You won't hear anything....

[DaveB]

Hi. Get access to your test results online including the level that includes test results. You are entitled to those and the NHS told surgeries 2 years ago that they must provide access. If the surgery won't provide access talk to your surgery PPG group or the Practice Manager. It's your choice not the surgeries about access to test results etc. unless you are deemed to have mental health issues.

 

[Drummer]

I was contacted today to be told that my thyroid medication needed to be reduced - which could perhaps be down to the different tablets from a different pharmacy being absorbed better.
I am borderline high now - no numbers mentioned - but I can no longer use the email system for ordering more tablets.

 

[PattiEvans]

Only if your GP surgery has enabled this on the site, though, some surgeries haven’t enabled it. Our test results section didn’t used to be enabled. (It is now, and we can look them up.) The Surgery can enable or disable whatever bits of your NHS account and record they like. Ours used to allow online appointment booking, but since Covid, they’ve disabled that bit again.

I have the NHS app and my surgery have not allowed access to medical records or test results, only details of current and past prescriptions. It infuriates me. I was going to bring it up at the PPG meeting scheduled for this Wednesday, though it has now been cancelled with no explanation. I also have access to the same through "Patient Access" but once again I hit a dead end as far as test results or medical history is concerned. Still have to ring and listen to the recorded messages and be put in a queue to speak to a receptionist, who may, or may not, divulge test results and more than one of them gets annoyed when I say "Normal" is not acceptable, what are the exact numbers?

Hubby who is at the same surgery had his prostate removed in 2016 and is on a system where he can access the PSA results from his 3 monthly tests on a particular website - but only those results not any other test results.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

I also have access to the same through "Patient Access" but once again I hit a dead end as far as test results or medical history is concerned.

My surgery enabled access to results and medical history in Patient Access for me - I can’t remember how I got them to, but I think it was either filling in a form, or putting it in writing. Must be very frustrating for everyone who can’t get access - it’s really handy!

 

[PattiEvans]

My surgery enabled access to results and medical history in Patient Access for me - I can’t remember how I got them to, but I think it was either filling in a form, or putting it in writing. Must be very frustrating for everyone who can’t get access - it’s really handy!

Mike, I went to the surgery at one point and asked for this to be enabled and they handed me a form. It actually was a form to ask to see certain records, not have access to all records. I put the issue onto the agenda of the now cancelled meeting. I will keep on keeping on!

 

[Barfly]

I wrote to Diabetes UK last week on this access issue and legislation, but have so far received no response at all.
Tony.

 

[Pine Marten]

This is all very illuminating. I've just logged in to Patient Access to confirm there is bugger-all on there, certainly no test results. Apart from my Covid jabs record there's not much else. I can't even send my surgery a message on it as it says, 'Sorry, your practice does not offer this service.'

Oh, then I got an email to say 'You have received this automated email as we’ve detected activity on your Patient Access account at Tuesday, 27 Jul 2021 at 10:52. If this was you, no further action is required.' Well, thanks for that.

Before the pandemic, when I had actual face to face chats with the surgery, the D person then working there happily printed out all the results for me, which was great. Then someone else took over and it was like getting blood from a stone. Then another person took over, and last year I had a phone chat with her about my results. It took several requests to get her eventually to email all the results. I am looking forward to a similar chat this week (I had my annual blood test & foot tickling a week or so back).

Like @trophywench I feel too old to argue these things anymore, I have enough going on in life to cope with this sort of thing.

 

[Barfly]

@Pine Marten I feel your pain. Modern life has made pen pushing or keyboard tapping clerks of all of us. Downsizing and outsourcing put millions of clerks out of work and transferred all those jobs to us. A massive bonus for big corporations and a godsend to government, but we all spend at least a half day a week doing administration stuff that used to be done for us. Remember time is the only true currency we all have.

 

[Barfly]

This morning I received a reply to my email from Diabetes UK. This is the full text of the conversation, remember email timelines read from the bottom up. It includes a link on how to complain if access is made difficult by your surgery.
I urge all of you who have had trouble accessing their records to use this and complain long and loudly.

Dear Tony,

Thank you for contacting Diabetes UK.

In England, patients have a legal right to view their medical records and do not have to provide a reason for wanting to do so. These records would include any test results. The Patient’s Association has a good summary of the situation here - https://www.patients-association.org.uk/seeing-your-medical-records and includes how to complain if you are unhappy with the process.

For more detail, the BMA has produced a guide for GPs and Practice Managers - Access to health records - Access to health records (bma.org.uk) (Please note, health records are not necessarily the same as health reports – the latter being a report produced for a specific purpose e.g. working in a safety critical role or on a specific condition e.g. for life insurance. The rules around access to reports may be slightly different in certain cases). There are certain, limited exceptions to providing access. However, a request for test results is unlikely to fall into these unless it is part of repeated requests for substantially the same information.

