Re: Blood test release rules changed again!

[Guest guest]

> The secretary said that it is not just their practice with the new

> rules but ALL practices in the country. Can anyone confirm this as

my

> local practice have bullsh*tted in the past.

>

> Tracey

Tracey, that doesn't sound right to me. Only a few days ago my husband

rang the surgery and was given full blood results immediately over the

phone by the receptionist. The requesting GP knew nothing about the

call. So it can't be a country wide practice.

Good luck with sorting it out. It's horrid when you are up against the

front people like that.

x

[Guest guest]

Hi Tracey

Have a look in our FILES AS THERE IS ONE i PUT THERE SOME TIME AGO ABOUT ACCESSING YOUR MEDICAL RECORDS (yOUR RIGHTS) OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT - Ooops! sorry for shouting!

Luv - Sheila

Blood test release rules changed again!

I can't get my blood test results again. This time I was told that the rules changed 2 weeks ago and now you are only allowed to see your results if you have authorisation from the actual GP who requested the tests. My GP is on holiday but I've been warned that it is up to him to permit my viewing of the results. He might say no. I know he gets very cross with me when I refuse to accept "normal" and I ask for the figures. Bother! Thing is I need those results NOW so I can make informed decisions now.The secretary said that it is not just their practice with the new rules but ALL practices in the country. Can anyone confirm this as my local practice have bullsh*tted in the past.TraceyNo virus found in this incoming message.

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[Guest guest]

Hi and Tracey - thanks for remind me, also rang the surgery a couple of weeks ago and obtained his own blood results - over the telephone, with the reference ranges. We always do this.

Luv - sheila

Tracey, that doesn't sound right to me. Only a few days ago my husband rang the surgery and was given full blood results immediately over the phone by the receptionist. The requesting GP knew nothing about the call. So it can't be a country wide practice. Good luck with sorting it out. It's horrid when you are up against the front people like that. x No virus found in this incoming message.

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[Guest guest]

Sorry but that is BULL****!! They have no right to keep your results from you, they are your results not theirs! How dare they play god, that is so bad and VERY annoying. My surgery will give me my results over the phone, so its not all surgeries across the country doing this new 'rule' I get the feeling they want to keep their patients in the dark and keep your knowledge to a minimum, quite disgusting really

From: redharissa <redharissa@...>Subject: Blood test release rules changed again!thyroid treatment Date: Thursday, 17 July, 2008, 4:32 PM

I can't get my blood test results again. This time I was told that the rules changed 2 weeks ago and now you are only allowed to see your results if you have authorisation from the actual GP who requested the tests.Tracey

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[Guest guest]

It could be aother nail in the coffin of we trying to share in our

treatment options. If of course this is true. We need latest

legislation details.

lotsa luv

Dawnx

[Guest guest]

Our surgery has started saying this as well, we had an argument with

the receptionist last week when we asked for copies of my husbands

blood tests. They say they now have to ask the Dr's permission before

they can give them out, he said yes no problem but it's a pain when

the Dr isn't there to ask and you have to call back when he is.

We even spoke to the practise manager about it and they said this is

what they have to do now.

Luv Dee

>

> From: redharissa <redharissa@...>

> Subject: Blood test release rules changed

again!

> thyroid treatment

> Date: Thursday, 17 July, 2008, 4:32 PM

>

>

>

>

>

>

> I can't get my blood test results again.

>

> This time I was told that the rules changed 2 weeks ago and now you

> are only allowed to see your results if you have authorisation from

> the actual GP who requested the tests.

>

> Tracey

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

> __________________________________________________________

> Not happy with your email address?.

> Get the one you really want - millions of new email addresses

available now at http://uk.docs./ymail/new.html

>

[Guest guest]

It has always been the case here that the receptionist can only give

the numbers once a doctor has looked at them. If they are normal

they give them, if abnormal the doctor has to see/speak to the

patient first, once this is done they will give them.

Chris

>

> Our surgery has started saying this as well, we had an argument

with

> the receptionist last week when we asked for copies of my husbands

> blood tests. They say they now have to ask the Dr's permission

before

> they can give them out, he said yes no problem but it's a pain when

> the Dr isn't there to ask and you have to call back when he is.

> We even spoke to the practise manager about it and they said this

is

> what they have to do now.

>

> Luv Dee

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi people,

I'm not sure of the detail, (which is everything), but didn't

the 'freedom of information act' change about three years ago? I work

for the education department and we were directed that anybody now has

the right to see any information stored about them and we are legally

bound to make that available on their request. I even think there's a

time frame put on it too.

If we think about it, why on earth should blood tests remain a secret?

Honestly, it does make you wonder if there is a conspiracy doesn't it!

Might be worth googling freedom of information act for the detail?

