medical records from previous vets

[Angela Clarke]

Got a shock today found out that my previous vet did not send on Abbie¬s records when I changed over because I was not happy with the treatment that she was getting. I told them I was leaving and asked them to send on her records.

I am doing a swab test for research into Epilepsy and they would like her records as well, so when my vets gave me a copy of her records I then found this out.

So anyone changing vets it is a good idea to check that they have done this. I have contacted the previous vets and they are going to send them to my vets ( 6 years later) but this means that my present vet was working blind in 2007 proves how realy good they are.

[Howard Glansfield]

The RCVS guidance to vets states:

13. Clinical and client records]

2.6 Veterinary surgeons must not disclose information about a client or the client’s animals to a third party, unless the client gives permission or animal welfare or the public interest may be compromised.

 "

So, as you requested the records to be sent to your new vet, they should have done this immediately.

 

[Angela Clarke]

Thanks Howard, I rang them to ask them to send on her records so no prof that I asked them. Also very interesting as when I contacted the previous vet yesterday they would not send the records direct to me said they had to send them to my present vets, but I shall get them from them anyway.

Maggie; no idea why this didnn`t happen only when I changed vets it was because Abbie was very poorly and that was prime concern for a while, by which time she must have had a lot of history with them and it got overlooked ?

[KC and the boys]

Hi Angela - we've experienced a similar problem. When we got Errol at 8 months we were told that he had been in veterinary care when he was 5 months due to ingesting a poisonous plant. He had a substantial scar on his belly and as I thought the story sounded somewhat fishy I requested proof so the then owners called the PDSA (in my presence) and asked for the records to be sent. The records never materialized despite repeat reminders. Even with the help of my own vet the PDSA was extremely slow in forthcoming. It took months, numerous phone calls from myself, my veterinary surgery and the previous owners to say that they no longer owned the dog and were happy for the info to be released, before we finally got hold of the records. All I can advise anyone in this position is to persevere.

[Angela Clarke]

I now have these records, it took 4 phone calls from me and 3 from my vet. When something like this happens it makes you look closer at the notes, which I have.My findings were that the first year is missing and I know she had several visits to them in this year, secondly after Abbie`s stroke the vet contacted the animal health trust and they replied that the dose she was on should be cut down, instead of 10mg/kg which she was on reduce to 2-3mg/kg. No wonder they took so long, she had a stroke 2 days after this medication started. So pleased I changed vets or Abbie may not have made it past three.

[Ellen Turberfield]

I'm going to phone my old vets in the morning to make sure they have sent Finlays to my new vet i know they hadn't arrived at my last visit but i dont think they would of had time to any way.