Table 3.

Types of errors patients have noticed in their records: themes, subthemes, and illustrative quotes.

Themes and subthemes			Illustrative quotes
Incorrect information
	Patient details	“incorrect NHSa number” (patient ID 77); “My address is wrong” (patient ID 79).
	Appointments	“Appointment times are incorrect” (patient ID 117); “On one occasion, the system indicated that I had missed an appointment when I was definitely there” (patient ID 178).
	Medical history or diagnoses	“Diagnosis of cancer which I do not have” (patient ID 317); “my GPb said, ‘he became depressed.’ No, I didn’t” (patient ID 120).
	Measurements or results	“A time on a test was wrong” (patient ID 304); “MRSA result appeared on my record for a test I never took” (patient ID 95).
	Medications	“An error on the dosage of one of my medications” (patient ID 280); “I have never received ibuprofen on prescription” (patient ID 128).
	Letters or correspondence	“Incorrect information on discharge notice from A&Ec” (patient ID 173); “Errors in my consultants [sic] letter” (patient ID 271).
Missing or incomplete information
	Appointments	“Some appointments are not shown” (patient ID 406).
	Measurements or results	“Blood test and urine results are missing” (patient ID 413).
	Letters or correspondence	“2 notifications disappeared” (patient ID 264).
Conflicting appointment information			“I am shown as having multiple appointments at different dates at the same clinic. The last time I turned up for one of these I was told there was no appointment [...] very confusing!” (patient ID 226).
Information belonging to a different patient			“Another patient’s clinic letter—major breach of confidence” (patient ID 164).

^aNHS: National Health Service.

^bGP: general practitioner.

^cA&E: accident and emergency.