Social Workers access to my medical files

[MissKegs]

Does anyone know exactly what information Social Services are allowed to obtain from your GP/HV and what they are allowed to put in reports?

I realise that Child Protection issues play a part in this and because I have been diagnosed with PND they will continue to monitor my files but what confuses me is when my Social Workers starts including in reports details of my visits to GP regarding a Urinary Tract Infection, another visit regarding pain relief for Gallstones and the most recent report stating that I had attending a consultant appointment regarding the insertion of the Contraceptive Implant? Are they allowed to include all this irrelevant information in reports regarding my children's well being?

[AnotherDelphinium]

Zombie alert, zombie alert!

[DeriArms]

Hello Lou, I’m a children’s social worker. Can you clarify what you’re asking. Are you asking if a social worker can contact your GP without gaining your consent, or are you asking if a SW can make an appointment for you with your GP without asking you?

[LouSmith2019]

Was ment to put local GP not house

[LouSmith2019]

Can a social worker try to arrange an appointment with your house without your consent or speaking to you first instead of just going out there way and doing so without knowing ??

[Breny123]

Do GPS mention if you have been tested for chlamydia or any other sexual health issues at SW meetings?

[Jixy8731]

I had PND and during nasty divorce husband dragged in social services, and the courts. My GP only ever released ‘redacted’ versions of my medical notes with lots of irrelevant things blacked out to protect my privacy. I’m not sure why yours isn’t doing this too

[Dillydaydreaming]

They can only access medical records if there is a valid reason (for example, significant child protection concerns). They cannot get your MR and just read them cover to cover.
I sometimes get queries about children from the Safeguarding Children Team but only ever share relevant stuff so if the query is Neglect then failure to attend appointments/development checks repeatedly might be relevant and shared. The fact that the child has had tonsillitis three times would not be.
If a mother is known to be depressed (and there are already child protection issues) I might share that the Mum is actively attending counselling or taking medication. I would NOT share other details of her records because these would not be relevant.
Depression in itself is NOT a child protection issue though and would only be shared if it was relevant to a child protection assessment. I would never share ANYTHING other than for that reason.

[Collaborate]

You do know don't you that having a power of attorney gives you no power over her medical records?

[src123]

Social workers are 'not fit for purpose'. We have been dealing with SS on behalf an elderly person in a care home who had been assaulted by a carer. The elderly person was asked by the SS whether she was alright with the perpetrator to still work there near her!

They have far too much power shrouded in secrecy. The GP was informed that medical records should not be released to 3rd parties but it appears he may have done so without permission.

A consultant told us the SS had tried to obtain her full medical report. This is whilst the SS are fully aware that we have lasting power of attorney and that any medical report would only be released if we gave written permission.

[src123]

Social workers are 'not fit for purpose'. We have been dealing with SS on behalf an elderly person in a care home who had been assaulted by a carer. The elderly person asked whether she was alright with the perpetrator to still work there near her!

They have far too much power shrouded in secrecy. The GP was informed that medical records should not be released to 3rd parties but it appears he may have done so without permission.

A consultant told us the SS had tried to obtain her full medical report. This is whilst the SS are fully aware that we have lasting power of attorney and that any medical report would only be released if we gave written permission.

[melvinscomment]

Here is a 2007 video of Eric Pickles MP, now Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, talking about Social Services and the Family Courts.

He says that many years ago he was Chairman of the Social Services Committee of a large Local Authority and was appalled by the partiality of files he saw. More time was spent trying to prevent people discovering what was in their file than trying to ensure the file was accurate. Allegations which had been proven to be false continued to be used.....etc

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=ynf3eyfqrfM

[Baffledandbewildered]

Melvin could not agree more some people are just corrupt

Scurry yes you are right however sometimes the machine runs wild and the unfounded allegations are taken as fact and it is very hard to disprove things that have never happened

[melvinscomment]

@ Baffledandbewildered et al ... Some medics are just as good as some social workers, or some police officers, at making up allegations!

[scurryfunge]

Baffled,
Not a social worker but have had dealings with them. Just questioning your blanket statement as if that was representative of all social workers. Also do not understand why anyone would question the need for child protection protocol.

Allegations can be made easily but without any evidence nothing is acted on, so there is often little to worry about.

[melvinscomment]

@ labradoodleandproud et al ... My understanding of the situation is that a GP or other medic can tell the social workers anything he or she decides to tell them, eg relating to the medics perception of the risk of a parent harming a child, also re an adult being a risk to himself or herself or anyone else due to the medics perception of the adults mental health. It seems that in these cases the SWs can also demand to see the child's or adult's medical notes. In all other cases, eg the adult disability you refer to, I think the patient would have to give the SWs permission to see their medical notes. However, I think a GP or other medic could still send the SWs any information a patient believes to be "confidential" if the medic decides it relates to the risks I have referred to.

[Baffledandbewildered]

Oh and before you say if social workers are involved it must be for a reason. Not so people can make up allegations and get away with throwing the lives of innocent families into turmoil .

[Baffledandbewildered]

No scurry no name change just a confused person who like the op cannot see what my past illness cystitis asthma ect have to do with a social worker or indeed how many partners I had before husband!!!!! They do pry into things that are of no concern of theirs . We had one who wanted to check my husband could speak the language of his ethnic back ground!!!!!!!! Never been taught to the children so WHY is it relevant ????? You seem so defensive of sw's maybe you are one or have never had unfair dealings with them

[labradoodleandproud]

however in child protection cases I assume this policy differs for obvious reasons

[labradoodleandproud]

I am not a sw but a professional who works at SS (not in childrens services but adult disability).

We cannot access medical infomation unless written permission has been given and the GP's do ask to see this. We get people to sign a data protection form which includes this so you would have had to sign to allow access to your medical records.

[scurryfunge]

Someone else with their own agenda, eh?

Or are you namechanging again, Baffled?

[Baffledandbewildered]

Social works cannot be trusted they twist facts and make up senarios in their own heads. I know it is a hard job but most seem to look for easy targets as they dare not approach people who might physically attack them. Normal families who try to be open seem to be their latest play things


So no time for social workers at all waste of space and wages.