Doctor surgery mistakes

bryanb

I received a phone call recently from a hospital department offering me an appointment for my ....................... problem. As I don't have such a problem I asked why they had called. It seems my surgery had written requesting the appointment.
I then compared my address and dob with the hospital telephonist's notes, they were totally different.
Obviously a mix up at my surgery, problem is how can I check that
my medical records only have my notes on them? If they can make this kind of mistake I would like to be sure.
There are 3 people with the same name registered at the surgery.
I don't want to incur the expense of a freedom of information request.

cleo1299

You might find that all you have to do to see your notes is to ask at the surgery. But there would still be the possibility that something that should be in your notes, might be in one of the other two patients' notes.

In future, when you go for a consultation, just ask the doctor to confirm that it's your address on the notes they are looking at.

olly300

bryanb wrote: »

I received a phone call recently from a hospital department offering me an appointment for my ....................... problem. As I don't have such a problem I asked why they had called. It seems my surgery had written requesting the appointment.
I then compared my address and dob with the hospital telephonist's notes, they were totally different.
Obviously a mix up at my surgery, problem is how can I check that
my medical records only have my notes on them? If they can make this kind of mistake I would like to be sure.
There are 3 people with the same name registered at the surgery.

I suggest you actually contact the surgery manager asap and inform them of this phone call and point out that 2 other patients at the surgery have the same surname.

There will be other common surnames on their patient register and if staff don't do a simple fact check when they are doing stuff with notes they are being negligent.

bryanb wrote: »

I don't want to incur the expense of a freedom of information request.

It's not a Freedom of Information request it's a request under the Data Protection Act.

I strongly suggest you ensure you are asking under the right act as organisations can use your confusion to delay giving you the information you want.

Also under the Data Protection Act if medical records are involved doctors have the right to not show you all or any records if it may cause "distress".

bryanb

cleo1299 wrote: »

In future, when you go for a consultation, just ask the doctor to confirm that it's your address on the notes they are looking at.

I always do, but I can't speak for the other 2

dmg24

How do you know that there are three people with the same name registered at the surgery?

bryanb

dmg24 wrote: »

How do you know that there are three people with the same name registered at the surgery?

Receptionist told me.

spider125

bryanb wrote: »

Receptionist told me.

thats out of order!!! the receptionist should ALWAYS ask for your DOB even if they have only one pt with that name! I am GP receptionist and know the pts but I have got into the habit of asking everyone to confirm DOB, phone the practise manager first thing that is what they are there for

Valli

My dentists always check my name and address because there are 'two of us'' there.

stebiz

I'm a twin and once had my brothers results for a cholestoral test. It appears, without knowing, we'd both been to the doctors within days of each other, for a test!!!:eek: And we live in different addresses.

bubblybee

You have every right to see your medical records. You just have to request to do so. You might need to give the surgery notice but I believe that most people are able to see their records and the surgery can't decline this request.

I_know_my_ABC_and_my_CMYK

spider125 wrote: »

thats out of order!!! the receptionist should ALWAYS ask for your DOB even if they have only one pt with that name! I am GP receptionist and know the pts but I have got into the habit of asking everyone to confirm DOB, phone the practise manager first thing that is what they are there for

My nephew has the same year of birth and name of another patient at our surgery so he always give his DOB and address, plus his middle name to be on the safe side. The receptionist told him there was another patient with the same name and year of birth so he would always give this info .

Other than that I have never been asked to confirm my DOB or my address either, but I do see my doctor at least once a month.