s part of the commitment to more personalised care for patients, NHS Employers and the General Practitioners Committee of the British Medical Association have agreed that all patients will have a named accountable GP.

The named GP will:

• Take lead responsibility for ensuring that all appropriate services required under the contract with the practice are delivered to you
• Where required, based on the professional judgement of the ‘named’ GP, work with relevant associated health and social care professionals to deliver a multidisciplinary care package that meets your needs.
• Ensure that your physical and psychological needs are recognised and responded to by the relevant clinicians in the practice
• Ensure that patients over 75 years of age have access to a health check if requested, which is already a requirement of the GP contract regulations. ​​​

The practice will ensure that there is a named accountable GP assigned to each patient.

New patients will be allocated a GP at the time of registration.

Your named accountable GP will be the same as your usual GP however this does not affect your ability to see any GP of your choice as you currently do.

The current NHS Digital (NHSD) extract of GP data for Research purposes (known as the GPDPR) has been delayed due to NHSD wishing to review the way in which this data will be collected, to conduct more public involvement and information about the plans and change the way in which patients can opt out of the extract of their GP data.

 

Currently the only way to opt out is to complete a Type 1 opt out form and return this to the practice by the 1^st September.  However, this extract will not be taken until the NHSD have changed the way it will take the data and respect the patient’s choice for using their data.  NHSD are introducing the following changes to the opt out process which will mean that patients will be able to change their opt-out status at any time::-

• Patients do not need to register a Type 1 opt-out by 1st September to ensure their GP data will not be uploaded.

 

• NHS Digital will create the technical means to allow GP data that has previously been uploaded to the system via the GPDPR collection to be deleted when someone registers a Type 1 opt-out.

 

• The plan to retire Type 1 opt-outs will be deferred for at least 12 months while we get the new arrangements up and running and will not be implemented without consultation with the RCGP, the BMA and the National Data Guardian.

This means that you can opt out at any time in the future and NHSD will delete data that they already have taken for research purposes, the deadline of the 01/09/2020 has been delayed until a new system of opt out is developed.  Hopefully, this will be a simple centralised approach via the NHS app or NHS website to avoid paper form and administration work for your GP.

 

We will update you when we know more about the NHSD plans to change how you can control who has access to your data.

 

 

(This Privacy Notice is to run alongside our standard Practice Privacy Notice)

Due to the unprecedented challenges that the NHS and we, [Practice Name] face due to the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic, there is a greater need for public bodies to require additional collection and sharing of personal data to protect against serious threats to public health.

In order to look after your healthcare needs in the most efficient way we, [PRACTICE NAME] may therefore need to share your personal information, including medical records, with staff from other GP Practices including Practices within our Primary Care Network, as well as other health organisations (i.e. Clinical Commissioning Groups, Commissioning Support Units, Local authorities etc.) and bodies engaged in disease surveillance for the purposes of research, protecting public health, providing healthcare services to the public and monitoring and managing the Covid-19 outbreak and incidents of exposure.

The Secretary of State has served notice under Regulation 3(4) of the Health Service (Control of Patient Information) Regulations 2002 (COPI) to require organisations to process confidential patient information in the manner set out below for purposes set out in Regulation 3(1) of COPI.

Purpose of this Notice

The purpose of this Notice is to require organisations such as [PRACTICE NAME] to process confidential patient information for the purposes set out in Regulation 3(1) of COPI to support the Secretary of State’s response to Covid-19 (Covid-19 Purpose). “Processing” for these purposes is defined in Regulation 3(2) and includes dissemination of confidential patient information to persons and organisations permitted to process confidential patient information under Regulation 3(3) of COPI. This Notice is necessary to require organisations such as [PRACTICE NAME] to lawfully and efficiently process confidential patient information as set out in Regulation 3(2) of COPI for purposes defined in regulation 3(1), for the purposes of research, protecting public health, providing healthcare services to the public and monitoring and managing the Covid-19 outbreak and incidents of exposure.

