take safeguarding seriously from what I said Pixie I have not put myself across very well.

Your GP surgery has absolutely no right to record your conversation with your GP about your private health matters without your explicit consent. You are talking about private matters - it’s not a call centre! Even if they had a good reason to record the call (can’t think what that would be) they still must ask for your consent. I would be furious. I would be putting in a complaint to the Practice Manager and if you don’t get anywhere with that I’d be going further. In Scotland, I would take it to the SPSO, I’m not sure what the organisation would be if in England or elsewhere but there will be a similar body that can help you.

I would have thought most gp apps involve discussion of the body?😮

I worked at a GP surgery and all calls were recorded. It's standard practice.

The GP didn't "secretly" record you. The surgery phone system is set up to record telephone consultations.

It seems there are mixed responses. Some believe GP are entitled to record patients whereas others disagree. It seems it only the norm for GP to record patient without notifying them. I don't believe other NHS services do that.

Are you able to share why calls are recorded?

It is to protect the GP and the patient in case of any complaint. Most businesses record conversations, because so many people are litigious.

I don't think this is an unreasonable complaint at all. You should be told a phone call will be recorded. As far as I know my GP doesn't record calls - they should say if they are.

The GDPR says that you should be told so it's potentially a GDPR breach.

May I ask why the GP would record someone disclosing past trauma or highly sensitive topics?

You are 100% correct. If your consent wasn't given, even by way of silent assumed consent through you being informed, then they were totally wrong to record you. My hospital system records but every call is preceded by an automated voice telling you that the call is being recorded.

I'm stunned that so many people are attacking you for being upset over this tbh.

Since when is it standard? I had no idea.

Do you tell people? You shouldn't record people without telling them.

I work for a large organisation and they don't record calls as standard.

You are most definitely not unreasonable. I don’t understand how most others don’t see this. You should have been informed that the conversation was being recorded (and you should even, in my opinion, have had the option to say ‘no, I don’t want this’).

I am sorry you are feeling like this 💐

The GP did record me secretly. I contacted my other medical teams. They confirm they never record medical appointments with patients. This seems to be a GP thing.

Thank you for your understanding.

Thank your for your understanding. Hospital generally leave a message that you are being. They generally don't record telephone appointments.

So they DIDN'T record you?!

This is the first GP privacy notice I found - it is for a surgery in Bristol.

www.courtside.nhs.uk/privacy-notice

It includes the following.
Call Recording
We use telephone call recording software for quality, training and monitoring purposes. All telephone calls made or received are recorded. Call recordings are stored for 3 years and can be accessed by the Practice Management Team. We have internal policies that all staff must follow in order to protect your data