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Original poster

Who has access to confidential disclosures at the NHS?

41 replies

BellaBooHoo · 30/01/2021 20:14

I am so so stressed and upset about this and would love someone to put me right. (Have named changed for this).

I made a disclosure a couple of weeks ago to a practitioner at my local NHS mental health services on an assessment initial call. The disclosure was about historic sexual childhood abuse which has never been known by anyone. I also disclosed the relationship with the person, who is a family member who I still have contact with.

I had NO IDEA that my disclosure would lead to the practitioner referring the fact onto their team. Yes, she briefly mentioned safeguarding at the start of the call but I took this to mean whether my current mental state posed any danger to my own children. Which it doesn't. Nothing specific was mentioned to give me warning of anything else.

When she called me back a couple of days ago I was told that my disclosure has been discussed with their team and due to safeguarding they were encouraging me to report it. Which I absolutely have no desire to do, never have, never will. I was hoping to have therapy for current challenges I'm facing and to hopefully work through past issues confidentially with someone supportive. I had no clue that this would suddenly become an issue that might threaten my entire family's stability.

Anyway, I now have to face the face that my disclosure is now permanently on my medical file and I am deeply concerned and stressed about this. I don't know who could access it, who could discover my personal information, or whether they might decide to pass on details about the abuser without my consent. I have a relative who works for the NHS - could she now view this information? If I go to the doctors for anything, will he see it on my file?

I've basically thought of little else since Thursday and am deeply stressed by it. Can anyone reassure me?

OP posts:
Fuckinlonely · 30/01/2021 20:24

The nhs doesn't have a comprehensive computer system so unless your relative works at your gp/mental health services actual office she won't be able to see it. I don't know about the rest I'm afraid xx

ChequerBoard · 30/01/2021 20:33

Please don't worry. There are strict role based access controls in place on all NHS clinical systems. There will be a specialist mental health clinical system in use by the professionals helping you with this. They will write their notes into this system and this information will only be able to be accessed by staff actively involved in your care and treatment.

Systems across the NHS are largely not linked up as much as you would think. Someone at a GP surgery for example would not be able to see information on your mental health system record.

MajesticWhine · 30/01/2021 20:37

I work in mental health. It is likely that this information will be kept within the team or service that you spoke to and will not be on your medical records. However if the abuser could still harm children and has access to children then the name might need to be disclosed to other services in order to safeguard other children.

You can ask them about the confidentiality of information, who they have shared it with, and if it needs to be shared with your GP (on general this kind of information does not need to be shared with a GP). You can also request a copy of your notes and if there any errors ask for them to be corrected.
Sorry this is causing more stress. Thanks

LIZS · 30/01/2021 20:42

The situation would probably have been discussed without naming you. The safeguarding issue would be whether you are inadvertently exposing your dc to risk of abuse by same individual.

Original poster
BellaBooHoo · 30/01/2021 20:43

Thank you all for replying. I can't tell you how relieved I am that my information is not on 'general' access.

Ideally, I don't want it to be on any record anywhere. It's incredibly private, I don't want it written down. MajesticWine - you say I can ask for errors to be corrected. Do you know if I can also retract/correct a disclosure?

OP posts:
Digestive28 · 30/01/2021 20:49

The safeguarding is not safeguarding you but others. You have informed professionals someone has a history of abuse to others, it may be that you aren’t only one, it may be that they still pose a danger to others. So the safeguarding will be about if they need to safeguard others. It is not widely disclosed at all. You can correct a disclosure if you wish as correcting your record

MajesticWhine · 30/01/2021 20:56

I am not too sure, sorry. I think possibly not. But maybe you could phone up and ask to speak to a manager about it.

Original poster
BellaBooHoo · 30/01/2021 20:58

Thank you. I understand the safeguarding. I realise it's not about me, but others. No one else is at risk. My mental health is hugely at risk if I do not feel in control of this so I appreciate the replies reassuring me.

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Original poster
BellaBooHoo · 30/01/2021 20:59

Thanks MajesticWhine, I will have to contact them to ask about correcting me record.

