Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

General health

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

Flip

1 2 3 4

Original poster

Question about medical records

97 replies

ludlowstreet · 25/02/2011 15:00

Have name changed for this.

I have something on my medical records that courses me a great deal of distress. I don't ever go to the GP as a result because I can't face anybody who has access to this information. I have driven 100 miles round trip before to see a doctor at a walk in centre if I have needed to see one. I have children (registered somewhere else) and had hardly any care during pregnancy because of this. This has been the situation for many years now and I don't feel any better about it and will never be able to overcome this. I would like the information removed but have been told that this is impossible, even though it has no relation to my current health (apart from harming my mental health) and will never have any importance.

I moved house about a year ago and recently informed the GP practise because of letters being sent to my old house (my records are kept in the safe there and are not generally accessible). I have been told that I am now out of their catchment area (just) and will need to register with a new GP within 30 days or they will send my records to the Health Authority.

Please help, I can't stand the thought of anybody seeing my medical records. I'm not crying but do have tears running down my face at the thought.

I don't know what to do.

BTW Otherwise my life is fine, great even, and I am fine seeing doctors who don't know my past.

OP posts:

gooseberrybushes · 07/03/2011 12:03

I think stubborn is quite right. Unless you have a chronic ongoing condition, or, eg profound allergy to penicillin etc etc, or medications for a particular condition that you can't have because for whatever reason -- medical records aren't that vital.

Also they can be quite full of subjectivity as I'm sure all doctors can attest

stubbornhubby · 07/03/2011 15:01

and for thjose things, if you lose your records, deliberately or accidentally, it only takes a moment to ask GP to re-record your pencillin allergy again on your new notes

DorisVinyard · 07/03/2011 15:36

Agree with stubborn. I lived overseas for many years so my medical records are completely inaccurate and out of date. I don't feel this in anyway compromises my health as I am quite capable of imparting to my GP, pertinent issues relating to any current medical problems I may be experiencing.

thornykate · 07/03/2011 16:04

if the secret is something that is in no way relevant to your health then surely it could be removed? For example if a medic made notes about the colour of your shoes or something else random then I would look to have this removed as it was no way related to anything medical.

But are you 100% sure that the secret doesn't relate to your health at all? There are many links that people don't know affect their health.

Some areas have really secure systems nowadays & I am aware of a person who got sacked for checking up to see how a patient was getting on post discharge; the system registers who accesses the records & if you aren't directly linked to their care you will be dealt with. am sure this will be the norm in all areas soon enough.

I agree that you may feel better exploring exactly what it is that you are scared of re someone reading your notes as it doesn't seem like confidentiality is your issue? Good luck & its good you are at least facing the issue as it must be a huge strain to be going to the lengths you are at the moment.

Original poster

ludlowstreet · 07/03/2011 16:41

Thank you everyone, I have had lots of really kind and helpful advice.

with regard to trying to get my records lost somehow do people think I would be better waiting until after they have been sent to the Health Authority or not? I am scared to even try in case it doesn't work and I one day find myself face to face with a doctor/nurse/receptionist whoever when they tell me they've found my medical records.

Also, maybe twenty years ago I was sent a medical card with a number on it, for me, but with a different name I was using. This is not the same as the one I have now so I think I may have two numbers. But, the other number was never used, I think I got it from going to a clinic for something when I didn't have a GP. Nothing to do with my current issue, I was young and just didn't have a GP at the time. As said though this was in another name (from a short lived marriage). Do you think it might be worth trying to find that? Again I'm a bit scared plus they are in a different name.

OP posts:

Original poster

ludlowstreet · 07/03/2011 16:42

"But are you 100% sure that the secret doesn't relate to your health at all?"

I have been told it has no relation, but even if it did it can't be worse than not having any doctor.

OP posts:

stubbornhubby · 08/03/2011 11:51

"Also, maybe twenty years ago I was sent a medical card with a number on it, for me, but with a different name I was using. This is not the same as the one I have now so I think I may have two numbers. But, the other number was never used, I think I got it from going to a clinic for something when I didn't have a GP. Nothing to do with my current issue, I was young and just didn't have a GP at the time. As said though this was in another name (from a short lived marriage). Do you think it might be worth trying to find that? "

Bingo.

Original poster

ludlowstreet · 08/03/2011 14:51

I have emailed the health authority trying to find this number and will let you know what happens, it could be the answer to all my problems. I set up a new email address for it just in case they relate it to me.

I can't imagine me being able to just walk into a GPs office with my head held high like anyone else, it seems like a dream come true. When I had my babies, (I had them in hospital) I felt a bit like that. I was smiling at all the doctors and nurses because I was so happy that I felt like I could just talk to them and deal with them normally without them knowing my past. I felt like saying to other patients "look at me, in here with everyone else" instead of avoiding contact with doctors and having to buy drugs on the internet. I managed to access proper treatment (even if only during labour) without a GP.

OP posts:

stubbornhubby · 08/03/2011 16:21

meanwhile - send your secret to post secret.
www.postsecret.com/
by all accounts strangely liberating

stanausauruswrecks · 08/03/2011 20:42

So this thing, has no bearing on your current health.
Other than having had it recorded it means you buy drugs off the internet and avoid accessing proper medical treatment. Has you in floods of tears at the thought of anyone reading about it.
Sounds like it's having a massive impact on your mental health.

gooseberrybushes · 09/03/2011 02:13

That's not very nice.