Enjoy Friday,

>

> Our surgery has started saying this as well, we had an argument with

> the receptionist last week when we asked for copies of my husbands

[Guest guest]

I'm still trying to get hold of my practice manager for clarification

of the new rules. I may be gone some time....

Tracey

[Guest guest]

I cant believe that this is a 'rule' - especially when the NHS (Darzi etc) are talking about NHS care being a partnership between doctors and patients.

Im not sure what's going on but I think these practices are trying it on! Of course there could be a 'rule' that they have misinterpreted but I really find it hard to believe that its a real regulation as it goes against the spirit of what the NHS tell us they are trying to achieve. But hey, wouldnt be the first time the NHS got its left and right hands mixed up!!

Gill

I'm still trying to get hold of my practice manager for clarification of the new rules. I may be gone some time....Tracey

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[Guest guest]

....start at the North Pole Tracey and work your way down....

luv - Sheila

I'm still trying to get hold of my practice manager for clarification of the new rules. I may be gone some time....TraceyNo virus found in this incoming message.

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[Guest guest]

hi All - this website has information regarding confidentiality etc. The only bit Ive found is about access to records under the Data Protection Act - but Im going on holiday tomorrow so dont have time to search through it.

http://www.firstpracticemanagement.co.uk

Gill

[Guest guest]

http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Managingyourorganisation/Informationpolicy/Patientconfidentialityandcaldicottguardians/DH_4084411

this links to the DH/NHS guidance.

Gill

[Guest guest]

Call off the search party, I have an answer of sorts!

The practice manager is " not in today " which was to be expected as I

was specifically invited to phone today and speak to her. I did manage

to speak to a receptionist who understood the results situation better

than her confused colleagues.

In theory it should be quite simple - the patient IS allowed to view

their blood test results but the doctor has to have seen the results

first. The doctor will have contacted the patient if the results are

abnormal. I have no gripe against this as it is what I thought would

happen. Also my doctor should have had time to have seen my results by

now, unless he has been away for the past fortnight.

Where it all cocked up yesterday is that I spoke to 3 people and still

did not get through to the staff member who knew how the procedure

worked. We are only allowed to request results between 12.30 and 2 pm

BUT that is the precise time that the staff authorised to handle

results are at lunch. First I was told my Doctor's secretary was at

lunch and then I was told that nobody could find " the lady who gives

out results " and I should call in later to discuss it. So I did and,

as nobody had taken down the original message, the receptionist could

only advise that I tried phoning today at the allocated time.

In the past I know that this results in being led all round the garden

path so I stressed that I needed the results before the weekend as my

solicitor (carbon monoxide case - long story) was waiting for

instructions from me depending on the nature of my results. Oops, that

messed things up good and proper. The receptionist then said I would

need to get my solicitor to write to my doctor so my results could be

formally released. I kept stressing my solicitor is not interested in

my blood test results, I AM as the results would indicate whether or

not my recent malaise is due to the after effects of CO poisoning or

simply all down to thyroid problems. If the blood tests proved it was

the latter (as I suspect), then my solicitor will want to drop my

case. I can then get a degree of closure over 10 years of messed-up

life and be freed me to concentrate on a new stressy situation

instead (I've just been accused of benefit fraud and have to appear in

a tribunal ( I'm innocent!!)

My other argument was that, as my follow-up appointment isn't until

October, I need to see my blood test results now so I can make

informed decisions about the level of medication I take. My last

ferritin result came back showing an exponential increase so I stopped

taking my iron supplementation. The awaited test result will indicate

whether the last test result was anomalous and will determine whether

or not I should take iron supplementation. Actually, I shouldn't have

had to explain myself should I?

The conclusion is that another doctor will phone me back later and

tell me if my results are normal - no, that is not quite what I

requested, but hopefully I can make myself understood to him and

extract the figures. I told the receptionist that I was concerned this

is wasting a doctor's time on what ought to have been a simple

administrative procedure, In fact I hate being made to feel that they

are bending over backwards and that they are making a real meal of it.

It IS stressful! And now I can't use my phone until the doctor calls.

Tracey

>

> ...start at the North Pole Tracey and work your way down....

>

> luv - Sheila

> I'm still trying to get hold of my practice manager for

clarification

> of the new rules. I may be gone some time....

>

> Tracey

[Guest guest]

The other doctor has now phoned me and said he is not permitted to

disclose my results to me. It is an etiquette thing between the

doctors in the practice rather than him personally refusing.

I now have to phone my own doctor on Monday, when he will be back on

site.

I'm rather worried actually as I think it means my results may have

revealed something wrong. They wouldn't be going out of their way to

do this otherwise would they? I'm trying not to panic but I know

myself well enough to know that there is little I can do to stop this

preying on my mind all weekend now.

