Changing back to maiden name on medical records

[JoanneS1980]

Hello,

I am recently divorced and have started to use my maiden name again. I hate the even thought of my given name with my ex's surname and the last two places to update the change of my name are at the GP and hospital.

Do I need go to the doctors and the hospital or is one of them sufficient? Are one's records all kept on the same medical records?

My parents live over 100 miles away and I go and see them quite often. How can I be sure that my details will match if I were to ever need to go to an A&E there?

Is the update to one's personal details on their medical records instant? I have received a new bank, letters, etc, with my maiden name. The next time I go to the hospital or doctors will it have been updated to my maiden name again?

I never want to associate myself with my ex's surname again.

I have an appointment with my doctor in two months and I do not want to see my given name and my ex's surname appear on the screen when it is my turn to see the doctor!

Does anyone have any personal experience with this matter?

I am probably overthinking it.

Thank you.

You will need to update your name with the GP and any hospital departments that you are currently under. There will always be a record of both names stored under your NHS number and you may be asked to confirm your old name if old records need to be accessed. An a&e visit should only need to use current details and any new referrals from GP will be in your current name.

What is the best way to do it? Shall I book an appointment with my GP or just ask the receptionist at the doctors to change it?

I am not under any hospital apartments, I only use my local doctors and local hospital.

Are you sure that both names will be stored on the NHS number? I have not read about that anywhere. As far as I know, once a name has been changed then apart from a few cases when it is required to give any previous names, there is no actual need to mention any previous names. I was never asked for my maiden all of the time I was married and used my ex-husband's surname, I hope this time around it is going to be the same.

If I update my name at the GP, will that mean the A&E will also be aware of the change of my name? Or shall I also go to the hospital and inform the receptionist that I have changed my name?

Does an A&E simply use the records from one's GP details? After my name has been changed at the GP, does that mean whether I am at my local A&E or an A&E 100 miles away the details will be matching my current name at my GP?

I have to get medicine once a month from the pharmacist at the doctors and every now and then my sister gets it for me and when someone gets medicine he or she is asked for their details so I need my details to be correct.

When I changed mine I did it with the receptionist and that updated all the hospital records too.

Just change with reception no need for an appointment, up once that's done any a&e etc will find you under new name. The name on your records will be the one you change it to however copies stored of results etc will have your old name on. Old name shouldn't need to be used but if old results do need to be accessed you may be asked to confirm that your name has changed just so that they are sure they have the right one.

Essentially your name will change and new one used but there will be traces of your old name within your notes especially copies of hand written bits

It will be the same as when you changed your name last time, I'm just trying to point out that there will be a trace of it but it will be rarely mentioned. I didn't want you thinking it disappears completely then being shocked if at some point you are asked to confirm that you used to have that name. I hope what I've said makes sense.

Tell GP receptionist and tell hospital separately, probably via PALS.

I went to the doctors and the hospital earlier today and both updated my records without any issues. I was told at the hospital that unless I was registered with a hospital for any separate issue that my records in an A&E will be the one's from my GP records. Can anyone confirm that is right?

I do remember one time that after I was married and was using my ex-husband's surname, I had to go to an A&E hundreds of miles away and used my ex-husband's surname and it was the correct name and came up on the screen in the waiting room.

I understand that in the records the name change will be recorded and if necessary I may have to declare it, but I can honestly say that even though I was asked about my medical history not once did I ever have to mention my maiden name at any time when I was married.

Hi just wondering can I go back to my maiden name at any point cos im confused because people are telling me that I have to do it by dee poll

Hi there did you have to charge your name back to Maiden name by dee poll coz im now divorced and not sure how i go about going back to my maiden name x

Re changing name by "deed poll" all you need is a simple change of name deed - details on gov.uk website

I did this for my mother, by deed poll while she was in hospital as they would not change her name on her notes or records unless she did it officially. Was quite easy to do