Medical records given without consent

couponqueen123

phone the police i would sounds likehes a nut job

totum

Ok - many thanks for replies...
My lawyer is a child law specialist and therefore we don't feel the need to take someone else with us..but thanks for the advice.
I spoke with the Head yesterday and she was shocked by what I told her. She confirmed that SS have not been in touch with her and she also told me the policies and procedures the school and NHS MUST follow when there is a child protection issues:
1) NHS staff have to go to their manager to raise their concerns.
staff member must not get further involved.
2) the manager agrees that there is an issue (evidence based)
3) manager raises the issue with the designated 'child protection officer' within NHS. Manager must not get further involved.
4) If NHS CPO 'thinks' that it is a child protection issue then raises it with the CP team within Social services.
5) Only CP team can decide whether it is an actual CP protection matter and only they have the authority to investigate with third parties i.e. GP.
6) Within the GP practice there should be someone responsible for child protection and CP would liaise with them. GPs would not be involved/aware at this stage.
7) The school also has a designated CPO and they would liaise the SS only. The teachers etc would not be involved/aware at this stage.
ALL of this is designed so that confidentiality is not breached and that very few people are involved to minimise the risk to the child.

But so far all I have is this:
1) NHS receptionist phones GP and is giving medical records
2) NHS receptionist (somehow) obtains my daughter's education file.
2) NHS receptionist goes to SS child protection office to make referral
3) Child protection office decide it is not a child protection matter and passes it to SS's 'family support' team.
4) After discussions with family, family support team decides there is no case to answer and offer the obligatory 'support'. Support not required - case is closed!

So now I know correct procedures were not followed. The Head is going to find out 'who' gave the receptionist my daughter's education report and will get back to me. This will allow me to get another piece of the jigsaw in place.
I have sent a request to obtain my daughter's medical files held at the practice - no doubt I will find another piece of the jigsaw in them.
So I am slowly getting there... but its getting messy!! I have found this:
http://ministryofethics.co.uk/index.php?p=6&q=7

Looks like this could result in some people getting arrested!

I really cannot comprehend how someone within the NHS has done all of this and is still in a job! Surely someone within the NHS has realised what is going on. Surely SS know that this receptionist has broken the law?
I have sent a letter of complaint to GP practice so will be interesting to see what happens there.

totum

Errata wrote: »

So you turned it down instead of re-scheduling?

No it was left opened for us to pursue at a later date.

JustKeepSwimming_2

No advice to give you Totum as the CP proceedures have been pointed out already, but I hope you get to the bottom of all this soon, what a horrible mess to have to sort out.

I am very suprised at the male receptionist taking a 15 year olf female into a room for any kind of appointment & that just wouldn't happen in places where I've worked before. The men I worked with would all have been aware of any possible "problems" & would have treated her in a communal area, or taken in a female chaparone. Not trying to say your daughter would cause any such problems Totum, just that the men would (sadly) have to think the worst before treating or seeing any female alone.

Regarding a 15 year old attending an appointment alone - I don't see anything wrong with this at all. Totum's daughter was expecting to see a regular, female physio after all. I used to advise teenage girls about contraception & many are mature enough to understand & make their own decisions. Some at 15 are more sensible than others in their 20s.

Totum - I don't think you have let your daughter down over any of this. You have evidently had a lot to deal with recently, so don't be too hard on yourself.

travelgran

In view of the fact that police and the courts are being talked about I am very uneasy about you continuing to post on this forum. You've already given lots of details and replies that might prejudice a trial.

sassyblue

totum wrote: »

I really cannot comprehend how someone within the NHS has done all of this and is still in a job! Surely someone within the NHS has realised what is going on. Surely SS know that this receptionist has broken the law?
I have sent a letter of complaint to GP practice so will be interesting to see what happens there.

Maybe the physio unit is understaffed, he is trained to do his job - could have been a one off - and they've given him a stern talking to (at least you would hope) and are hoping no more comes of it. Maybe managers there weren't doing as they were supposed to and they have to cover their own ar5e5 when the man stepped out of line.

In any case, compile as much evidence as you can, then *hit* them with it. Good luck, l'd love to know how you get on but if the police become involved l guess l won't!

I agree with just keep swimming, you haven't let your daughter down, you instilled her with the strength to stick up for herself when it mattered. Good for you.

EpsomOldie

Dear Totum - you've taken a lot of flak on the thread but I don't think you're over-reacting. I might be wrong - and so might you - and if you are, then that will become apparent when your complaint is dealt with honestly and transparently...I hope so anyway!

However I have worked extensively with the public as a professional in a multi-disciplinary team, and from time to time I came across some bad practices that would make your hair curl. They tended to occur either in pockets where bad habits had become systemic, or occurred as a result of individual mavericks being allowed to get away with behaviour because their personality was so dominant even amongst senior staff.

I confess I'm biased because of my own experience. Some years ago, I had health problems and was treated by my GP and the local hospital while still employed in the job mentioned above. I had one meeting lasting fewer than 10 minutes with a 'counsellor' who worked for Social Services. The guy worked in a little satellite office - just him and an admin person - and he wrote to my employer saying that I needed to change my job altogether or alternatively work part-time! I had never expressed anything of the sort - it was completely made up - and as mentioned, was done without my knowledge or consent and without reference to any other professional who was caring for me at the time. I had the devil's own job convincing my employer of the truth. It was completely bizarre! I complained but got a load of waffle. This was before Data Protection and subject access requests.

To be fair to those who have criticised you and sought to find reasons for what has happened, if you've always worked in or been treated by a good, professionally run outfit, you might find it hard to believe that what Totum has described has actually happened. Moreso if you've worked with the public and encountered people who are 'professional complainers' (I don't mean you Totum!)

Edited to say that the incident mentioned above happened before I moved here - didn't want you people thinking I was casting nasturtiums at Epsom services!

totum

thank you EpsomOldie, I expected some disbelief and I don't blame them, and to be honest I don't think I would believe it if I were reading it from another poster!
It really makes one wonder what the NHS has become, it can't all be blamed on lack of funds but there appears to be some (not all) that believe they are some kind of God and can get away with murder!
Its only when people post things on the internet that we get a true picture of what's really happening out there. I know I will never trust an NHS 'professional' again! sad really when you think about it.

Toothsmith

In dentistry, all operators should have a second person in the room with them at all times when a patient is present.

This is both male and female dentists/hygienists and therapists.

It is primarily because of the possibility of such incidents, as well as a safety aspect should a medical emergency occur.

It always surprises me that it isn't extended into other healthcare fields (apart from the cost that is! with dentists, you can just 'decree' it - because it will be the dentist paying the cost - in other aspects of healthcare, it will be the budget for that particular service that has to stump up the cost)

But a male operator going into a room with a teenage girl alone and asking her to 'pop her jumper off' is bound to lead to problems of one sort or another every now and again.

It is sheer stupidity at the very least for that person not to have considered the need to take in a chaperone.

sassyblue

Toothsmith wrote: »

In dentistry, all operators should have a second person in the room with them at all times when a patient is present.

This is both male and female dentists/hygienists and therapists.

It is primarily because of the possibility of such incidents, as well as a safety aspect should a medical emergency occur.

But a male operator going into a room with a teenage girl alone and asking her to 'pop her jumper off' is bound to lead to problems of one sort or another every now and again.

It is sheer stupidity at the very least for that person not to have considered the need to take in a chaperone.

I was going to ask about that because when you have an examination at the doctors these days (mine is a man) he fetches a nurse in.

What are the rules about that? At what point does a chaperone need to be present?