Tracey

[Guest guest]

Would it be worth comlaining to the practice manager or contacting

PALS about this? Ruth x

>

> From: redharissa <redharissa@...>

> Subject: Blood test release rules changed

again!

> thyroid treatment

> Date: Thursday, 17 July, 2008, 4:32 PM

>

>

>

>

>

>

> I can't get my blood test results again.

>

> This time I was told that the rules changed 2 weeks ago and now you

> are only allowed to see your results if you have authorisation from

> the actual GP who requested the tests.

>

> Tracey

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

> __________________________________________________________

> Not happy with your email address?.

> Get the one you really want - millions of new email addresses

available now at http://uk.docs./ymail/new.html

>

[Guest guest]

My one said that too when I asked for a copy of them, but then they were happy to just read out the results over the phone together with the ranges. Now where is the logic in that?

Val

They say they now have to ask the Dr's permission beforethey can give them out, he said yes no problem but it's a pain whenthe Dr isn't there to ask and you have to call back when he is.Luv Dee

[Guest guest]

That is indeed most strange Val. However, my practice has never given

out results over the phone as the caller could theoretically be anyone

even if the secretary recognises the voice.

Tracey

>

> My one said that too when I asked for a copy of them, but then they

were happy to just read out the results over the phone together with

the ranges. Now where is the logic in that?

>

> Val

>

> They say they now have to ask the Dr's permission before

> they can give them out, he said yes no problem but it's a pain when

> the Dr isn't there to ask and you have to call back when he is.

> Luv Dee

[Guest guest]

This is the answer Ruth - our doctors and surgery staff can apparently tell you anything they like and the only people to tell you what the situation is PALS or somebody in the local Primary Care Trust. It matters not what doctors decide is their group policy, what matters is the law. They still have to stick to that, whatever they believe they can dictate as 'group policy'. A phone call with the right people should clear this up.

Luv - Sheila

Would it be worth comlaining to the practice manager or contacting PALS about this? Ruth x>> Sorry but that is BULL****!! They have no right to keep your results from you, they are your results not theirs! How dare they play god, that is so bad and VERY annoying. My surgery will give me my results over the phone, so its not all surgeries across the country doing this new 'rule' I get the feeling they want to keep their patients in the dark and keep your knowledge to a minimum, quite disgusting really> > > > ---

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[Guest guest]

Mine said " do you usually get your results over the phone " and I

said " yes, " so they read them out. (True in that the Dr only gives them

if I remember to ask and I usually forget)

I asked for the reference ranges and they said they were the same as

last time, so I said (truthfully) that I'd mislaid them.

Kat

> My one said that too when I asked for a copy of them, but then they

were happy to just read out the results over the phone together with

the ranges. Now where is the logic in that?

>

> Val

>

> They say they now have to ask the Dr's permission before

> they can give them out, he said yes no problem but it's a pain when

> the Dr isn't there to ask and you have to call back when he is.

> Luv Dee

>

[Guest guest]

Hi

Your blood test results are covered under the Data Proctection Act

(DPA) and not the Freedom of Information (FOI). The FOI is designed so

you can have access to any information from public bodies that is not

covered via DPA, so for instance you could find out how many people in

the organisation earn over £50k but you couldn't have their names. DPA

covers named people and is usually restricted so you can ONLY have

information relations to yourself that is held by that body. If you

want to ask for your blood results it will have to be under the

auspices of the Data Protection Act and if you start quoting the act

when asking for your information in a firm but pleasant manner (or in

writing) faces usually get a little pale and information is

forthcoming ..... Good luck and I hope they stop being so obstructive.

Jacqui xx

>

> Hi people,

> I'm not sure of the detail, (which is everything), but didn't

> the 'freedom of information act' change about three years ago? I work

> for the education department and we were directed that anybody now

has

> the right to see any information stored about them and we are legally

> bound to make that available on their request.

[Guest guest]

Progress report:

The GP still did not phone me yesterday about my results. I've been

phoning every day and sometimes appearing in person all to no avail.

The secretaries are now thoroughly sick of me (I can tell because

they are being over-polite) and put me through to the practice

manager.

She offered a compromise - an appointment with my doctor in August,

which I declined as I argued that it is an admin issue not requiring

a medical appointment. Practice manager's counter arguement was that

while they accept I have a right to see my blood test results, it

may not be in a patient's medical interests to see them as patients

are not in a position to understand the results. Ooh that's a new

one! I explained I have never met with this amount of obstruction

before and, besides, having numerous family members with the same

medical condition, I understand the results perfectly well.

Practice manager assured me that if the bloods had shown up a

problem, then a GP would have contacted me by now, but she then

offered me an appointment with a different doctor this Friday when I

said " Then, if there is no problem why are you withholding my

results from me?? "

So I now have an unwanted medical appointment this Friday merely to

see my results. What an awful waste of a doctors time! Worse, all

the fuss I've been forced to make has made me look like a

troublemkaer and feel bad.