 

Requirement to Process Confidential Patient Information

The Secretary of State has served notice to recipients under Regulation 3(4) that requires [PRACTICE NAME] to process confidential patient information, including disseminating to a person or organisation permitted to process confidential patient information under Regulation 3(3) of COPI.

 

[PRACTICE NAME] is only required to process such confidential patient information:

 

• where the confidential patient information to be processed is required for a Covid-19 Purpose and will be processed solely for that Covid-19 Purpose in accordance with Regulation 7 of COPI
• from 20^th March 2020 until 31 March 2021.

 

 

 

Covid-19 Purpose.

A Covid-19 Purpose includes but is not limited to the following:

• understanding Covid-19 and risks to public health, trends in Covid-19 and such risks, and controlling and preventing the spread of Covid-19 and such risks
• identifying and understanding information about patients or potential patients with or at risk of Covid-19, information about incidents of patient exposure to Covid-19 and the management of patients with or at risk of Covid-19 including: locating, contacting, screening, flagging and monitoring such patients and collecting information about and providing services in relation to testing, diagnosis, self-isolation, fitness to work, treatment, medical and social interventions and recovery from Covid-19
• understanding information about patient access to health services and adult social care services and the need for wider care of patients and vulnerable groups as a direct or indirect result of Covid-19 and the availability and capacity of those services or that care
• monitoring and managing the response to Covid-19 by health and social care bodies and the Government including providing information to the public about Covid-19 and its effectiveness and information about capacity, medicines, equipment, supplies, services and the workforce within the health services and adult social care services
• delivering services to patients, clinicians, the health services and adult social care services workforce and the public about and in connection with Covid-19, including the provision of information, fit notes and the provision of health care and adult social care services
•  research and planning in relation to Covid-19.

 

Recording of processing

A record will be kept by [PRACTICE NAME] of all data processed under this Notice.

 

Sending Public Health Messages

Data protection and electronic communication laws will not stop [PRACTICE NAME] from sending public health messages to you, either by phone, text or email as these messages are not direct marketing.

 

 

Digital Consultations

 

It may also be necessary, where the latest technology allows [PRACTICE NAME]to do so, to use your information and health data to facilitate digital consultations and diagnoses and we will always do this with your security in mind.

 

Research and Pandemic Planning

 

The Secretary of State has directed NHS Digital to collect, process and analyse data in connection with COVID-19 to support the Secretary of State’s response to COVID-19 and support various COVID-19 purposes set out in the COVID-19 Public Health Directions 2020, 17 March 2020 (as amended) (COVID-19 Direction) and below. This enables NHS Digital to collect data and analyse and link the data for COVID-19 purposes with other data held by NHS Digital.

 

The purpose of the data collection is also to respond to the intense demand for General Practice data to be shared in support of vital planning and research for COVID-19 purposes, including under the general legal notice issued by the Secretary of State under Regulation 3(4) of the Health Service (Control of Patient Information) Regulations 2002 (COPI).

NHS Digital has therefore been requested by the joint co-chairs of the Joint GP IT Committee (JGPITC) (the BMA and RCGP) to provide a tactical solution during the period of the COVID-19 pandemic to meet this demand and to relieve the growing burden and responsibility on General Practices. On 15 April 2020 the BMA and RCGP therefore gave their support via JGPITC to NHS Digital’s proposal to use the General Practice Extraction Service (GPES) to deliver a data collection from General Practices, at scale and pace, as a tactical solution to support the COVID-19 response in the pandemic emergency period.

 

It is a requirement of the JGPITC that all requests by organisations to access and use this data will need to be made via the NHSX SPOC COVID-19 request process, that will triage and prioritise these requests and refer appropriate requests on to the NHS Digital Data Access Request Service (DARS).   NHS Digital will consult with representatives of the BMA and the RCGP on all requests for access to the data. An outline of the process for this agreed with the BMA and the RCGP is published here. Requests by organisations to access record level data from this collection will also be subject to Independent Group Advising on the Release of Data (IGARD) consideration. Data applicants will need to demonstrate they have a lawful basis to access the data for COVID-19 purposes.

