Practice Policies & Patient Information
Chaperone Policy
We will always respect your privacy, dignity and your religious and cultural beliefs particularly when intimate examinations are advisable – these will only be carried out with your express agreement and you will be offered a chaperone to attend the examination if you so wish.
You may request a suitably trained chaperone for any procedure, test or examination.
Friends and family are not permitted to act as chaperones.
Please note – both male and female clinical team members work within the practice, if you have a preference, please ensure you discuss this when you book your appointment.
Confidentiality
You can be assured that anything you discuss with any member of the surgery staff, whether doctor, nurse or receptionist, will remain confidential. Even if you are under 16, nothing will be said to anyone, including parents, other family members, care workers or teachers, without your permission. The only reason why we might want to consider passing on confidential information without your permission would be to protect either you or someone else from serious harm. In this situation, we would always try to discuss this with you first.
If you have any worries or queries about confidentiality, please ask a member of staff.
If you would like to discuss matters of a confidential nature, either with our receptionists or a member of the dispensary team, we have a side room available in reception for this purpose.
Data Protection
We need to hold personal information about you on our computer systems and in paper records to help us to look after your health needs, and your doctor is responsible for their accuracy and safe-keeping. Please help to keep your record up to date by informing us of any changes to your circumstances.
Doctors and staff in the practice have access to your medical records to enable them to do their jobs. From time to time information may be shared with others involved in your care if it is necessary. Anyone with access to your record is properly trained in confidentiality issues and is governed by both legal and contractual duty to keep your details private.
All information about you is held securely and appropriate safeguards are in place to prevent accidental loss.
In some circumstances we may be required by law to release your details to statutory or other official bodies, for example if a court order is presented, or in the case of public health issues. In other circumstance you may be required to give written consent before information is released – such as for medical reports for insurance, solicitors etc.
To ensure your privacy, we will not disclose information over the telephone or fax unless we are sure that we are talking to you. Information will not be disclosed to family, friends or spouses unless we have prior written consent, and we do not, leave messages with others.
You have a right to see your records if you wish. Please ask at reception if you would like further details about our patient information leaflet. An appointment may be required. In some circumstances a fee may be payable.
Emergency Care Summary
There is a Central NHS Computer System called the Emergency Care Summary (ECS). The Emergency Care Summary is meant to help emergency doctors and nurses help you when you contact them when the surgery is closed. It will contain information on your medications and allergies.
Your information will be extracted from practices such as ours and held securely on central NHS databases.
As with all systems there are pros and cons to think about. When you speak to an emergency doctor you might overlook something that is important and if they have access to your medical record it might avoid mistakes or problems, although even then, you should be asked to give your consent each time a member of NHS Staff wishes to access your record, unless you are medically unable to do so.
On the other hand, you may have strong views about sharing your personal information and wish to keep your information at the level of this practice. If you don’t want an Emergency Care Summary to be made for you, tell your GP surgery. Don’t forget that if you do have an Emergency Care Summary, you will be asked if staff can look at it every time they need to. You don’t have to agree to this.
GP Earnings
All GP practices are required to declare the mean earnings (e.g. average pay) for GPs working to deliver NHS services to patients at each practice.
The average pay for GPs working in Brackley Medical Centre in the last financial year was £70,419 before tax and National Insurance.
This is for 2 full time GPs and 7 part time GPs who worked in the practice for more than six months.
It should be noted that the prescribed method for calculating this is potentially misleading as it does not take into account the amount of time doctors spent working and therefore it should not be used to form judgements about GP earnings
IT Policy
Maintain the Confidentiality of all data within the practice by:
- Ensuring that only authorised persons can gain access to our systems
- Not disclosing information to anyone who has no right to see it
Maintain the integrity of all data within the practice by:
- Taking care over input
- Ensuring that all changes are reported and monitored
- Checking that the correct record is on the screen before updating
- Reporting all apparent errors and ensuring that they are resolved
Maintain the availability of all data by:
- Ensuring that all equipment is protected from intruders
- Ensuring that backups are taken at regular, predetermined intervals
- Ensuring that contingency is provided for possible failure or equipment theft and that any such contingency plans are tested and kept up to date
Additionally we will take all reasonable measures to comply with our legal responsibilities under:
Our Vision Statement
Our Mission Statement is:
“We aim to provide high quality, safe, personalised care in an integrated and forward-thinking medical facility which supports staff and allows them to grow and reach their full potential.”