If we can be of any further assistance please do not hesitate to contact the Supporter Care team either by email at helpline@diabetes.org.uk or by phone on 0345 123 2399 Monday to Friday between 9am and 6pm where a member of the team will be happy to assist you.

Kind regards,



Sam
Supporter Care Advisor

E helpline@diabetes.org.uk | W www.diabetes.org.uk

Facebook www.facebook.com/diabetesuk | Twitter www.twitter.com/diabetesuk

Diabetes UK Wells Lawrence House, 126 Back Church Lane, London E1 1FH

Got a question about diabetes?

Contact our Helpline Monday to Friday between 9am and 6pm.
0345 123 2399
helpline@diabetes.org.uk

​

---

From: Tony Brown <vidtek99@gmail.com>
Sent: Saturday, July 24, 2021 09:05
To: Online Support Forum
Subject: Diabetes UK Support Forum

There are many concerned diabetes sufferers who are having increasing
difficulties with unhelpful procedures introduced since the covid
outbreak put in place by many doctors practices throughout the land.

It is increasingly difficult to obtain test results and some surgeries
actively prevent their patients from access to their own records.

Can you advise the legal position on test results done by the NHS and
the way doctors practices must ensure transparency?

See this thread on your forum.
https://gbr01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fforum.diabetes.org.uk%2Fboards%2Fthreads%2Fyou-wont-hear-anything.94848%2Fpost-1090996&amp;data=04%7C01%7Csupport.forum%40diabetes.org.uk%7Cc134eb137b444211c9be08d94e79bb6e%7C6a42dab649774aa08f8a0584dff9b5d2%7C0%7C0%7C637627107139869931%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C2000&amp;sdata=HkE45cV3Wd%2Bl0McaXBOgCNN7lmgaiHWb1wLfOdU940U%3D&amp;reserved=0

Tony Brown.
--
Sent from linux desktop computer

 

[Rick B]

I guess all surgeries and patients are different.
My last surgery was 2:30, Tues and Thurs, ring up, speak to the nurse, get the results. I asked for mine to be printed out, they were then left with the receptionist to pick up in the evening.
They couldn't help more to be fair, but then, I never went in having decided they were going to be judgemental, and being deliberately vague and evasive. Nor did I think I could be using my time better than getting my results, maybe that guides the meeting.
Then they moved online, as my new surgery is.
I check the results the next day now. and I phone them is there is anything in there I don't like.

My surgery is very good too travellor. I sometimes struggle to get through on the phone straight away, but I find them willing to give results/ arrange a discussion with a GP/ diabetic nurse and explain the results/ next steps.

I have recently downloaded the NHS App and registered. I then requested access to my records with my surgery (granted on the same day) and I can now see all my previous results going back years. I believe one has an entitlement to access these records.

My most recent A1c result was available on the NHS App the next day, so It's definitely worth downloading and registering. It also has repeat prescriptions ordering and a covid pass generation facility.

As far as surgeries are concerned, clearly some surgeries have a much better attitude towards patient satisfaction than others.

 

[AndBreathe]

I have looked at our surgery's website this morning, and with lots of clicking have discovered e-Consults have been enabled. Who knew? Not me. That's one well-kept secret.

I asked about it a few months ago and was told it wasn't available, so it's clearly something recent.

I've logged in (it's called Engage), using my NHS login and did a bit of a test run, without sending "send" - obviously.

Why do organisations keep these things close to their chests.

At a PPG meeting, just before the pandemic one of the partners was unaware that patients could see test results without the phonecall or begging. He was aghast.

Our latest CQC report, dated 3 weeks ago, was "Good" across the board. I must read the whole report to see when the related inspection/audit was done.

 

[AndBreathe]

I was contacted today to be told that my thyroid medication needed to be reduced - which could perhaps be down to the different tablets from a different pharmacy being absorbed better.
I am borderline high now - no numbers mentioned - but I can no longer use the email system for ordering more tablets.

Drummer - in your shoes I would be emphasising how well I feel right now, and based on the improvement in your wellbeing, ask to remain on the same dose, but have a repeat test in a couple of months.

Ranges are based on your average person, but how we respond to meds or blood levels is all very personal. Many, many people only feel well closer to the top end of the assay ranges. If you are borderline, I can't see that's a compelling reason to reduce your medication, bearing in mind it could leave you feeling less well.

Some of the symptoms of hypothyroid overmedicacation are:


Source: https://www.verywellhealth.com/too-much-thyroid-medication-3233271

As always, you really need those numbers.

 

[Drummer]

I have an appointment to get a check for the DVLA on the 23rd of August - I'll mention the lack of information then - or at least try to access previous results - for all I know I could be in serious trouble.
Back in 2016 I had a check on Thyroxine dose, and was contacted by a GP and told he needed to see me for a routine follow up then made an appointment for ten days later.
At that appointment he told me I was a very bad diabetic. I think I would have liked a bit more urgency and a lot more honesty.
I just hope it is not the same GP.