 

 

Benefits of this sharing

 

Organisations, including the Government, health and social care organisations and researchers need access to this vital data for a range of COVID-19 purposes, to help plan, monitor and manage the national response to the COVID-19 pandemic, which will help save lives. COVID-19 purposes for which this data may be analysed and used may include:

 

• understanding COVID-19 and risks to public health, trends in COVID-19 and such risks, and controlling and preventing the spread of COVID-19 and such risks

 

• identifying and understanding information about patients or potential patients with, or at risk of COVID-19, information about incidents of patient exposure to COVID-19 and the management of patients with or at risk of COVID-19 including: locating, contacting, screening, flagging and monitoring such patients and collecting information about and providing services in relation to testing, diagnosis, self-isolation, fitness to work, treatment, medical and social interventions and recovery from COVID19

 

• understanding information about patient access to health services and adult social care services as a direct or indirect result of COVID-19, and the availability and capacity of those services • monitoring and managing the response to COVID-19 by health and social care bodies and the Government including providing information to the public about COVID-19 and its effectiveness and information about capacity, medicines, equipment, supplies, services and the workforce within the health services and adult social care services

 

• delivering services to patients, clinicians, the health services and adult social care services workforce and the public about and in connection with COVID-19, including the provision of information, fit notes and the provision of health care and adult social care services; and

 

• research and planning in relation to COVID-19.

 

Data may be analysed and linked to other data held by NHS Digital or held by other organisations to which access to the data is granted for COVID-19 purposes, through the process described above.

 

Data will be collected nationally from all GP Practices by NHS Digital every fortnight. All requests to access this data will be triaged through the NHSX SPOC COVID-19 request process and assessed and fulfilled by NHS Digital through DARS. This will significantly reduce the burden on General Practice at a time when demand on resources is high, enabling General Practice to focus on delivering health care and support to patients. It will also reduce compliance burden and risk for General Practice associated with sharing data and complying with the terms of the general legal notice issued under COPI, which applies to General Practices.

 

 

Legal Basis for this collection

 

NHS Digital has been directed by the Secretary of State under section 254 of the 2012 Act under the COVID-19 Direction to establish and operate a system for the collection and analysis of the information specified for this service: GPES Data for Pandemic Planning and Research (COVID-19). A copy of the COVID-19 Direction is published here:  https://digital.nhs.uk//about-nhs-digital/corporate-information-and-documents/directions-anddata-provision-notices/secretary-of-state-directions/covid-19-public-health-directions-2020.

 

Details of the information to be collected can be found on the NHS Digital website – Specification of this DPN. Type 1 objections will be upheld in collecting this data from General Practices and therefore the data for those patients who have registered a Type 1 objection with their GP will not be collected. The Type 1 objection prevents an individual’s personal identifiable confidential information from being shared outside of their GP Practice except when it is being used for the purposes of their direct care. The National Data Opt-Out will not apply to the collection of the data, as this is a collection which is required by law.

 

This information is required by NHS Digital under section 259(1)(a) of the 2012 Act to comply with the COVID-19 Direction. In line with section 259(5) of the 2012 Act, all organisations in England that are within the scope of this Notice, as identified below under Health and Social Care Bodies within the scope of the collection, must comply with the requirement and provide information to NHS Digital in the form, manner and for the period specified in this Notice.   This Notice is issued in accordance with the procedure published as part of NHS Digital’s duty under section 259(8) of the 2012 Act.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In August 2020, the NHS announced that the seasonal national flu immunisation programme criteria for 2020 – 2021 will be expanded to include patients on the SPL. Therefore, to provide information that will support the identification of patients at moderate or high risk of complications from flu, a revision to the weekly extract of data has taken place. This, version three of the extract for the purpose of maintaining and updating the SPL, will continue until the expiry of the COVID-19 Direction. This is currently 31 March 2022 but will be reviewed in September 2020 and every six months thereafter. The frequency of the data collection may change in response to demand.

