It is the policy of this practice to respect the privacy, dignity, cultural and religious beliefs of all of our patients.

If you would like a chaperone to be present during a physical or intimate examination by a doctor or other healthcare professional who may be consulting at the surgery or if you would prefer to be examined by a same sex doctor or healthcare professional then please let us know and we will do our best to comply with your wishes. Please mention this to one of our receptionists ot the healthcare professional you are seeing for your consultation.

Similarly there may be occasions when the doctor or healthcare professional you are seeing feels it appropriate for a chaperone to be present . If this is the case then they will tell you and explain the reasons why.

Intimate examinations may include genital, rectal or breast examinations.

All practice staff who act as chaperones have received appropriate training. This includes regular updates.

In the event that a chaperone is not available at the time of the appointment, we may postpone the examination or propose that the patient is examined by another doctor ( for example a doctor of the same sex) if at all possible. If the doctor feels that to delay the examination would not be in your best interests this will be explained at the time but the final decision will be yours.

We strive to provide the best services possible, but there may be times when you feel that this has not happened or our service could be improved. A suggestion box is located in the waiting area for your informal comments.

Alternatively, our Practice Manager, Keely Wilson would be happy to hear your views. Please ask at reception to see her.

If you wish to make a formal complaint about any aspect of our service, this will be dealt with in accordance with the practice complaints procedure, a copy of which is available upon request. This can also be downloaded below.

In the first instance, please ask to speak to Keely or the deputy practice manager if she isn’t available.

Please be aware that if a complaint is received from a patient, the practice may need to provide information about the patient, and the treatment they have received, to insurers or legal advisors.

If you would prefer to send in a written complaint then a form to help you to do this is can be downloaded here.

As a practice we are registered under the Data Protection Act 1998 under section PO67 Health Care Administration. This means that we hold computer data of every patient’s medical history, which is used by the GP’s each time a patient visits the surgery and by other members of the practice team in the course of their day- to-day work.

The ethics of the medical profession deem that disclosures will only be made in accordance with a strict code of professional confidentiality. You are entitled to see a copy of your medical records upon request, although a fee may be payable.

Freedom of Information

Information about the General Practitoners and the practice required for disclosure under this act can be made available to the public. All requests for such information should be made to the practice manager.

Access to Records

In accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998 and Access to Health Records Act, patients may request to see their medical records. Such requests should be made through the practice manager and may be subject to an administration charge. No information will be released without the patient consent unless we are legally obliged to do so.

All GP practices are required to declare the mean earnings (e.g. average pay) for GP’s working to deliver NHS services to patients at each practice.

“The average pay for GPs working in the Saxon Cross Surgery in the last financial year was £26,334 before tax and national insurance.  This is for 9 part time GPs who worked in the practice for more than six months

It should be noted that the prescribed method for calculating earnings is potentially misleading because it takes no account of how much time doctors spend working in the practice, it should not be used to form any judgement about GP earnings, nor to make a comparison with any other practice.

Disclaimer

NHS England requires that the net earnings of doctors engaged in the practice is publicised, and the required disclosure is shown above.  However it should be noted that the prescribed method for calculating earnings is potentially misleading because it takes no account of how much time doctors spend working in the practice, and should not be used to form any judgement about GP earnings, nor to make any comparison with any other practice.

 Updated March 2023

How sharing information in your medical records can help the NHS to provide better care

A modern information system has been developed, which will make increased use of information from medical records with the intention of improving health services. The system is being delivered by the Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC) and NHS England on behalf of the NHS.

It is important that the NHS can use this information to get a complete picture of what is happening across health and social care and to plan services according to what works best. The new system will provide joined-up information about the care received from all of the different parts of the health service, including hospitals and GP practices.

Your date of birth, full postcode, NHS Number and gender rather than your name will be used to link your records in a secure system, managed by the HSCIC. Once this information has been linked a new record will be created. This new record will not contain information that identifies you. The type of information shared, and how it is shared, is controlled by law and strict confidentiality rules.

The new system will also provide information that will enable the public to hold the NHS to account and ensure that any unacceptable standards of care are identified as quickly as possible. Information will help to:

• find more effective ways of preventing, treating and managing illnesses
• guide local decisions about changes that are needed to respond to the needs of local patients
• support public health by anticipating risks of particular diseases and conditions, and help us to take action to prevent problems
• improve the public’s understanding of the outcomes of care, giving them confidence in health and care services
• guide decisions about how to manage NHS resources so that they can best support the treatment and management of illness for the benefit of patients

It is important that you read the leaflet How information about you helps us to provide better care ,so that you understand how information in medical records can be used to improve the way that healthcare is delivered.

If you are happy for your information to be used then you do not need to do anything. But if you have concerns you should talk to your GP.

If you do not want information that identifies you from being shared outside your GP practice, talk to a member of staff at your practice. They will make a note of this in your medical record. This will prevent your information being used other than where necessary by law, such as in case of a public health emergency. You will also be able to restrict the use of information held by other places you receive care from. However, this will not affect the care you receive.

You can change your mind at any time and as many times as you wish. Just speak to your GP practice and ask them to record your wishes. For example, if you state that you are happy for your information to be used then you later decide that you object, tell your GP and the HSCIC will then ensure that any information they have from your GP practice and that could identify you is removed.

Information from GP practices will begin to be extracted and sent to the HSCIC in the autumn 2013. The GP data will be linked with the hospital data already held by the HSCIC.

For more information about how data is collected and shared, including confidentiality, download the FAQ for patients  produced by the HSCIC and NHS England.

Source : NHS Choices – Your Records

Click here to view the practice privacy notice

There is a new Central NHS Computer System called the Summary Care Record (SCR). It is an electronic record which contains information about the medicines you take, allergies you suffer from and any bad reactions to medicines you have had.

Why do I need a Summary Care Record?

Storing information in one place makes it easier for healthcare staff to treat you in an emergency, or when your GP practice is closed.

This information could make a difference to how a doctor decides to care for you, for example which medicines they choose to prescribe for you.

Who can see it?

Only healthcare staff involved in your care can see your Summary Care Record.

How do I know if I have one?

Over half of the population of England now have a Summary Care Record. You can find out whether Summary Care Records have come to your area by looking at our interactive map or by asking your GP

Do I have to have one?

No, it is not compulsory. If you choose to opt out of the scheme, then you will need to complete a form and bring it along to the surgery. You can use the form at the foot of this page.

More Information

For further information visit the NHS Care records website.

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.