News & Notices

Data protection

As a GP Practice, we have computer and paper records for all our patients. We are registered under the 1998 Date Protection Act and we make every effort to keep patient information confidential and secure. When you register with us, we create a new health record for you. We also obtain your past health records from your previous GP Practice. Patient health records include personal details, details of consultations and other contacts, test results and correspondence. The Primary Health Care Team (doctors, nurses, health visitors, district nurses, midwives, managers and support staff) use your information to provide healthcare and administer the Practice. The Practice may also share personal information with other people involved in your care, such as hospital Doctors. Your details will NOT be passed on to anyone not employed by the Practice or Trust without your consent.

Patients are entitled to request access to their clinical records – please contact the Practice Manager for more information regarding this or to request access. There may be a charge for this service. You also have the right to tell us if you would prefer that your information is not used in a particular way. Please speak to your GP or Practice Nurse if you have any concerns about how your information is used.

Contact details

Sometimes we or the local Health Authority need to contact patients either by letter or telephone. If you move or change your telephone number, please let us know so that up date our records. Returned mail to the Health Authority sometimes causes patients to be deducted from our list.

Your commitment as a patient

We expect you to help us provide an effective and caring service by:

• Treating members of the Primary Care Team with courtesy and respect – just as they will treat you.
• Treating other patients and users of the health centre with consideration and courtesy – just as they should treat you.
• Looking after your children at all times and ensuring that they treat other people and the building with respect.
• Keeping appointments and being on time, or giving as much notice as possible if you wish to cancel or alter an appointment. We can give an appointment you no longer want to someone else who needs it, if you let us know in time.
• Coming into the surgery, during surgery hours whenever possible and only requesting a home visit if you are not well enough to get to the Surgery. If you do need a home visit please try to ask before 10am.
• Requesting out of surgery hours home visits, or advice, only when truly necessary.
• Informing the practice of any change of address and making sure we have your telephone number.
• Making requests for repeat prescriptions at least two working days before you need your medication.

Violence & aggression

This Practice considers aggressive behaviour to be any personal, abusive and aggressive comments, cursing and/or swearing, physical contact and aggressive gestures.

No abuse of staff is acceptable whether verbal or physical. All abuse will be reported to the Practice Manager who will keep a log of all incidents.

All physical abuse of any of our staff by our patients is reported to the police. The patient will then be removed immediately from our list.

Any physical abuse by a patient of another practice will be reported to the Police and by the Practice Manager and to the patient’s own practice. A request for action will be made in all cases.

Comments, complaints & suggestions

We strive to provide the best possible service at all times. Suggestions as to how we can improve services are always welcome and can be sent via our website or in writing to the Practice Manager.

If you are unhappy about an aspect of your care, or the quality of our service, then please let us know. We have a published complaints policy which is available from Reception. Alternatively, please write to the Practice Manager and we will post a copy to you.