Data collection extracted on a weekly basis week commencing 13 April 2020

Revised weekly data collection. The first collection is due week commencing 28 September 220

 

 

All patients with defined long-term medical conditions which pose a COVID-19 risk, identified as clinically extremely vulnerable to that risk and/or on certain drug treatments as below:

All patients with defined long-term medical conditions which pose a COVID-19 risk, identified as clinically extremely vulnerable/potentially clinically vulnerable to that risk and/or on certain drug treatments as below:

Medical Conditions that provide information on clinically vulnerable patients

• Severe asthma and dust related lung disease with relevant treatment in the last 12 months (asthma treatment & prednisolone OR high dose cortiscosteroid safety card)
• COPD emphysema, and associated lung diseases with relevant treatment in the last 12 months (COPD drugs OR high dose high dose cortiscosteroid safety card
• Non-asthma and non-COPD respiratory disease
• Cancer(haem and others)
• Genetic, metabolic or autoimmune disease
• Immunosuppression drugs in the last 12 months
• Flu-like symptoms or respiratory tract infections from 1 November 2019
• Transplants with severe Immunosuppression drug treatment in the last 12 months
• Pregnant in last 9 months

Medical Conditions that provide information on clinically vulnerable patients

• Severe asthma and dust related lung disease with relevant treatment in the last 12 months (asthma treatment & prednisolone OR high dose cortiscosteroid safety card)
• COPD emphysema, and associated lung diseases with relevant treatment in the last 12 months (COPD drugs OR high dose high dose cortiscosteroid safety card
• Non-asthma and non-COPD respiratory disease
• Cancer(haem and others)
• Genetic, metabolic or autoimmune disease
• Immunosuppression drugs in the last 12 months
• Flu-like symptoms or respiratory tract infections from 1 November 2019
• Transplants with severe Immunosuppression drug treatment in the last 12 months
• Pregnant in last 9 months

 

No change

• Patients designated separately as at risk from COVID-19 using high/medium/low risk SNOWED CT Codes, for example
• Patients designated separately as at risk from COVID-19 using high/medium/low risk SNOWED CT Codes, for example

 

No change

Patients with a COVID-19 activity code

Patients with a COVID-19 activity code

 

No change

 

Clinically vulnerable patients (eligible for seasonal flu vaccination)

• Chronic Respiratory disease
• Unresolved asthma with recent asthma drug treatment (in the last 12 months) or has ever had an emergency hospital admission due to asthma
• Chronic heart disease
• Unresolved chronic kidney disease stage3,4 and 5
• Unresolved diabetes mellitus
• Unresolved immunosuppression diagnosis
• Immunosuppression procedure in the last 12 months
• Chronic Liver disease
• Chronic neurological disease
• Pregnant in the last 9 months (different cluster to clinically extremely vulnerable group)
• In patients aged 16 and over : BMI of 40 in the last 12 months
• In patients aged 16 and over : Latest BMI in the last 3 years was 40
• Learning disability (including Down’s)
• Has a “requires flu vaccination” code
• Identified as a healthcare worker in the last 12 months
• Household contact of an immunocompromised individual

 

Other Potentially clinically Vulnerable patients

• Unresolved hypertension
• Pulmonary hypertension
• Dementia
• Systemic lupus
• Discoid and non-systemic lupus
• Psoriasis
• Rheumatoid arthritis and associated disorders

 