Its presence is very distressing and is stopping her accessing appropriate health services. Are you suggesting that because of this impact, it's a reason to keep it on file?

That's very twisted logic indeed.

Good luck op.

stubbornhubby · 09/03/2011 09:05

having it written on her records is causing an impact to her mental health.

a doctor with her interests at heart would - without hesitation - remove it, in the interests of her health.

Original poster

ludlowstreet · 13/03/2011 20:17

Help!

I have heard back from the Health Authority I was living in (20 years ago) when I was sent this extra number. They have just sent me a link to this site www.nhs.uk/chq/Pages/897.aspx?CategoryID=68&SubCategoryID=162 which seems to me to say just go and register with a GP.

I could just go and try to register under this other name but a further complication is that there are only two GPs in this town, DH is registered with one and my children with the other.

I don't know what to do, I feel like time is running out, I have until the 23rd and then they send my records to the Health Authority, I'm panicking at the thought of anyone seeing them.

OP posts:

liath · 13/03/2011 20:41

A doctor couldn't remove it. Unless they'd fancy being struck off the medical register - the GMC would take a very dim view indeed. The patient records aren't the property of the GP at all. I would speak to a solicitor about the possibility of making a case to the health board for having the item removed and potentially a sympathetic GP could back you up and provide a letter stating the impact it is having on you?

Original poster

ludlowstreet · 14/03/2011 19:13

I have been told before (by PALS) that a GP could remove it?

Anyway beside the point, I have explored that (about eight years ago) and the GP won't remove it.

"Unless they'd fancy being struck off the medical register - the GMC would take a very dim view indeed"

Even if the patient had avoided all contact with any doctor who knew about this item, including through (desperately wanted) pregnancy and long term illness, for almost nine years?

OP posts:

tribpot · 14/03/2011 19:54

ludlow, I think the health authority are trying (admittedly not very well) to explain that the reason your medical card had a different number on it 20 years ago is that the new style NHS number didn't come into being until about 10 years ago.

Your record is going to go somewhere, either a new practice or the HA. I'd suggest letting it go back to the HA, where no-one will have any reason to look at it.

I realise I didn't answer your question about being able to register with any GP (who will accept you on to their books). It's one of the pledges in the government's White Paper and the details are currently being worked out. But to be honest, you don't really want to remain at your current practice, do you? You want to start afresh.

Some of the suggested strategies might work to get you a new NHS identity, although it might be simpler just to be up front with the new practice, ask for the paper record to be locked away like now and request that the item is not added to the new GP's electronic record (I don't mean the summary care record, that's something else and only covers allergies, adverse reactions and current meds, none of which could be applicable I assume). You could talk to the practice manager and give the date of the item rather than say what it is? You could then potentially ask for a specific GP to review the record to determine it not being clinically relevant and then ensure you never book an appointment with that GP?

Or simply go private. The important thing is for you not to be using your DH's meds - both for him and you. I really do think you need counselling for your extreme reaction to this item - but then of course that would mean there's another medical record with it in.

hardhatdonned · 14/03/2011 20:43

I can't think of ANYTHING that you would possibly want removing from your medical records unless you were doing it to falsify them for employment matters, say a mental health problem that precludes you from working with children.

Or is it an STD

Either way its all a fuss over nothing if you ask me. The people who see your notes really won't give one about the content of them other than to get you well at the time of seeing them. So to me it seems you're wanting to falsify them for personal gain.

You really are coming accross as a paranoid tinfoil hat wearer.

liath · 14/03/2011 22:19

You can read the advice on amending medical records from the Medical Protection Society here www.medicalprotection.org/uk/gp-registrar/medical-records/what-are-medical-records

I honestly think you're on a hiding to nothing expecting any GP to take something out of your records, I can't imagine any GP taking the risk I'm afraid. Have you actually tried to get any formal legal advice on this?

RailwayChild · 14/03/2011 22:40

I've changed GP's several times in the last few years. I went to the new GP last week and he had no idea of my past medical history. None whatsoever and it was fairly relevant to my visit and whats more he knew I was coming in about it.

My point: the item will get lost because they look at the immediate problem (your asthma) Your best bet is to grit your teeth, register with new GP, visit for check ups and advice and it's like turning a page. A busy GP won't look back and frankly GP recptionists are too busy to do so either.

I work in health and tbh it gets quite hard finding medical note entries that you want because there are so many entries. I'd personally just relax in the knowledge that your GP will not notice this item and quite possibly the notes will not get forwarded.

bshawmh · 15/10/2014 19:18

I realise this thread hasn't been posted on for a while but I wanted to let you know that although you cannot delete records you can prevent them from being processed. I have just done this. This means you ask the notes to be prevented from processing under section 10 of the data protection act. See the information commission website for details. You can do this if they are a detriment to your health which they obviously are. Then no one can access your notes. This applies to paper records. once you have done this for paper records you can then get a court order to delete electronic records. I hope this helps you!!

Medstudent1 · 09/11/2018 11:47

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Medstudent1 · 09/11/2018 11:49

I can private message you with my university email address and a photo of my ID badge before you tell your story if you are concerned whether I am authentic or not

Flip

1 2 3 4