All my GP record data 'lost' in surgery transfer? I'm so angry!

[NormaSnorks]

I moved GP surgery last September- to one closer to home.
They are 1.5 miles apart and part of the same local NHS trust etc.
My DH had made the same move about 12 months previously and it was all fine - everything went smoothly and all his data on the NHS app transferred.

I have had an absolute nightmare! Nothing transferred initially and I kept contacting the surgery and getting fobbed off - by reception, by patient services etc They kept 'resetting' my account but all that meant was I lost access to the NHS app for 48 hours and nothing changed.

They had no records of my repeat prescriptions and I have to keep sending photos of my boxes etc and get them manually prescribed (twice now).

But what's upset me most is that all my historic GP record data has 'disappeared' - no details of when I was prescribed previous medication, all my vaccination records (incl. things like tenanus and travel vaccines) - it's all gone!
The new surgery says they haven't got it as it 'wasn't sent over' by the last surgery.
The old surgery say they no longer have it as they delete patient data after six weeks when a patient deregisters.

I sent a complaint to the new surgery and had a call with someone who I think was trying to help but had no idea how to. She was going to call me back, but hasn't (a month ago).

Where do I go from here? My NHS no. linked patient data must be held somewhere? How can I access it?

Anyone have any ideas?

I'd say you're right to complain to your GP first, make sure you chase it up, and then you could try escalating by also complaining to your ICB.

I believe typically your data would be transferred via GP2GP , info here; digital.nhs.uk/services/gp2gp
There are some contact email addresses on that page, I don't know if you would get any joy with them, they will understand the technicals and I would think probably will ultimately be involved in resolving it if possible but I don't know if they'll tell you to go via your GP and their clinical system supplier. Good luck.

This happened to me once - I had a huge op as a child - no record of it at all anywhere. I have a big scar but if I didn’t I do t think anyone would believe me as it’s like all record of it at multiple places has been wiped ? I tried to find out but nobody could help
me at all so I have incomplete records and the missing bit is very important

Thanks - I'll have a look at the digital NHS page. The frustrating thing is that if I'd thought there was even a chance of this happening I would have gone through and kept a record of the important stuff. It was only because everything went so smoothly for my DH that I never even thought about it.

When I raised the issue of knowing which vaccinations I'd had for previous holidays the woman at the surgery just said 'you can always have them again' WTF?
My previous record had details of vaccines I'd had back when I was 16 at school (I'm now 57!)

I feel sure that there must be some rule that if data is held about me somewhere that I should be able to access it? I presume the previous surgery just deleted it off their local database, not any central NHS server??

You can indeed make a Subject Access Request to obtain data held about you, but from what you've said neither GP practice would have much to provide to you just now. It's possible there could be a paper copy in transit somewhere if the electronic process has failed.

Historically the GP practices have been the master record, I don't know what NHS England would or wouldn't hold "centrally" these days but that's more likely to consist of basic current info (medicines/allergies etc) than of older notes that would have started out on paper and been scanned in at some point.

Losing data is a data breach so if they aren't doing anything about it you can report them to the Information Commissioner's office.

If it causes significant loss or harm you can seek compensation too

You can make a subject access request to any organisation to see what data they hold about you

This happened to me once too, but it was more than 30 years ago. I changed doctors when I went to university, as advised, and then when I left uni, and needed to change doctors again, I was told that all my records had been lost. Total shambles.

I had this too. I had a major lifesaving operation as a v new newborn and my mum told me that all the notes were lost - it was going to be written up in the Lancet as it was a very rare abnormality. I have a big scar and doctors always ask about it - obviously I’ve only got my late mum’s word for what actually happened so even I’m now thinking - am I telling medics the right info? Not that is has much bearing on things now but it does in terms of any issues in that area.

GP2GP fails frequently. Where I work we spend ages chasing surgeries to send us records when it all or partially fails. They are supposed to check and send printouts if anything fails but many just wait to be chased when they can email rather than print, for the next surgery to print it all. The data then has to be manually added to your record at your new surgery, which takes time.
There is a process to get these records but it is all manual. Your old surgery will always have access to your records and can send them to a secure email at the new one.

I feel like this happens a lot more frequently than it should.
I moved and all my data was also lost. No record of my asthma - they had to just take my word for it.
If I ever move again I'm going to phone both surgeries daily until I know it's definitely been transferred.
I actually feel this is extremely dangerous for people with long term health issues.