What Information We Collect About You

To make sure you receive the best possible care we keep information about you. This information may include:

• Basic details about you, such as address and next of kin
• Contacts we have had with you, such as consultations
• Details about your health and any treatment and care you need
• Details about treatment and care you receive
• Results of investigations such as blood tests
• Relevant information from relatives of those who care for you and know you well

This information may be stored on paper or electronically on computer files. You can help us to keep it accurate by informing us of any changes in your circumstances.

How Your Records Are Used

The main reasons for which your information may be needed are:

• Giving you health care and treatment. Those involved in your care need accurate and up-to-date information to assess your health and decide what care you need. The information may also be needed if you see another doctor, or are referred to a specialist or another part of the NHS.
• Looking after the health of the general public
• Reviewing and assessing the care we provide to ensure it is of the highest standard
• Teaching and training healthcare professionals
• Paying bills to doctors, dentists, nurses, hospitals etc
• Auditing accounts
• Carrying out health research and development
• Investigating complaints, legal claims or untoward incidents
• Making sure our services can meet patient needs in the future
• Preparing statistics on NHS performance and activity

For purposes other than your direct care, we use anonymous data wherever possible.

How We Keep Your Records Confidential

Everyone who works for the NHS has a legal duty to keep information about you confidential. You may be receiving care from other people as well as your doctor, eg NHS hospital trusts, Social Services, private hospitals etc. So that we can all work together for your benefit we may need to share some of your health information. We will only do this if there is a genuine need for it. Anyone who receives information from us is also under a legal duty to keep it confidential. Occasions when we must pass on information by law include:

• Notification of new births
• Infectious diseases that may endanger the safety of others, eg meningitis or measles Please note that information passed on about sexually transmitted infections is anonymous. However, as required by law, personal details will be passed on for cases of infectious hepatitis.
• Where a formal court order has been issued

We may also pass on information in exceptional circumstances, such as when the health and safety of others is at risk.

You Have A Right Of Access To Your Health Records

The Data Protection Act 1998 gives you the right to access information held on computer and in certain manual records. This right applies to your health records. If you want to see your records you should make a written request to the NHS organisation where you are being, or have been, treated. You should give your full details in order that information about you may be located. If you require a copy of the information, the following fees may be charged:

• A maximum of £10 for computer records
• A maximum of £50 for manual records

All requests must be dealt with within 40 days. Sometimes the doctor may decide to withhold information in your record from you. This only happens when the information is about other people, or it is felt you could be caused harm.

Further Information

Please speak to the executive manager if you would like to know more about how we use your information or you do not wish to have your information used in any of the ways described here. We believe that confidentiality is very important. Please speak to the executive manager if you have any concerns about the confidentiality of your information.

 Did you know? - When one health professional (family doctor, nurse etc) writes a letter to another health professional about the care or treatment you receive, you have a right to ask for a copy of that letter for your information.

For more information or to download a leaflet click on the link below

Your Medical Record

Health and Safety

Our practice policy is to establish as safe a workplace as possible for all persons working in and visiting the surgery premises.

All employees will be given access to information and equipment which they may need in order to work safely. The surgery also accepts responsibility for the health and safety of other visitors, such as patients and contractors, who may be affected by the activities of the surgery. We will ensure that any equipment used is regularly and efficiently maintained. In particular, we will maintain a Fire Policy to include the maintenance of fire safety equipment and we will ensure that all electrical equipment is serviced and tested as per legal requirements.

Under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, all employees have responsibilities to co-operate with the doctors and executive manager to achieve a healthy and safe workplace and to take reasonable care of themselves and others.

Zero Tolerance

The practice is committed to producing a high quality level of care to our patients. The relationship between the patients and those working in the surgery is an important issue and a two-way process. Therefore, in order to protect both the staff and patients, we respectfully point out that the following inappropriate behaviour will not be tolerated: 

•  Threatening or abusive behaviour
• Verbal or physical abuse
• Swearing
• Drunkenness

Such behaviour has a marked effect on staff and patients and, therefore, where such behaviour is observed, we reserve the right to withdraw from treating the patient and ensuring removal from the premises and from the practice list of those involved.

ALL ACTS OF CRIMINAL VIOLENCE OR AGGRESSION WILL BE NOTIFIED TO THE POLICE IMMEDIATELY.

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Did Not Attend Policy

A significant amount of doctor and nurse time is wasted every month by people making appointments, which they fail to keep. The practice monitors these 'did not attend' appointments and, where evidence shows a trend, the patient is contacted. The doctors reserve the right to remove repeat offenders from the list.

A simple phone call to the surgery not only tells us you are unable to attend on a particular occasion, but allows us to treat someone else.

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Freedom of Information

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 on request from reception.

You will be treated with respect as a partner in your care. Being a partner means that you, too, have responsibilities.

We will:

• Ensure that our patients have 24-hour access to medical advice
• Aim for you to have access to a suitably qualified medical professional within 48 hours of your initial contact during surgery hours, or in an urgent case, the same day
• Work in partnership with you to achieve the best medical care possible
• Involve you and listen to your opinions and views in all aspects of your medical care
• The prevention of disease, illness and injury is a primary concern. The medical staff will advise and inform you of the steps you can take to promote good health and a healthy lifestyle

We would respectfully ask that you:

• Let us know if you intend to cancel an appointment or are running late
• Treat staff with courtesy and respect. Reception staff may have to ask some personal questions to assist us in providing you with the best service
• Inform the practice staff of any alterations in your circumstances, such as change of surname, address or telephone number. Please ensure that we have your correct telephone number, even if it is ex-directory

As patients, you are responsible for your own health and that of any dependants. It is important that you adhere to information and advice given to you by health professionals, and co-operate with the practice in endeavouring to keep you healthy.

• We promise to treat everyone as an individual, with no discrimination.
• Our patients will be treated as people, not as a medical condition. This means we plan your care, emphasizing the patient"s individual needs, dignity and strict confidentiality.
• The care we provide will be research based and delivered with the highest standards. Advice, support and information will be available in order to help our patients make the right choices.
• We will set standards of care and review them periodically in the form of audits and we will act upon these results accordingly.
• We will help our patients to take responsibility for their own health.

New Hall Surgery is a training practice for doctors and nurses. As well as training medical students, nurses and nurse practitioners, we also have ‘Foundation Doctors’ attached to the practice for four months at a time.

These are fully qualified doctors who have completed a year or more as hospital doctors and come to us for experience in General Practice. Many doctors now spend some time in General Practice whether they intend to become hospital doctors or GPs.

Foundation doctors will often discuss your consultation with one of the partners at the surgery after seeing you. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask the receptionists. You may, on occasion, be asked if you would take part in this training. You are at liberty to refuse, but should you agree, you will be asked to sign a consent form to demonstrate your permission. This will be kept on your paper record. We hope that you will co-operate with us and help students to learn about General Practice.