Suggestions/Complaints

If you have any ideas for improving our services please speak to the practice manager. We offer an in-house procedure for dealing with complaints. Please speak to the practice manager to obtain further information. We always attempt to resolve any problems quickly.

Forms For Completion

Many patients have forms that need completing by their doctor, eg disability allowance and holiday cancellation forms. These can all be left at reception and arrangements to collect them can be made. If you leave a contact number the doctor or receptionist can telephone you about any problems. Please note that for some forms that fall outside the remit of the NHS, there will be a charge for completion.

Data Protection

It is impossible to provide the best standards of health care without keeping information about you. This will include your name, address, date of birth and details about your next of kin and medical history. This information is held solely for the purposes of caring for your health. The records are stored both on paper and computer, and may take other forms such as x-rays. We have a legal responsibility to keep all the information held about you confidential. The obligations that the NHS has, together with the rights that every individual enjoys, are set out in the Data Protection Act 1998.

Information about you may need to be shared with others involved in your care from time to time, for example a hospital consultant or a district nurse. The sharing of information is specifically covered by the Act. It says that the sharing of sensitive, patient-related information is permissible for medical purposes provided that it is processed by: a health professional eg doctor, nurse, health visitor, or a person who, though not a health professional, has responsibility to preserve confidentiality. If you have any questions or need further information on data protection please speak to the practice manager.
Patients have a right to view all their paper and computer records. There may be a small charge for any copies of notes requested. Please speak to the practice manager for further details.

Freedom of Information – Publication Scheme

The Freedom of Information Act 2000 obliges the practice to produce a Publication Scheme. A Publication Scheme is a guide to the ‘classes’ of information the practice intends to routinely make available.

This scheme is available from reception.