Our Vision:
“To be an excellent practice for patient experience and clinical outcomes.”
Our Values are:
- Quality
- Innovation
- Integrity
- Compassion
We are committed to providing High Quality Care to all users of our services and advocate best practice in the delivery of all services. We aim to be considerate and responsive to the needs of our patients, and offer an open channel of communication to maintain standards and consistency in the level of service provided.
To achieve this we will:
- Listen to and understand the needs of our patients.
- Provide an environment which is clean, safe and welcoming without discrimination.
- Provide urgent appointments for those with immediate and urgent medical needs.
- Provide the opportunity for telephone communication where appropriate.
- Recall and review patients with ongoing and chronic health conditions and repeat medications.
- Support training for clinical and non-clinical staff encouraging Continuous Professional Development.
- Work as a practice in accordance with national guidelines whilst working with the wider healthcare environment to deliver innovative solutions.
- Remain caring, friendly and open at all times for all patients.
- Utilise available technology to enable all our clinical staff to respond effectively to your healthcare needs and embrace change and innovative thinking keeping governance and security to the fore.
- Maintain standard with our practice prescribing and ensure a time frame of two working days for repeat medication is met.
- Provide non-NHS services in a timely fashion against an agreed tariff.
- Work jointly with the patient group to communicate change and receive constructive feedback and observation.
- Respond quickly and pro-actively to any concerns you may have about the service you receive from us.
Personal Data
The following IT systems are in use at the practice:
- Referral Management (using NHS numbers in referrals)
- Electronic Appointment Booking (the facility to book routine appointments online and, similarly, to cancel appointments
- Online booking of repeat prescriptions
- Summary Care Record (uploading details of your current medication and allergies to the national “spine” so that these are available for doctors involved in your care elsewhere)
- GP to GP transfers (the electronic transfer of records from practice to practice when you re-register
- Patient Access to records (the facility to view your medical records online).
If you are not already registered for online access and would like to be please complete our online form.
If you would like access to your medical records enabled or would like to opt out of the local or national summary care record, please contact reception.
Privacy Notice
This privacy notice lets you know what happens to any personal data that you give to us, or any that we may collect from or about you.
This privacy notice applies to personal information processed by or on behalf of the practice.
We are working closely with St Andrew’s Healthcare to provide outreach services for patients with severe mental health illnesses who require annual physical health checks. Relevant clinical information will be shared for direct patient care.
Responsibilities
Patient Responsibilities
- We ask that you treat our doctors and practice staff with courtesy and respect.
- The first hour in the morning can be extremely busy. Please keep telephone calls brief. If possible, leave routine calls until later in the day.
- Please speak to a member of the practice staff if you wish to see your medical records. You are entitled to do this under the Data Protection Act 1998.
- Please contact the surgery between 8.30am and 10.00am for a home visit during the day.
- If tests are done, please wait five days before ringing to find out the result. We also ask that you respect our policy that for confidentiality reasons, we only give results to the patient concerned and not to family members, unless of course, they are for children under 16 or alternative arrangements have been made in writing.
- Please read the rest of the practice booklet or read through this website to get the best out of the services available.
- You can discuss any medical matter with a doctor, including asking for a second opinion.
- Please let us know if you are unable to keep an appointment. We can then offer this appointment to someone else.
- Contact the hospital concerned if you have not had an acknowledgement of a routine referral for a hospital appointment within six weeks.
Surgery Responsibilities
- You will be treated as an individual and will be shown courtesy and respect at all times. You have the right to be treated confidentially.
- Religious and cultural beliefs will be honoured.
