Practice policies detailed below -
- SMS text appointment reminders
GDPR
Stopping prescribing of benzodiazepines etc for flying
Confidentiality and medical records
Freedom of Information
Continuation of 'red drug' reduction programmes from previous GP practices
Access to records
Complaints
Zero tolerance
SMS TEXT APPOINTMENT REMINDERS - we have started to send these out to patients for some types of appointments and this will eventually roll out for all types of appointments. Please ensure your contact numbers are kept up to date with us using the contact form on this webpage. If you do not wish to receive text reminders please let us know, again by using the contact form. May 2023.
25th May 2018 - GDPR - new laws determining how your data is processed, kept safe and the legal rights that you have in relation to your own data.
Confidentiality & Medical Records
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.
Freedom of Information
Information about the General Practitioners and the practice required for disclosure under this act can be made available to the public. All requests for such information should be made to the practice manager.
Continuation of 'red drug' reduction/removal programmes from previous GP practices
Where a patient has started with their previous practice, or their previous GP has intimated that they will start a reduction/removal of 'red drugs' our practice policy is that this reduction/ removal will continue in the same timescale. Support is available for this as we appreciate this isn't easy but we do expect engagement with this process and the recommended support.
Access to Records
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. No information will be released without the patient consent unless we are legally obliged to do so.
Complaints
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.
Zero Tolerance Policy
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.
Red 'on the day' appointment slots - for info on this click topic in above list. thank you.