Calling all GPs.

[darcymum]

When you get a new patient do you read their medical records when you get them?

Would any practise nurses or receptionists know this?

Well firstly, it can take several weeks for the paper notes to come across to the new surgery once a patient has registered there, although some medical records can be transferred across electronically. Then usually an admin person summarises the notes, making a note on the computer of any major health problems and scanning on hospital letters, results etc. GPs do not automatically get notes of a new patient to look through.

If you are a new patient and have an issue you want to discuss with the dr, best make an appointment/phone up and ask them to get your notes and go through them, then see them once they've looked at them. If the patient is new to a residential/nursing home, the staff will generally ask for the dr to visit to check them over.

Thank you, do you know what sort of things would appear on the summarised note?