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CountessFrog · 30/01/2021 21:02

I work in mental health. As somebody has already said, only those working with you can legitimately see your notes, and your GP wk t have access to the system.

I do however think that your disclosure will have been documented in your case notes. If you had told me, I would have documented it and documented the advice received from safeguarding.

twinklespells · 30/01/2021 21:07

Information like this can't be redacted really OP. The notes the mental health team make are there for as a record of what's going on, to protect you and to protect them. The safeguarding issue is likely to be concerns that the perpetrator may pose a risk to others ie. children they have access to.

It is highly unlikely that anyone outside of the immediate mental health team you are under would have access to the information. All medical records these days log who accesses them, and there are random checks done as to who had accessed what and whether they have had reason to do so. I work in a hospital and we have sacked several people for things such as checking when their Dad's appt with ENT is because he forgot. Someone would need to have a reason to go through your notes and I doubt your family member would ever have a reason to in their role.

frogsbreath · 30/01/2021 21:08

Your disclosure will be on your notes and people who work with you can access them-this does not automatically mean your GP as mental health notes are not always transferred-

However, if the person you have disclosed harmed you is still in your life, and you have children...that will be a safeguarding concern.

Original poster
BellaBooHoo · 30/01/2021 21:08

CountessFrog - do you know if this disclosure can be correct/retracted from my case notes?

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Original poster
BellaBooHoo · 30/01/2021 21:18

Thank you twinklespells. I'm relieved to hear this information is not for general access, though really not happy that it's still on file for some people to see in the future. I am also upset and very worried to realise that because I do have children in my life Safeguarding might feel the need to take action? (though the person who harmed me is never alone with them and I told them this).

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Original poster
BellaBooHoo · 30/01/2021 21:46

I feel like I've opened Pandora's Box and there's no going back. So sick to my stomach to think I have possibly lost control of information that just a few days ago was so very intimate.

I think it's terrible that the NHS don't make it clearer at assessment precisely what information can be shared with safeguarding. It's too vague. It needs to be absolutely specific so the client understands what their disclosures might lead do.

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Original poster
BellaBooHoo · 30/01/2021 22:02

Please, please could someone reassure me -

That my statement to the practitioner that the abuser doesn't have access to my children alone, nor access to other children, is enough to stop safeguarding taking further action and contacting the police. I'm so scared it's out of my control now.

OP posts:
Fuckinlonely · 30/01/2021 22:04

I have no idea but I'm trying to bump your thread again. Xx

londongirl12 · 30/01/2021 22:08

This sounds very stressful for you. Do your children see this person?

Original poster
BellaBooHoo · 30/01/2021 22:13

yes, but never alone

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Someone1987 · 30/01/2021 22:22

I feel for you OP. I mentioned historical abuse but when they asked for the name i refused and they said they couldn't make me. If they knew his name they would pass it to their safeguarding team they said. But I don't fully trust NHS services so knew to have my guard up. Sorry that's probably not what you wanted to hear.

Original poster
BellaBooHoo · 30/01/2021 22:23

Does anyone know? Is my statement that there's no danger or threat to any children now sufficient to stop safeguarding taking further action? I want no further action but is that no longer up to me?

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Original poster
BellaBooHoo · 30/01/2021 22:28

I didn't give his name, but I gave the relationship. I fear this is enough to identify him if they decided to take action.

I have somewhat lost my trust in the NHS over this too. I contacted them for help and it's ended up worsening my mental health! The irony is that I'm not going to proceed with the therapy they've referred me for because I know they would be continuously urging me to report. Like I am a victim...all over again. :(

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Fuckinlonely · 30/01/2021 22:30

Theres nothing you can do at this time of night, so please try and put it out of your head and get some rest xx

Fuckinlonely · 30/01/2021 22:30

I know that's easier said than done x

Original poster
BellaBooHoo · 30/01/2021 22:32

Yes I know. I guess I was just hoping for some reassurance before I went to bed.

Fuckinlonely - thankyou Xx

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