NHS Medical records terminology - understanding Doctor speak

Question

My Hospital trust states repeatedly in in my medical records (either when I am in their locality, or when they transfer me to a new place) things like:

''Very Well Known'' to a certain Doctor

or

''Well known'' to a Hospital

Does this mean, what I think? e.g a negative comment?

I don't know these Hospitals, or even Doctors 'well' at all!

This has happened since my Hospital trust misdiagnosed me many years ago and I made a complaint, and now it always says this when I end up in A&E.

'Well Known''.....

E.g a 20yr old man 'Well known'' to Cantebury Hospital was admitted with chest pain and SVT.

Many thanks to any one who understands what this means.

Answer 1

Sounds to me, in light of your misdiagnoses, that you had to be persistent in getting diagnosed properly and then effectively treated. Unfortunately, sounds to me like doctors have black marked you as a frequent flyer. If doctors and hospitals are generally believed to be places that offer competent service, then "well known", to me, does not lend itself to positive interpretation. Doctors are not above prejudice and discrimination, even though those naive to chronic health issues, would like to think otherwise.

Answer 2

It just sounds like they have records on you, maybe telling the doctor/nurse dealing with you that you have a medical history they may need to be aware of before treating you.

Answer 3

It could just mean that because of your many previous visits to that doctor and / or hospital that they should ensure that they have All your previous medical notes, as there may be many in various places.

Answer 4

I am a medical secretary and "well known" is used frequently by doctors, e.g. "well known to our services". It is not used disparagingly and shouldn't be taken negatively.

It simply means that you have had a long history of illness - not that you know a specific doctor or even hospital, but that you have a long hospital record and they know about you as a patient.

Answer 5

It could be read in 3 ways. Either as "someone who has a lot of ongoing health problems and has had to visit hospital a lot" - i.e. not a negative comment. Or it could be read as "this guy keeps turning up thinking he has all kinds of things wrong with him and we're a bit bored with it to be honest", or it could mean "note: this guy is an awkward customer". In all honesty, if someone was presenting a case-study to me and they used that phrase, I would take it in a negative way. So I'm afraid that is probably what some doctors will do, even if it wasn't intended that way originally. But most people will form their own opinions pretty quickly - I've heard plenty of docs say "I've heard some negative things about this patient but I thought he was a nice guy!".  

Answer 6

It sounds like you are a trouble maker, but I am not a doctor

Answer 7

It probably means" Watch this chap-He can be trouble"