Finding out which GPS worked in a village in the 1970s

[TreeBlindMice]

Scenario is a village has 1 long serving GP
Where occasionally the GP was temporarily away then a locum gp would be appointed

This means there would be a fairly short list of individuals who served as GP for the village in the early 70s

How would I get a list of names of which GPS (locum and permanent) worked I. This village?

Would there be historical records I could query?

Thanks

Probably only from the surgery in question. But they might not have records going back that far.

If it was a locum the only way would be through gossip . The practice might have full records but as technology systems have changed so much the info might not be accessible. You could ask the practice, someone might remember, but they can't give you the he information without a very good reason and without asking the DR in question's permission first.

Did they see you or a family member? I suppose it would be on the patient notes if you requested a copy of the relevant years.
My Dr from my early years from our small village died last year, there’s a chance these locum Drs won’t still be alive.

Thanks all @SaltyandSore I was the patient, but I was visiting so it wasn't my usual doctors.. plus I was only 3 or 4 ....

Won't the doctor's name be on your own medical record?

If you were a visitor to the area and saw the doctor, they should have sent paperwork to your own GP I would have thought. Everything was done by letter in those days.

Maybe speak to your own GP surgery first and see if they have any information going back that far on your records?

Unfortunately the Medical records from my own GP were given to a family member who decided to shred them... so that avenue is closed.

But am hoping that there might be something still on the records of the village practice from my doctors visit when I was taken while visiting!

To what end, op? There's a fair chance they're no longer even alive?

Because a serious assault occurred, and I want to know the name of the man involved. No logic as and you say correctly @HarrietJet he's probably dead. But I want the name and when I have the name I will research whether he ever got caught, for similar acts on others.

That's it. No logic but there we are.

Can you complain to the police? They could investigate. Alternatively, and I'm not sure if this would work, approach the GMC.

You could try asking the general medical council. But I don't think they will have records back that far that will still be accessible.

If you reported the serious assault to the police, they would follow up on this for you.

Did nobody take this up at the time, op? You were 3 years old, presumably in the care of an adult.

I doubt the name of the assailant would be in the medical notes though.

Thanks all. The doctor was the assailant. I remember the actual assault and the doctors actions very clearly and always have done.

I'm very clear that what happened wad assault and not me as a 3 year old mis understanding a medically motivated but uncomfortable action.

I was taken by an aunt.

Where it gets hazy is I can only remember a woman with dark being stood back in the doorway of the surgery looking on and laughing.

I don't know where my aunt (now deceased) was, if maybe she left eg to pick up children from school or if she and the woman were one and the same.

Even though I know what happened realistically I was very young and my hazy memories of who else was there would make me an unreliable witness from a Garda pov.

I did tell my mother what happened, and I remember her saying that was a very strange thing for the doctor to have done, as her asking me to repeat it to some of my other relatives who also said yes we also think that was a very very strange thing for a doctor to do.

To be fair to my family it was the 1970s and we were not really as aware of issues like this plus I am very sure my description as a young child would not have used the right terms and language so the seriousness might not have been appreciated.

Anyway for me, no need to go to the Garda route, but for years I have wanted to figure out who this man (doc) was.

This is very disturbing. I do hope you get the answers you need.

I would assume the woman you remember would be your aunt. Even back in the 70s someone had to be with a child. I know now there should be 2 work colleagues (unfortunately not always the way) plus guardian /parent, whereas back then it was acceptable to have 1 doctor plus guardian /parent.

Would the practice you attended give you the name of the locums that sat there on that date? They have to keep records, even back when it was all paperwork, they have to keep this info on file somewhere.

What about FOI? There's an application on the HSE web site, or google FOI freedom of information medical records. They may be able to retrieve the info you need. Not sure if this has changed as I've only ever done this once years ago, the file I requested I was told to write directly to the hospital involved stating FOI in the heading, they send me a condensed copy, I got the info I needed. It's basically a photocopy of the medical notes.

Hopefully you get some answers

Why do you think your aunt might have left you during a doctor's appointment to pick up her children from school, op? I think it's vanishingly unlikely that you were left alone.

@Wendysfriend brilliant idea on the FOI I had not known I could do that! That's going to be my plan!

@HarrietJet I don't know why I think that, partly because I'd prefer to think that and partly because I think surely if it was my aunt I'd have remembered it was her as she was someone I knew very well. But I really just remember a woman with dark hair.

If you are on Facebook, you could search for a FB page about ‘Memories of Name Town’ - many places have one, and ask if people remember who the doctors were in ‘Year’ - no need to explain why you want to know.

Would the medical records that were destroyed a copy rather than the originals? Have you tried to re-request them?