About Us

Facilities for the Disabled

There is a disabled parking space at the front of the surgery and wheelchair users easily achieve access to all clinical areas. There is a lift within the practice for access to all floors and access to the disabled toilet. We participate in the Sympathetic Hearing Scheme of the hard of hearing. Guide dogs (for the deaf and blind) an support dogs are welcome.

Information and Confidentiality

All the information we hold about you is confidential. It will not be released to a third party without your consent. This means we will refuse to give information if we feel that we do not have your consent to disclose it. This would apply even if the person requesting information were a carer or relation involved in looking after you. Where a referral for further care is made on your behalf information may be given that will assist in the management of your referral.

Access to Patient Information

The practice will only hold, use and disclose personal data in accordance with its registration under the Data Protection Act. Patient identifiable information is only passed to a person or body who needs to receive the information for the benefit of the patient concerned. Access to that information is on a strict need-to-know basis. Legitimate recipients of patient identifiable information include clinicians/agencies employed by the local NHS Trusts. Business or professional persons such as insurance companies, solicitors, and employers will not receive patient-identifiable information without the written consent of the patient. Transfer of patient identifiable information internally or externally will be in accordance with practice protocols, copies of which are available from reception.

Feedback

We are always happy to listen to any concerns you may have about the service we provide. If you have any concerns, or if you have any helpful suggestions about our services, please write or speak to our Manager at the surgery.

Any complaints will be fully investigated in line with agreed current practice and you will be notified of the findings. If necessary, a complaints form can be found at Reception. If you are not satisfied with the outcome, or if the in-house procedure is an inappropriate means of investigating your concerns, we will direct you to the appropriate investigating body.

Smoking/Mobile Telephones

Please note that it is now against the law to smoke anywhere on the premises including the grounds. Also all mobile telephones and pagers should be switched off whilst on the premises.

Research

We intend to participate in various medical research projects. If you are invited to participate you will be fully informed about the nature and purpose of the research. There is no compulsion to participate and you may withdraw from a project at any time. The practice is a RCGP Research Ready Practice.

Consent

We will always seek to obtain your informed consent before embarking on any course of action. Verbal consent is usually enough but occasionally we may seek written consent. In law children are minors until they are 16 years old and are not able to consent to any form of treatment or examination without authority from a parent.

We will seek proof of parental consent before agreeing to treat any minor except where exceptional circumstances exist. Some teenagers prefer to see the Doctor or Nurse alone. This is acceptable providing we have proof of parental approval for the consultation, preferably in writing but verbally will do.

The sole exception to treating minors is contraception. Here specific guidance in law allows a Doctor to treat a minor without first seeking parental approval. However, in these cases, we do ask minors to consider involving their parents.

Call Recording

All calls into and from the Practice, are recorded for training and monitoring purposes. All information is held in the strictest confidence.

Accountable GP

Upon registration with the Practice all patients will be assigned a named GP

The named GP is largely a role of oversight. It reassures patients they have one GP who is responsible for their care.

• Patients do not need to see their named GP when they book an appointment with the practice.
• Patients are entitled to choose to see any GP or nurse in the practice.
• The named GP works with relevant health and social care professionals to deliver a multi-disciplinary care package that meets the needs of the patient.
• The named GP ensures that these patients have access to a health check.
• The named GP will not take on 24 hour responsibility for the patient.