 

[Drummer]

My resting heart rate is 65 beats per minute - the blood pressure monitor adds it in - blood pressure is good ( brilliant for someone 70 years old) and I have no symptoms of over supplementation. I'll just have to see how it goes.

 

[Barfly]

We all know surgeries are under pressure. They always have been-this is nothing new. Most of these surgeries are now run not by doctors but administrative personnel, this is what has changed in recent years.

They have downsized and outsourced advised by bean-counter accountants whose last consideration is the patient and customer service.

This is probably because the brief given to these administrative staff by the doctors is to reduce and filter as many "nuisance" calls and visits by some regular patients. The problem is that this has now been taken to extraordinary lengths by some practices who have made it impossible to call your GP on the telephone and will instead be instructed by a receptionist that the doctor will call you back within the next three weeks. If you miss that call, for some reason, say a visit to the loo when the 'phone rings, you get a message to call the surgery and it's another 3 week wait. I personally had this happen to me, and I just gave up after the 9th week, and this was when the doctor actually rang me in the first instance, not me contacting him. I still have absolutely no idea what he wanted 2 months later.

The problem is that mostly doctors are blissfully unaware of these patient access issues and unless patients complain long and hard, nothing will get done, things will only get worse. I urge all forum users to use the complaints procedure (all surgeries must have them, details will be on their website)to make their feelings known on this lack of access issue.

Tony

 

[PattiEvans]

Following the cancellation of the Patient group meeting I have written to the Practice Manager, expressing my disappointment that the issue of access to our own records cannot be discussed (the last meeting was last October - and the Practice Manager has said some woffle about not having a meeting until we can all meet in person). I have quoted the letter @Barfly received from Diabetes UK and have asked that the partners in the practice be informed of the issue. Plus put in a request to have free access to my records. Got an out of office reply... so not holding my breath on a quick response. TBH, unlike the previous practice manager this one has in subtle ways, made it quite obvious that she thinks the PPG is rather a necessary evil if they want the funding having a PPG brings with it. She has several times tried to turn us into a fund raising group, with little success.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Jenny-There may be an issue there with human rights legislation, obviously you and I are not the only ones affected by this. I will raise it with UK Diabetes and see what they have to say about this.

I wrote to Diabetes UK last week on this access issue and legislation, but have so far received no response at all.
Tony.

Thanks Tony. Apologies for the slight delay in responding. I forwarded your query when you sent it on Saturday, and wasn’t on the forum on Tuesday when the response was received.

The information team have confirmed that people in England have a legal right to access their test results.

In England patients have a legal right to view their medical records and do not have to provide a reason for wanting to do so. These records would include any test results. The Patient’s Association has a good summary of the situation here - https://www.patients-association.org.uk/seeing-your-medical-records and includes how to complain if you are unhappy with the process.​

​

For more detail, the BMA has produced a guide for GPs and Practice Managers - Access to health records - Access to health records (bma.org.uk) (Note, to avoid confusion health records are not necessarily the same as health reports – the latter being a report produced for a specific purpose e.g. working in a safety critical role or on a specific condition e.g. for life insurance. The rules around access to reports may be slightly different in certain cases).​

​

There are certain, limited exceptions to providing access. But a request for test results is unlikely to fall into these unless it is part of repeated requests for substantially the same information.​

​

Of course, the healthcare system is under considerable strain at the moment - especially in the current situation, where staff members may be being pinged and needing to self isolate - so some surgeries may have to be making pragmatic decisions about taking the time to proactively share results which don’t indicate any change of therapy?

 

[Robin]

Before our surgery enabled test results on Patient Access and the NHS app, they were technically fulfilling their legal obligations to let you see your notes and test results, in that you could apply to look at your notes, and they would produce them for you (and a table for you to sit and read them in the surgery), and you could request a print out of your test results, giving 24hrs notice because reception had to ask a GP to authorise it. There’s a technical difference between 'allowing access ' and making it easy for everyone by allowing online access. I’m not sure where the law stands on allowing online access.

 

[Deleted member 21371]

I guess all surgeries are different.
I had to go in for a blood test yesterday, the results are available online to see this morning.
While I was there, I asked for a couple of other tests to be done, there was no issue doing those either.
I was even in and out before the actual appointment time.

 

[Pine Marten]

Arghh, I knew this would happen! I've just had a phone chat with our surgery's D woman about my results and she said she would email them to me. So instead she sent just the first page to my phone on text! I am not techy and spent a few minutes downloading the thing and emailing it to myself so that I could print the bloody thing out.

I've emailed her to say please send me the *whole thing* because that is what I want. Why is it so difficult for them to do what we ask??