Doctor disclosures

Teresa_Green

Hello t_d,

It sounds as though this is for an Occupational Health check so that you can start your new role (congratulations, btw!).

I agree with what milliebear suggests above - make an appointment to see one of the Doctors and if you prefer the other one then rearrange the appointment to see them and discuss your medical records, and the report.

If all else fails, you are allowed to add your own comments on the form as you will need to return it for your new role or they will withdraw the offer. The Occupational Health will likely want to see you but if you are able to show that you are stable and receiving treatment then it is not an automatic barrier to you starting the new job, as you correctly state they will want to carry out all the necessary checks especially as you will be working with children.

Hope it all goes ok for you.

top_drawer_2

hello,

Unfortunately I have no-one who I can ask to come with me tommorrow. I have written notes about what I want to ask regarding where he has taken this information from as it is entirely new to me, also some guidance from the GMC and have spoken to the legal advice helpline at Mind. I left a message with PALS but they havent got back to me. I will request that the Doctor points out to me/justifies each item he has put showing me what date I was diagnosed with each of these issues. I will also point out that the way it has been phrased implies these are issues I am suffering with now. I will also show him the GMC guidance and go from there.

I will certainly be pursuing the issue in writing and as far as possible. I have never even been seen by a psychiatrist because my regular Doctor stated he didnt think I needed it. I do think he will refuse to discuss the matter or patronise me being a mere human being and him a Doctor.

Lordlazy - I'm just going ignore your "contribution" since we are requested to be nice to newbies.

Milliebear - re-read the OP. There is no "obviously" about it, clearly. As stated this is not my regular Doctor - you would hope that they filled in the paperwork using my notes but I know what illnesses I have suffered with and "paranoia, an eating disorder and a personality disorder" arent included.

Wish me luck - I feel nervous already.

Jen

AmandaD28

top_drawer wrote: »

hello,

Unfortunately I have no-one who I can ask to come with me tommorrow. I have written notes about what I want to ask regarding where he has taken this information from as it is entirely new to me, also some guidance from the GMC and have spoken to the legal advice helpline at Mind. I left a message with PALS but they havent got back to me. I will request that the Doctor points out to me/justifies each item he has put showing me what date I was diagnosed with each of these issues. I will also point out that the way it has been phrased implies these are issues I am suffering with now. I will also show him the GMC guidance and go from there.

I will certainly be pursuing the issue in writing and as far as possible. I have never even been seen by a psychiatrist because my regular Doctor stated he didnt think I needed it. I do think he will refuse to discuss the matter or patronise me being a mere human being and him a Doctor.

Lordlazy - I'm just going ignore your "contribution" since we are requested to be nice to newbies.

Milliebear - re-read the OP. There is no "obviously" about it, clearly. As stated this is not my regular Doctor - you would hope that they filled in the paperwork using my notes but I know what illnesses I have suffered with and "paranoia, an eating disorder and a personality disorder" arent included.

Wish me luck - I feel nervous already.

Jen

((((((hugs)))))))) top drawer

I hate the fact that we have so many labels these days anyway never mind how frustrating it is having one applied that shouldn't be there ! Grrrr

I did read that someone else said check that they have the right patient I was once "diagnosed" with an STI when I was pregnant with DS1 because they had mixed my swab with someone elses they did eventually apologise but it caused untold distress at the time !

My mum also had a report written about her that stated she had chronic depression and hadn't worked her whole adult life because it was so debilitating - my mum has been a registered nurse for almost 30 yrs and worked since she was 16 she was hopping mad she had assumed that there would be nothing significant and just checked the box that said she didn't need to see what they were writing about her :eek::eek:.

That also ended in an apology after she demanded a meeting and how dare they write things about her we must have a common name . I really hope you get somewhere tomorrow you have clearly done your homework and that will give you some clout and make them realise you mean business.

Hope it works out for you and good luck in your new role xx

milliebear00001

top_drawer wrote: »

hello,

Unfortunately I have no-one who I can ask to come with me tommorrow. I have written notes about what I want to ask regarding where he has taken this information from as it is entirely new to me, also some guidance from the GMC and have spoken to the legal advice helpline at Mind. I left a message with PALS but they havent got back to me. I will request that the Doctor points out to me/justifies each item he has put showing me what date I was diagnosed with each of these issues. I will also point out that the way it has been phrased implies these are issues I am suffering with now. I will also show him the GMC guidance and go from there.

