STAFF PROTECTION

The staff and doctors in the practice have the right to carry out their work in an environment free from violence, threatening and abusive behaviour and everything will be done to protect that right.

Our practice operates a zero tolerance policy towards any such behaviour and at no time will any violent, threatening or abusive behaviour be tolerated in this practice. Patients, acting in this way, will be removed from our practice list, and police action may also be taken.

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT

The Freedom of Information Act 2000 obliges the practice to produce a publication scheme. A publication scheme is a guide to the “classes” of information the practice intends to make routinely available.

Information on this scheme is available at reception.

CONFIDENTIALITY

We ask you for personal information so that you can receive appropriate care and treatment. This information is recorded on the computer and we are registered under the Data Protection Act. The practice will ensure that patient confidentiality is maintained at all times by all members of the practice team. However, for the effective functioning of a multi-disciplinary team, it is sometimes necessary that medical information about you is shared between members of the team. Prescriptions and consultation records are held on the computer and this enables us to consult from either site and to analyse various aspects of health care. Certain elements of your health care record are passed on to the consultant when you are referred to hospital. Information to third parties, such as Insurance Companies, is only
disclosed with your consent.

At present the National Care Record Spine only holds demographic information (name and address) It is not currently possible for patients to opt out of having this information on the spine, however, you can request that your personal health information is not uploaded as part of the new National Care Record Spine service when this service is in place.

Our Practice Statement on Confidentiality is:

“We provide a confidential service to all patients, including under 16 year olds. It is our practice policy to ensure that anything you discuss with any member of the practice remains confidential. Even if you are under 16, we will not discuss any information you give us without your permission. This is unless it would protect you or someone else from harm”

PRIVATE SERVICES

The practice undertakes private medicals, insurance reports, examinations etc for our own patients. There is a charge for these services and a fee list is on display in the dispensary at each surgery. Government legislations means we are registered for VAT and this may affect the fee in respect of some of the services.