Practice Policies

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.

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 write to the practice manager who will deal with your concerns appropriately.

Verbal Abuse

We operate a zero-tolerance policy on verbal and physical abuse. We treat our patients with dignity and respect, and in return we ask for the same courtesy to be extended to staff within our practice.

Any behaviour that is physical or verbally aggressive will not be tolerated. This policy extends to the practice premise, car park, and any employee away from the practice, in relation to the business activities.

Any instance or threat of verbal or physical abuse will be reported to An Garda Síochána. A written record will be kept on file, a warning letter will be issued by the practice, and you may be removed from our patient listing, and be required to register with another general practitioner.

Continuity of Care for Patients