Values & Responsibilities

The Practice Values:

• Patients’ medical conditions will be managed in accordance with the highest standards as defined by the profession.  This includes being referred to a specialist where necessary.

• Patients will be treated with courtesy and consideration by all our staff.  All patient information will be treated as confidential, only being shared with a third party with the signed consent of the patient.

• Patients will receive appropriate information about their condition and treatment and will have access to information on the services we offer.

• The Practice will endeavour to educate patients on health care matters whenever possible.

• Patients will have the right to see their health records subject to the limitations of the law.

• Partners, nurses and staff will be encouraged to pursue appropriate further training.

• Partners will pursue the interests of patients in respect of the Local Health Board and / or regional planning issues.

• The Practice will undertake professional training as a service to the profession.

• NHS treatment should be readily available locally whenever feasible.

• Written protocols for the management of common chronic conditions will be followed when appropriate.

• Patients will be provided with information regarding the services available within the Practice via the Practice Leaflet and the internet.

• Patients with problems which are considered urgent will be seen the same day.

• Patients will be encouraged to see their own doctor whenever possible, recognising the problems produced by hospital commitments.

The Patients’ Responsibilities:

• Patients should attend their appointments at the arranged time.  If this is not possible they should inform the surgery as soon as possible.  Patients more than ten minutes late will not usually be seen.

• We expect that patients will understand that appointments are for one person only.  Additional appointments should be made for more than one person.

• Patients are responsible for their own health, and the health of their children, and should co-operate with the practice in endeavouring to keep them healthy.  We give you professional help and advice – please act on it!

• Requests for help and advice for non-urgent matters should be made during surgery hours only.

• Home visits should only be requested for patients who are seriously ill or housebound.  It is important to bear in mind that most medical problems are dealt with more effectively in the clinical setting of a well-equipped surgery or hospital.

• Patients should realise that home visits are made at the doctor’s discretion.

• Requests for visits and advice at night should only be made for true emergencies.

• Many problems can be solved by advice alone, therefore patients should not always expect a prescription.

• We ask that patients treat the staff and doctors with courtesy and respect.  All our staff are doing their best to help you.  Our Practice will not tolerate physical or verbal abuse towards any member of staff.  Abuse of our may result in the patient being removed from our practice list.