Forum menu
DrP
You mean you are not dr feelgood?
Would a GP always advise the patient of what they’ve entered, or is there any reason that it might be withheld
I GP would be better placed to advise. But certainly yes you should be fully aware that if you have a convo with your GP about depression, and that you both agree that you have been suffering from depression then it will be entered on your record.
As mentioned above, after having COVID I was given a steroid inhaler by the nurse. I was then noted as being asthmatic, which has only since been removed by me attending asthma clinic and doing peak flow tests etc.
The other side of it is that the insurance company interpret the medical record, and they can get it wrong. Mrs FD is prescribed a drug. I cant recall the drug or the condition it is used for, but basically the underwriter automatically assumes that she is taking the drug for the 1st use reason which then loads insurance premiums massively. In the past she has then had to challenge them (shes a doc) to say that they have jumped to the wrong conclusion.
I'm not a GP, but:
Would a GP always advise the patient of what they’ve entered
No, because that would be tedious at best. Half of the codes are stuff like "At risk of chronic kidney disease", "10 year CVS risk >5%" and "Smoking status: not entered this time".
or is there any reason that it might be withheld?
Doctors should always be aware that patients have the right to review their record, so you definitely shouldn't record things that you would not want them to see. Obviously this can be very difficult, especially with things like mental health and in particular when the individual might disagree with the GP's assessment.
There's obviously potential for breakdown in trust if the doctor writes something that the patient doesn't like, But of course most people don't bother to request access to their medical record, and it can be useful to record some things. Obesity would be an obvious one to record. This would be useful if the next GP is discussing, for example, joint pains over the phone where it might not be obvious the patient was 130kg.
The other side of it is that the insurance company interpret the medical record, and they can get it wrong. Mrs FD is prescribed a drug. I cant recall the drug or the condition it is used for, but basically the underwriter automatically assumes that she is taking the drug for the 1st use reason which then loads insurance premiums massively. In the past she has then had to challenge them (shes a doc) to say that they have jumped to the wrong conclusion.
That's interesting. I don't know how the actuaries adjust the risk (and therefore your premium) but I bet it's based on a huge statistical model that takes into account as much data as they can get their mitts on. If 95% of people who take Exampolol do so because they are really sick, presumably their formula decides Exampolol = more risk. Can the model account for the other 5%?
I would assume the automated process looks for drug names etc and links them to conditions. In my wifes case linking the drug to diabetes, and then loading her premium for being a diabetic... which she is not
Its only when she rings them stating why she takes the drug that they then review the under writing and the price drops significantly
I recently had a few nights in hospital and they asked the usual questions about smoking/drinking and I honestly answered that I usually drink two or three cans most nights. In the evening they came round with some tablets. I asked what they were for and was told they were to stop me having alcohol withdrawal symptoms. I was pretty shocked to be honest..........they could at least have brought me a couple of cans.
A few years back I had to get my Dr to sign off a medical form for La Marmotte sportive. When he was sifting through my file I noticed something from 30 years ago, when I was 20 something I did something pretty daft after an end to a pretty horrible relationship, I was all good - but I did go to hospital.
30 plus years later those notes are still there, plus the x-rays from my bike accident in 85. I never imagined this. Now reading above that this is hand-typed up gives me the creeps...
and it can be useful to record some things. Obesity would be an obvious one to record.
This was in the back of my mind when I asked. Thanks for the replies - interesting stuff.
Honestly – if you gave your NHS record control to Facebook it would be smart and seamless. Yeah, they’d harvest your data and organs, but it’s be smoooth..
If often wondered why we don't take a Facebook-style approach to such things. With the correct access rights / authorisation levels, the whole thing would be very similar to Facebook / social media. You have a "wall" with current issues, etc. "notes" with older issues, "photos" with x-rays, test-results, etc. Anyone can log in from anywhere and can see whatever their autorisation level allows them to see.
Other things could be on the same platform (e.g. credit rating), again with appropriate access levels for appropriate users.
I've got "occasionally smokes crack" on my record.
I don't, never have - it's pretty far down the to-do list.
As mentioned above, after having COVID I was given a steroid inhaler by the nurse. I was then noted as being asthmatic
It's a shortcut. Coding you as asthmatic will prompt the tests that you've had done, and some other recalls and self completing text messages just to keep an eye on you. There some pretty comprehensive Post Covid recalls now, so your GP/nursing teams should be using those.
If often wondered why we don’t take a Facebook-style approach to such things.
Starting to happen through the NHS app - I’ve most of my recent records on it in an bridged form and blood results etc. Most hospital clinic letters are copied to patients so they have a record and can correct any obvious errors (and thankfully they do) but of course GPs have very short multiple appointments compared to us in hospitals and probably haven’t the time to wipe their arses let alone write a summary letter. Suspect if we were able to increase the numbers of GPs and give them more patient facing time everyone would be lot better off.
Ooh I like that last sentence^^^^
I can’t think of many issues in the nhs that wouldn’t be lessened by more gps. With longer appointments and less patients. I do believe the current government promised this some time ago and has made zero progress towards it.
Wouldn't your insurer send round a nurse to do bloods and urine samples etc? Bloods would show if you had any liver issues related to alcohol. I once had insurance turned down cos I was drinking too much after a challenging diagnosis. My GP suggested that I take it easy for a couple of months and get bloods redone. Everything clear next time round.
Around 12 years I went for a medical prior to getting my private health insurance here in Munich.
All physical checks done and passed with a ja.
Doctor asks if I drink much. I said one or two beers a day on average. He joked and said I should consider that we're in Bavaria and I need to do my bit and filled in four.... 😁
Around 9 months ago I got a kidney stone. This doctor obviously asks me about my fluid intake. 5-6 beers a day during the week if in the workshop. Said in principle that's not a problem, but I should replace two of those Augustiner beers with a Weißbier or two, preferably midday.
Anyway, they made it so hard and gave me so much bloody grief about it that I just bought a massive jar full off the internet.
You wouldn't happen to have the name of the Ebay seller?
Asking for a friend 😉