Additional Data items for Patients from the above groups

• Latest ethnic category code (all groups)
• Earliest code indicating that the patient has died (all groups)
• Latest smoking status (all groups)
• Blood pressure from the last 2 years (all groups)
• In patients aged 16 and over: all BMI and weight in last 5 years plus height (all groups)
• IFCC-HbA1c in the last 2 years (for diabetic patients in the flu group only)
• Latest COPD resolved and admission codes (for COPD Patients in the clinically extreme vulnerable group only)
• ACE inhibitors, ARBs and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in the last 12 months (all groups)
• Latest asthma emergency admission codes (for asthma patients in flu group only)
• Asthma-related drug treatments in the last 12 months (for asthma patients in the flu group only)

The Secretary of State has directed NHS Digital to collect, process and analyse data in connection with COVID-19 to support the Secretary of State’s response to COVID-19 and support various COVID-19 purposes set out in the COVID-19 Public Health Directions 2020, 17 March 2020 (COVID-19 Direction) (as amended) (COVID-19) Direction) and below. This enables NHS Digital to collect data and analyse and link the data for COVID-19 purposes with other data held by NHS Digital. The rationale for changing the data extraction is that the initial data collection was based on an existing specification for flu vaccination eligibility. This data extraction was then refined in order to more accurately reflect the patients who are clinically extremely vulnerable to COVID-19 and also to minimise the data we are collecting. A further refinement of the data extraction has taken place leading to the inclusion of new data being extracted. This will provide information to inform vaccination programmes. This General Practice Extraction

 

Service (GPES) data will be extracted weekly and be used to assist in producing a weekly update of the SPL. The objective of this collection is on an ongoing basis to identify patients registered at General Practices who may be: • clinically extremely vulnerable if they contract COVID-19 • at moderate or high risk of complications from flu or COVID-19. The data collected will be analysed and linked with other data NHS Digital or other organisations hold to identify: • a list of clinically extremely vulnerable patients who will be advised to take shielding measures to protect themselves. Advice given to these patients has been published by Public Health England and is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-on-shielding-and-protectingextremely-vulnerable-persons-from-covid-19/guidance-on-shielding-and-protectingextremely-vulnerable-persons-from-covid-19#what-do-we-mean-by-extremelyvulnerable • a list of patients at moderate or high risk of complications from flu to inform the flu call/recall vaccination programme.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Further information on the flu programme can be found here: https://www.england.nhs.uk/wpcontent/uploads/2020/05/Letter_AnnualFlu_2020-21_20200805.pdf

 

The extract may also be used for future direct care purposes relating to the COVID-19 outbreak. The methodology NHS Digital has used to produce the SPL is explained in detail and is published on the NHS Digital SPL website page here:

 

https://digital.nhs.uk/coronavirus/shielded-patient-list Patients

 

added to the SPL will be contacted by post, email (and/or SMS message where this is necessary) by the NHS on behalf of the Chief Medical Officer, Chris Whitty, to:

 

• advise of the measures they can take to reduce their risk of contracting the virus and sign-post them to the Extremely Vulnerable Persons service operated by gov.uk at https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus-extremely-vulnerable

 

• offer a flu vaccination or to contact non-responders who remain unvaccinated (as per NHS England specifications for the service). The SPL will also be used to inform GPs of their individual patients on the SPL, by flagging those patient records on GP patient record systems. The SPL will be shared with a variety of other organisations involved in the care and support of those patients and for planning, commissioning and research purposes associated with COVID-19. Full details of those with whom information has been shared can be found on the NHS Digital SPL website here:

https://digital.nhs.uk/coronavirus/shielded-patient-list/distribution.

 

Requests by organisations to access record level data from this collection will be subject to Independent Group Advising on the Release of Data (IGARD) consideration. Data applicants will need to demonstrate they have a lawful basis to access the data for COVID-19 purposes.

