In accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998 and Access to Health Records Act, patients may request to see their medical records. Such requests should be made through the practice manager and may be subject to an administration charge. No information will be released without the patient consent unless we are legally obliged to do so.

The Accessible Information Standard tells organisations how they should make sure that disabled patients receive information in formats that they can understand and receive appropriate support to help them to communicate.  All organisations that provide NHS or adult social care must follow the Accessible Information Standard by law. These standard include making sure that people get information in different formats if they need it, such as: large print, braille, easy read, email etc.

Further information can be found on NHS England’s website at: www.england.nhs.uk/ourwork/patients/accessibleinfo/  

Please let the surgery know if you require any communication or information support needs.

• Accessible Information Standard Policy

We make every effort to give the best service possible to everyone who attends our practice.

However, we are aware that things can go wrong resulting in a patient feeling that they have a genuine cause for complaint. If this is so, we would wish for the matter to be settled as quickly, and as amicably, as possible.

To pursue a complaint please contact the practice manager who will deal with your concerns appropriately. Further written information is available regarding the complaints procedure from reception, or by viewing the below link:

Complaints Policy

The practice complies with data protection and access to medical records legislation. Identifiable information about you will be shared with others in the following circumstances:

• To provide further medical treatment for you e.g. from district nurses and hospital services.
• To help you get other services e.g. from the social work department. This requires your consent.
• When we have a duty to others e.g. in child protection cases anonymised patient information will also be used at local and national level to help the Health Board and Government plan services e.g. for diabetic care.

If you do not wish anonymous information about you to be used in such a way, please let us know.

Reception and administration staff require access to your medical records in order to do their jobs. These members of staff are bound by the same rules of confidentiality as the medical staff.

When you register with us, you will be allocated a named, accountable GP. Although this doctor will have overall responsibility for the care and support that we provide to you, this does not prevent you from seeing any other doctor in the practice of your choice.

Similarly since none of the GPs here work five days a week, if your named doctor isn’t working on the day that you want to see or speak to someone, you can speak to any other doctor here as they all have full access to your medical records. If you want to know who your named GP is, please just ask a member of staff on reception.

There is currently a national shortage on the Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B Vaccinations. We have a very limited stock of the vaccination and this will be prioritised for at risk patients.

The NHS operate a zero tolerance policy with regard to violence and abuse and the practice has the right to remove violent patients from the list with immediate effect in order to safeguard practice staff, patients and other persons. Violence in this context includes actual or threatened physical violence or verbal abuse which leads to fear for a person’s safety. In this situation we will notify the patient in writing of their removal from the list and record in the patient’s medical records the fact of the removal and the circumstances leading to it.

• Zero Tolerance Policy

All of our patients have a right to confidentiality. This means that we do not share any information about you with anyone except those working for other health and social care organisations involved with your care.

However, you may wish other members of your family or close friends who might be involved in your care, to be able to talk to the staff about your care on your behalf. This can be particularly useful if you find it difficult to get to the GP surgery or communication is difficult for you (such as hearing a voice on the telephone) or if that person helps to care for you.

This form will allow you to enable us to share information about your care with the person you specify on this form. We need both you and the person you would like us to share your information with to sign this form. It is important that your carer or relative treats information about your care as confidential.

You have the right to allow access to all or only part of your medical information. For instance if you have had previous medical problems you would prefer your carer or relative not to know about, you can specify this on the form. You can also override this consent to share information at a later date if you wish, for instance if you are currently undergoing treatment for a mental health condition requiring a carer to be involved and then your condition resolves.

If you have more than one person whom you wish to give permission for us to share information with, please fill out a separate form for each and return to the surgery.

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• Consent to share information with relative/carer