Tracey

> >

> > Sorry but that is BULL****!! They have no right to keep your

> results from you, they are your results not theirs! How dare

they

> play god, that is so bad and VERY annoying. My surgery will give

me

> my results over the phone, so its not all surgeries across the

> country doing this new 'rule' I get the feeling they want to

keep

> their patients in the dark and keep your knowledge to a minimum,

> quite disgusting really

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

Hi

What an awful situation to be in and I dont think you need to feel bad at all, I believe everyone has the right to see their results wether they understand them or not! How rude of them to undermine your intelligence and think you wouldnt understand them, why do they treat us all as thickos!! I am lucky and have always been able to get my results but some of the receptionists at my surgery have take ages to find my results on the computor and then when they did they seemed unable to read them to me and gave them to me wrong, it seems they are the thick ones sometimes!

From: redharissa <redharissa@...>Subject: Re: Blood test release rules changed again!thyroid treatment Date: Tuesday, 22 July, 2008, 10:37 AM

Progress report: The GP still did not phone me yesterday about my results. I've been phoning every day and sometimes appearing in person all to no avail.The secretaries are now thoroughly sick of me (I can tell because they are being over-polite) and put me through to the practice manager. Tracey> >> > Sorry but that is BULL****!! They have no right to keep your > results from you, they are your results not theirs! How dare they > play god, that is so bad and VERY annoying. My surgery will give me > my results over the phone, so its not all surgeries across the > country doing this new 'rule' I get the feeling they want to keep > their patients in the dark and keep your knowledge to a minimum, > quite disgusting really> > > >

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[Guest guest]

Tracey

The only reasons that a doctor would withhold your results is if you had a mental problem, or the results would cause you great distress. You do not HAVE to be able to understand your results for a doctor to give them to you, you might need them to show a private practitioner or some other person. They are being ridiculous. I would report this matter to the PCT and explain to them that you are entitled under the Data Protection Act and as they are withholding your results, you will now report them to the appropriate authorioty. You should not have to waste your precious time on yet a further appointment, especially as it appears there is still NO guarantee they will release them. They need to be taught a lesson, and one that they will know in the future to let their patients have their results when they ask.

Luv - Sheila

Re: Blood test release rules changed again!

Progress report: The GP still did not phone me yesterday about my results. I've been phoning every day and sometimes appearing in person all to no avail.The secretaries are now thoroughly sick of me (I can tell because they are being over-polite) and put me through to the practice manager. She offered a compromise - an appointment with my doctor in August, which I declined as I argued that it is an admin issue not requiring a medical appointment. Practice manager's counter arguement was that while they accept I have a right to see my blood test results, it may not be in a patient's medical interests to see them as patients are not in a position to understand the results. Ooh that's a new one! I explained I have never met with this amount of obstruction before and, besides, having numerous family members with the same medical condition, I understand the results perfectly well.Practice manager assured me that if the bloods had shown up a problem, then a GP would have contacted me by now, but she then offered me an appointment with a different doctor this Friday when I said "Then, if there is no problem why are you withholding my results from me??" So I now have an unwanted medical appointment this Friday merely to see my results. What an awful waste of a doctors time! Worse, all the fuss I've been forced to make has made me look like a troublemkaer and feel bad.Tracey> >> > Sorry but that is BULL****!! They have no right to keep your > results from you, they are your results not theirs! How dare they > play god, that is so bad and VERY annoying. My surgery will give me > my results over the phone, so its not all surgeries across the > country doing this new 'rule' I get the feeling they want to keep > their patients in the dark and keep your knowledge to a minimum, > quite disgusting really> > > > No virus found in this incoming message.

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[Guest guest]

I'm quite sure they must be conviced I have mental issues by now.

They'd think that no sane person would be so persistant in tryiing to

get their blood test results!

Actually my notes possibly still have one of the practice doctor's

opinion that I was mentally disturbed because I did keep going back

and reporting I felt ill even though my TSH was 5.49 by then. She'd

said I'd need to be over 5.5 before I would start to get symptoms, so

everything was in my head. I then asked about the normal range being

dropped to 3.5, which I think was under discussion at that time, and

she said that if the range was altered she'd change my diagnosis from

clinical depression to hypothyroidism. She actually twisted my family

history of thyroid problem arguement by bringing up my sister's

suicide and citing it as proof of my family being predisposed to

mental illness. I'm afraid I burst into tears at that point and she

said " See, you ARE depressed! "

At that time I should have raised hell but I didn't because I felt too

injured.

Anyway that was several blood tests ago and if I have been labelled

mentally disturbed all that time, how come they let me have my test

results up to now?

Tracey

>

> The only reasons that a doctor would withhold your results is if you

had a mental problem, or the results would cause you great distress.