"Inaccurate recording of patient information"

The GP I saw was very pleasant, and seemed to listen. She agreed to refer me for an ultrasound scan.

I was however disappointed because when I checked the medical record via the NHS App it was wrong.

It is important that the record is accurate in part because it may be available to someone whose job it is to diagnose or to treat my conditions.

For example, it is inaccurately recorded :

1. That I had said that I had previously seen a podiatrist when I had not said that. I said that I had previously seen a physiotherapist. This was at my last doctors surgery. I mentioned that perhaps a referral to a podiatrist would be appropriate. That might be important to see if there are any problems with the fitting of shoes or insoles or biomechanical issues.

It might appear to someone reading the notes that I had professional input into my choice of insoles etc when I have not.

2. The medical record says that I usually walk between 14,000 and 18,000 steps each day. I did not say that . What I said is that when I walked that amount,as I had done on a couple of occasions in January, my foot was particularly painful the next day. My average step count is about 11,000 which I would have said if I had been asked.

3. The medical record says that I think the batteries in my hearing aid need replacing. That is not something I said, or that I would have said, given I can and do replace my hearing aid batteries and those of my housebound mother when they have run down. To say that I was consulting a doctor about worn out batteries makes it look as if I am simply a time waster. My concern is that , not having had a hearing test for a couple of years, I might need new hearing aids or that the settings might need adjusting. It’s disappointing to be faced with a potential six month or more wait to see an hospital audiologist but I do not blame the GP for that.

As for the process of correcting inaccurate information it is proving very hard to do so and apparently requires an online consultation, which because the practice is too busy, cannot be done immediately.

The risk is that a referral letter may be sent containing inaccurate information.

Finally I ought to mention I was told I would be sent by text message a link to some exercises. There is no mention of that in the notes. That has not happened but perhaps it may.