Beware .. when you see a psychiatrist

[Charliesgirl50]

When you see a psychiatrist please be aware that they can, without your knowledge or permission, write to your GP with full and frank details of your discussions. These letters can also end up in outside hands such as an insurance company, if you give them permission to have your GP records. You can ask to see your entire GP's records under the Data Protection Act and request anything you like to be withheld. So please make clear when you see a psychiatrist that you would want to be informed if that is a matter of procedure for them.

Why did you think this wouldn't happen? I

I was asked for my permission for anything shared to be discussed with my GP and any relevant parties, and was told that before any info was passed on theyd run it by me first again to confirm?

Why would you not want the medical professionals who are trying to help you to share information with each other in the pursuit of making you better?

Whenever I have had counselling i have been informed that information would be passed on if i was considered a danger to myself or others, if i was revealing information on terrorist activity or money laundering (who knew!) I would have thought that they would have to be very frank and upfront about what they discuss and who they discuss with.

Your GP will be notified of all care you receive in secondary care.

People have to know what they are consenting to though when they give someone permission to access their medical records. Most people don't read the consent properly.

Not really a surprise. Partnership working is very big right now. If relevant they will also share this info with social services or housing departments etc.

I think it should be made expicit by the psychiatrist, tbh. I have had psychiatric care in the (distant) past and gave explicit consent for relevant details to be passed to my GP ONLY.

I was told what would be written in the letter, I was also sent a copy of the letter many details were left out just a general over view.
The details of my appointments were a constant source of my concern in my meetings. Where details were kept, who had access to them and ultimately what happens withthem after we have finished.
I felt fully informed.

If your GP referred you to a dermatologist they would send back information too.

This is very scare mongering...

Of course mental health services will update your GP, as would the maternity unit, or a neurologist, or anyone else.

The psychiatrist will usually mention what will be included, and you can always request that certain information is omitted. But it's an important part of your medical history, so it will be communicated to your GP and any outside relevant parties such as insurance, unless you stop that in advance.

My psych and GP send letters back and forth all of the time. Its useful for my GP to know what's going on and vice versa.

More than anything else, it's my GP who prescribes medication, which is normal I believe. Unless she knows what to prescribe and why it's been prescribed, I'm in trouble.

I agree, I was naive, as I hadn't been offered a consent form and never told this was procedure until it was too late. I don't think I am scaremongering - I was just very upset that such sensitive detail was passed onto my insurance company when I didn't know the letters existed at all and I could have made sure they were withheld.

I think op may be suffering with paranoia in which case replies are very unsupportive.

Op I suffer with paranoia and things like this make it hard for me to accept help. I also find them upsetting and of my illness the paranoia is the hardest part to deal with.

Im really sorry you were not asked before the information was sent I imagine this makes it hard to trust and speak to your pychiatrist . I hope you feel better soon and that it didnt have to big a impact on your health insurance.

No, no there's a big difference between a psychiatrist consulting with your GP and an insurance company accessing that information!

I don't understand that part of your post, OP. How did that happen? No insurance company can access your records without your permission, surely?

OP you should of signed a consent form from your insurance company so they can access your medical records and you so have the option on the form to see the report before it goes to insurance company. (I work at a GP surgery).

Yes, I did give the insurance co. consent to access my GP records, as I felt confident that what was on there was mainly to do with my general health. I only found out about the letters when I asked for the case report from the insurance co., under the Data Protection Act, as I had to form an appeal. It was then I discovered the letters which had information about my family of a deeply personal nature that I would never have wanted total strangers to read. There were also assumptions in them that I didn't necessarily agree with either. Look, my point is that you have to find out what is on your GP records before you give permission to external companies, especially if you have had this type of treatment. You then have the liberty to ask the Practice Manager to withhold it. I took it up with the hospital where the psychiatrist had a practice and they are changing their procedure to make sure patients are told this is what happens. I can't change my situation, but I wanted to make others aware.