 

Benefits of the collection

 

Organisations, including Government, health and social care organisations need to access this vital data for a range of COVID-19 purposes, to help plan, monitor and manage the national response to the COVID-19 pandemic, which will help save lives. COVID-19 purposes for which this data may be analysed and used may include: • understanding COVID-19 and risks to public health, trends in COVID-19 and such risks, and controlling and preventing the spread of COVID-19 and such risks • identifying and understanding information about patients or potential patients with, or at risk of COVID-19, information about incidents of patient exposure to COVID-19 and the management of patients with or at risk of COVID-19 including: locating, contacting, screening, flagging and monitoring such patients and collecting information about and providing services in relation to testing, diagnosis, self-isolation, fitness to work, treatment, medical and social interventions and recovery from COVID19. Data will be analysed and linked to other data held by NHS Digital or held by other organisations to which access to the data is granted for COVID-19 purposes, through the process described above. Data will be collected nationally from all General Practices by NHS Digital every week. All requests to access this data will be through Data Access Request Service (DARS). This will significantly reduce the burden on General Practice at a time when demand on resources is high, enabling General Practice to focus on delivering health care and support to patients. It will also reduce compliance burden and risk for General Practice associated with sharing data and complying with the terms of the general legal notice issued under the National Health Service (Control of Patient Information Regulations) 2002 (COPI), which applies to General Practices Patients facing the greatest risk if they contract COVID-19 and/or are in the moderate to high risk of complications from flu:

 

• will be identified and known to health organisations

• will have a greater awareness of the recommended preventative shielding measures

• will be able to follow clear advice

• will be able to ask for help and support, including social care support and essential food supplies, through the Extremely Vulnerable Persons service operated by gov.uk.

 

It will enable the SPL to be updated weekly to identify new patients and changes to patients on the List and will enable support provisions to be more dynamic and responsive to both social and clinical need.

 

It will also enable vital planning, commissioning, and research to be carried out for COVID-19 purposes. If patients facing the greatest risk follow advice, it is hoped that this will contribute to the delay and mitigation of the spread of COVID-19 and save lives.

 

 

Visitors to The Practice

 

We have an obligation to protect our staff and employees’ health, so it is reasonable for staff at [PRACTICE NAME]to ask any visitors to our practice to tell us if they have visited a particular country, or are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms. This must only be in pre-approved circumstances and we would also ask all patients to consider government advice on the NHS 111 website and not attend the practice.

 

Where it is necessary for us to collect information and specific health data about visitors to our practice, we will not collect more information than we need, and we will ensure that any information collected is treated with the appropriate safeguards.

 

 

Review and Expiry of this Notice

This Notice will be reviewed on or before 31 March 2021 and may be extended by The Secretary of State.  If no further notice is sent to [PRACTICE NAME] by The Secretary of State this Notice will expire on 31 March 2021.

 

We store your records as stated in the NHSE retention schedule which can be accessed here:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/?s=retentionschedule

Data Sharing & Risk Stratification in North Staffordshire

We are introducing a system called Risk Stratification within North Staffordshire GP practices.  This system uses confidential information from your medical record to identify patients who may need more care and support.  We particularly want to be able to identify people at high risk of emergency hospital admission so we can offer more care to help improve their health and try to avoid a hospital admission.  Identifying each person’s risk of future admission is called Risk Stratification.

The information from your record along with your postcode and NHS number will be sent to a secure system where it can be linked with information from hospitals if you have been in hospital recently. Your personal results can only be seen by those caring for you in your own GP Practice.  Anonymised information which does not identify you can also be used to help those planning NHS Services in Staffordshire – but they will not be able to link this information to you as an individual in any way.

 

Please note that this local use of information for Risk Stratification is NOT the same as the Summary Care Record which is a national shared record, neither is it the same as the local sharing of records in the Local Health Record Network.

 

YOU HAVE A CHOICE

 

If you are happy for your information to be used in this way you do not have to anything.

 

If you DO NOT want your records to be used for Risk Stratification locally please speak to a member of the reception staff who will assist you.

 

Please click here to see Private Code of practice

 

 

 

If you wish to speak to the receptionist or other team member in confidence please ask at reception and you will be taken to a confidential booth.