- We will always aim to answer the telephone promptly and courteously.
- You have the right to information about your own health (illness and treatment, possible side effects, prevention of recurring illnesses). We will offer medical advice and information for promotion of good health. You have the right to see your own medical records subject to the limitations of the law. A charge may be made.
- Home visits will be made when requested and if a doctor feels that you are not well enough to attend the surgery. The final decision rests with the doctor.
- We will give you test results within reasonable time when you telephone for them or you may be asked to make an appointment to discuss them with the doctor.
- On registering as a new patient you will be asked to attend an initial health check.
- If your doctor believes that you need a second opinion, they will arrange this.
- You will be given a time to see the doctor in accordance with the system used in this practice. If there is a substantial delay for any reason, you will be given an explanation.
- Repeat prescriptions will normally be ready within 2 working days from the surgery, or 72 hours for collection from a local pharmacy following your written request arriving at the surgery.
- Routine referral letters for hospital appointments will normally be dispatched within three working days of the referral being completed and approved by the doctor for our secretaries to process (the doctor may not be able to do this on the day of your appointment). Urgent referrals for hospital appointments are processed as a priority and may be emailed, telephoned or provided as a handwritten note for the patient to take to the hospital
Suggestions and Complaints
Your comments and suggestions are important to us, please click on the link below and complete the form to send them to us. Please only use this form for comments about the practice and suggestions as to how we can improve our service to you.
Medical matters and official complaints cannot be dealt with via this form. If you have a query regarding a medical matter please telephone reception to make an appointment to see the appropriate person.
Want to make a complaint
The practice strives very hard to ensure that everyone receives quality care and welcomes any suggestions or comments you may have that may improve the service offered. Should you feel your needs are not being met we welcome the opportunity to discuss this with you. Please contact the Practice Manager who will be happy to deal with your complaint.
Additional information
If patients don’t wish to complain direct to the practice then the route in the first instance should be NHS England:
Tel: 03003 112233 Email: [email protected]
If you are not happy with the response from NHS England then the next step is to contact the Health Service Ombudsman:
Tel: 0345 015 4033 Website: www.ombudsman.org.uk
Summary Care Record
Your patient record is held securely and confidentially on the electronic system at your GP practice. If you require treatment in another NHS healthcare setting such as an Emergency Department or Minor Injury Unit, those treating you would be better able to give you appropriate care if some of the information from the GP practice were available to them.
This information can now be shared electronically via: The Summary Care Record, used nationally across England
The information will be used only by authorised health care professionals directly involved in your care. Your permission will be asked before the information is accessed, unless the clinician is unable to ask you and there is a clinical reason for access.
If you would like to opt out, please ask reception for our opt out form.
A parent or guardian can request to opt out children under 16 but ultimately it is the GP’s decision whether to create the records or not, because of their duty of care to the child. If you are the parent or guardian of a child under 16 and feel that they are able to understand, then you should make this information available to them.
Who Has Access?
Across all health care settings, including urgent care, community care and outpatient departments in England.
Information Source
GP record
Content
- Your current medications
- Any allergies you have
- Any bad reactions you have had to medicines
- Additional information (upon request to your GP)
For more information visit:
www.digital.nhs.uk
Training Policy
GPs in Training
Our practice is approved to train fully qualified doctors who wish to specialise in general practice. Our GP registrar will have had 2-4 years of experience as a qualified hospital doctor working in various specialities. They consult patients on their own, under the mentorship of our trainer, Dr xxxxx. Occasionally we ask permission to video a consultation. You will always be asked in advance and are given the option not to take part, and this will not affect your care in any way. No recording will be taken without your consent and the camera will be switched off on request. These videos are used only for educational purposes with the doctor doing the consultation and are destroyed after use.
Dr xxxxx is currently the GP registrar at the practice.
Medical Students
Medical students are sometimes attached to the practice for 2 – 3 weeks as part of their training. If you do not wish a student to be present during your consultation, please inform the receptionist.
Violence 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.