Confusing G.P. Appointment

[gness]

Well, I know I get confused easily but..........Had an appointment today to have a mole removed by G.P. in my new surgery. On inspection I have to go to the hospital but he is sure it`s innocent and there is no rush. Then, scrolling through my notes, he changed his mind. He said that the serious cancer episode I had had on my leg in 2007 meant anything suspicious was to be seen immediately.
Now I know I am ditzy at times and like a glass or two of wine but for the life of me I had no recollection of this episode. He turned the screen and it was all there. Referral, surgery,aftercare. Still couldn`t remember so we examined the said area for scarring.....none. I must have looked gormless as I frowned, trying to recall something I would surely remember if it had happened.
In the end we decided that my notes had been mixed up with some poor soul who now doesn`t have that information on his/her records. Unless of course my mind is................?

[ummmm]

Must be a mix up. You'd remember a cancer scare.

[gness]

I`ve had two Ummmm that I remember vividly. The surgery wouldn`t have slipped even my mind either!

[missprim]

Something similar happened to me at the hospital once.
There was a section in my notes that weren't relating to me.
I think it's shocking really. I know we all make mistakes but medical history should be dealt with in a way that this can't happen.

[mike11111]

I agree. People's welfare and even lives could be seriously compromised by this.

[joko]

thats terrible.

they really should be more careful ...did the place still use paper folders in 2007?

how many other people have things missing?

[gness]

Agree missprim and mike. Was a bit worried that my mind was on the way out but more concerned about the person who may not have notes with correct info.

[gness]

No joko. G.P. said it could have happened when computer notes were being updated.

[SIRandyraven]

That is terrible.
Some poor sole has no record if cancer on there records and thus the GP would not be alerted.

ps I got one of thumping machines for my lawn and the moles left.

[craft1948]

last time I was in hospital they started telling me things from my notes which were obviously not from my history. They belonged to another patient with the same name (and I had at that time a very unusual name)

[Kiki-frog]

Oh God, gness, that's dreadful. There's no excuse for that with a computerised system. You must have thought you were going bonkers. No way would anyone not recall a cancer.

[craft1948]

A computerised system is only as good as the data input by a human.

[mike11111]

When self check-ins at surgeries were first introduced I was somewhat alarmed to be told by the system that I had an appointment at the ante-natal clinic! The upside to that was that on the strength of that anecdote I had a letter published in the Times.

[gness]

Starting to think I`d be safer with the thumping machine Sir.
OH opened post over breakfast once [those were the days....2 deliveries!] Large envelope containing an enema kit with instructions was a surprise. Intended for another kidney patient with same Christian name!

[gness]

So you didn`t get to put your legs in the stirrups then mike?

[cathfromsaron]

rubbish in rubbish out!

we are taught that the patient is the best resource for his/her own history!

but that is shocking!

[maggiebee]

Similar story at the dentist last week. Went for my 6 monthly check up and he referred to my notes saying "and you suffer from high blood pressure and other ailments too numerous to mention". "No" I replied, "I keep perfect health." Not convinced he asked a few more questions then showed me my notes. Unfortunately they belonged to someone else with the same name.

[gness]

True about best resource Cath but having had both innocent and bad moles removed I did start to wonder if I had been given wrong information about an innocent one. Only location of the mole convinced me.

[Eve]

I've had a medical professional going on about some xrays she was looking at until I managed to but in and point out that they weren't mine!

I've also had notes missed off my file (relating to a cancer scare). Had gone to see a doctor with a lump I'd found in my breast. He was dimissive, examined me with a huff when I didn't shift (I seemed to also upset him when I didn't undress where I was sat in front of a window with people outside! Curtain pulled round with a huff). Muttered something about didn't I have a leaflet and being too young for breast cancer. A friend's mum persuaded me to go back to another GP and the first one hadn't even recorded that I'd been in on my notes. She found two lumps.

Also test results diagnosing a condition which were completely missed and I was nearly discharged before it was suggested this test could be done as a last resort - I pointed out they'd done one over 6 months previously (and I'd had to wait so long for an appointment as they'd lost me on the system). The result, when found, gave a diagnosis.

Various other admin errors and what was apparently a click a button one in ending up at the doctors in one hell of a state to find out they had accidentally done my prescription at 10 x the dose I was meant to be on - seems they had put in an extra zero!

Another random one when in hospital. Was examined by a doctor who didn't speak much English and kept muttering about neurological problems and acting a bit strange considering I was in with abdominal pain issues. He left and I queried with the nurse a bit concerned. She said not to worry and that what he was going on about had nothing to do with me - wrong patient or something. Mind you, this was the hospital who sent a pregnant woman for an x-ray while I was in. I discharged myself after they had me down some a scan and were about to inject this dye into me when there was some big panic as there was something they hadn't seen on my notes and all of a sudden they couldn't do it anymore. It could apparently have set off a dangerous reaction. I was quite glad to move away from that hospital!

I think I'm just unlucky!

[gness]

Not unlucky Jenna. After the experiences I had in the twelve years my husband was a kidney patient nothing surprises me. Lost notes. Anti-rejection drugs changed because his first name was the same as another patient. The enema man needless to say. I was once,on arriving to visit, taken into a room and given a lengthy explanation as to why they were going to have to amputate his other leg. This came as a surprise as he`d had both legs in the afternoon. Wrong patient. It came as no surprise though that their mistake was the cause of his death.