I will certainly be pursuing the issue in writing and as far as possible. I have never even been seen by a psychiatrist because my regular Doctor stated he didnt think I needed it. I do think he will refuse to discuss the matter or patronise me being a mere human being and him a Doctor.

Lordlazy - I'm just going ignore your "contribution" since we are requested to be nice to newbies.

Milliebear - re-read the OP. There is no "obviously" about it, clearly. As stated this is not my regular Doctor - you would hope that they filled in the paperwork using my notes but I know what illnesses I have suffered with and "paranoia, an eating disorder and a personality disorder" arent included.

Wish me luck - I feel nervous already.

Jen

Actually, when I said 'obviously', I was referring to the fact that your non-regular doctor has obviously filled in the report using your notes. I.e. s/he hasn't just made it all up! Rather, your regular doctor has put down those things in your notes (which I presume you've never seen?)

Notes often contain stuff that is very surprising to the patient, as they are written for other doctors/medical professionals to refer to, rather than the patient themselves.

Cerisa

Confront the guy - the only way to thwart a god complex is to challenge it.

Fire_Fox

You may remember I also have mental health issues, and work in healthcare so am seeing this with both hats on!

I think you need to pick your battles, either you have been diagnosed with these issues or you have not. Since you have not then the way the report was phrased is irrelevant as it needs completely rewriting, with a note stating that the previous letter was erroneous due to a mix up with another patient. I'm not sure you can ask for a specific doctor to write your medical records check, it should be factual and based on the notes from your regular doctor not sensitively written based on a relationship you have built up. Having said that if there has been a mistake I would push for your regular doctor to do the rewrite by stating you have no faith in this other doctor. I would not suggest lodging a formal complaint at this stage, that will put people's backs up when you need to maintain a good relationship with the surgery for your own mental health. I would ask for an investigation and changes in procedure.

Incidentally personality disorders and eating disorders are usually ongoing conditions, even if someone is coping well they are still at risk as major changes in routine can trigger relapses. Employers or placement supervisors may need to be aware so YOU can be properly supported - even social workers struggle to cope with some of the cases they encounter. Depends what level of detail was requested what your doctor can leave out; the NHS asks for everything from school age!

Hope this all works out for you. xx

top_drawer_2

hello again,

I attended the appointment this morning and the Doctor has stated that those statements are on my records and given me the dates (all several years ago, one even 10 years ago!) and that they are summaries (the surgery doesnt hold the exact notes). However, I argued that they were not diagnosis since I never even saw a psychiatrist and a GP doesnt have the scope to diagnose these issues but he says that isnt how the notes read and it would be "unprofessional" of him not to mention it when asked since no timescales are mentioned on the form.

I guess I should be grateful that he saw me at all as an "administrative matter" is not really for clinical time and that I have found out now and not when I had a job offer on the table. I am going to request copies of all my notes and I have an appointment with my regular doctor on Thursday - not sure where I can go from here really.


Jen

Cerisa

Surely they can't write a medical report on the basis of conjecture?

top_drawer_2

Cerisa wrote: »

Surely they can't write a medical report on the basis of conjecture?

I would have thought not too but that is what he has said; the way it has been written (and will be read) is that I suffer with these issues. Its a one line space that was offered not a 1000 word report - not sure how someone can do so much damage with around 2cm of space.

The practise manager was a complete waste of time too and it seems that now it has been done I'm going to have to go through the mill in order to alter it.
Jen

Teresa_Green

Hi Jen,

Glad you got through the appointment just about in one piece!

What you are doing, i.e. second opinion from the other Doctor sounds sensible.

Just to reiterate / add to what I said upthread, you will be able to add your comments to the form if you do not agree with the final version before it is seen by Occupational Health and as long as you are currently stable / receiving treatment then it is not an automatic barrier to taking up a job.

Also, be careful not to appear to be aggressive or over-reacting as this may go against you. I understand you being upset, but you need to show through your behaviour that your issues are currently stable.