 

 

In the first instance, complaints should be made to the Practice Manager. In more serious cases, you may be requested to put the complaint in writing however if you are unable or prefer not to do this yourself or if you feel that you need some help with this then please discuss this with the Practice Manager. As a patient, you have the right to be treated in a courteous and non- discriminatory manner. Your requests will be dealt with efficiently.

 

If you feel that you cannot approach the practice you can contact by post:

 

NHS England

PO Box 16738

Redditch

B97 9PT

 

Email: england.contactus@nhs.net

 

Telephone:  0300 311 22 33

 

If a complaint remains dissatisfied at the end of the Practice complaints process you then have the right to request an independent review.  The complainant must do this through the Health Authority by writing to the above address within 28 days requesting an independent review.  Ultimately complaints have the right to refer complaints to the NHS Commissioner Ombudsman.

 

Post:

The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman

Millbank Tower

Millbank

London

SW1P  4QP  Email: phso.enquiries@ombudsman.org.uk

 

Telephone:  0345 015 4033

There is a comments book situated in the reception area for any comments or suggestions. This is audited regularly by the practice manager.

Your Patient Rights

 

You have the right to confidentiality under the Data Protection Act 1998 (DPA), the Human Rights Act 1998 and the common law duty of confidence (the Disability Discrimination and the Race Relations Acts may also apply).

 

• You also have the right to ask for a copy of all records about you (you may have to pay a fee)

• Your request must be made in writing to the organisation holding your information

• There may be a charge to have a printed copy of the information held about you

• We are required to respond to you within 21 days

• You will need to give adequate information (for example full name, address, date of birth NHS number etc.,)

• You will be required to provide id before any information is released to you.

 

If you think anything within your medical record is inaccurate or incorrect, please inform the organisation holding your information.

 

Your rights and responsibilities to your GP Practice

 

• Every UK resident has the right to be registered with a GP Practice.

• Your GP Practice is your gateway to all other health services.

• You can see a GP within 48 hours if you want to be seen that quickly.

• You can book appointments in advance so that the appointment is as convenient as possible for you.

• Your GP Practice may offer a telephone discussion with a GP or Nurse if that is convenient to you.

• You can have at least 10 minutes with your GP / Practice Nurse to fully discuss any health issues.

• Your GP Practice can offer you general health advice or advice / treatment in relation to smoking, diet, exercise, alcohol consumption, drug usage, etc. They are not just there for when you are ill.

• Use your NHS services wisely, if you have an appointment booked but then don’t need it or can’t make it, then please remember to contact the surgery and cancel it.

• Everyone will be treated with dignity and respect – patients and staff alike.

• If you change your address or telephone number, please inform your GP Practice so that they have accurate information if they need to contact you.

• You are free to change your GP practice and choose another so if you wish to change your GP practice (for whatever reason) then you can –

• Just turn up at a practice and if you live within their geographical boundary you will be able to register and join the practice

• You will be offered an initial appointment with the Nurse or GP.

• The NHS Constitution brings together the principles, values, rights and responsibilities that underpin the NHS. For patients and the public this means clarity about:

• What they have a right to expect from the NHS

• What to do if they do not get what they expect

• The responsibilities they have for making the NHS work effectively

 

The NHS Constitution can be found at www.dh.gov.uk/nhsconstitution

How we use your Records:

 

• To Provide a good basis for all health decisions made by you and care professionals

• Allow you to work with those providing care

• Make sure your care is safe and effective, and

• Work effectively with others providing you with care

 

Others may also need to use records about you to:

 

• check the quality of care (such as clinical audit)

• protect the health of the general public

• keep track of NHS spending

• manage the health service

• help investigate any concerns or complaints you or your family have about your health care

• teach health workers and other healthcare professionals

• help with research

 

Information may be required for research, auditing and statistical purposes, but in these circumstances the information required will remain anonymous. If you do require any further information in relation to this, please ask to speak to the practice manager.