Practice Policies & Patient Information
Access for children
It is current practice policy that children between the age of 11 and 16 will not be granted access to their detailed coded record. The practice deems it in the child’s best interests as the child may not be able to maintain the confidentiality of their record at home between those ages (i.e. being in a position to refuse their parent access to their record when the parent has the password e.g. around contraception etc.)
Children under the age of 11 may be granted access to their online records with their parents giving consent and keeping the password. Once the child reaches their 11th birthday their account will be disconnected as stated above. The child can then reapply when they reach their 16th birthday.
Complaints
We make every effort to give the best service possible to everyone who attends our practice.
However, we are aware that things can go wrong resulting in a patient feeling that they have a genuine cause for complaint. If this is so, we would wish for the matter to be settled as quickly, and as amicably, as possible.
To pursue a complaint please contact the practice manager who will deal with your concerns appropriately. Further written information is available regarding the complaints procedure from reception.
Confidentiality & Medical Records
The practice complies with data protection and access to medical records legislation. Identifiable information about you will be shared with others in the following circumstances:
- To provide further medical treatment for you e.g. from district nurses and hospital services.
- To help you get other services e.g. from the social work department. This requires your consent.
- When we have a duty to others e.g. in child protection cases anonymised patient information will also be used at local and national level to help the Health Board and Government plan services e.g. for diabetic care.
If you do not wish anonymous information about you to be used in such a way, please let us know.
Reception and administration staff require access to your medical records in order to do their jobs. These members of staff are bound by the same rules of confidentiality as the medical staff.
Data Choices
Your Data Matters to the NHS
Information about your health and care helps us to improve your individual care, speed up diagnosis, plan your local services and research new treatments. The NHS is committed to keeping patient information safe and always being clear about how it is used.
How your data is used
Information about your individual care such as treatment and diagnoses is collected about you whenever you use health and care services. It is also used to help us and other organisations for research and planning such as research into new treatments, deciding where to put GP clinics and planning for the number of doctors and nurses in your local hospital. It is only used in this way when there is a clear legal basis to use the information to help improve health and care for you, your family and future generations.
Wherever possible we try to use data that does not identify you, but sometimes it is necessary to use your confidential patient information.
You have a choice
You do not need to do anything if you are happy about how your information is used. If you do not want your confidential patient information to be used for research and planning, you can choose to opt out securely online or through a telephone service. You can change your mind about your choice at any time.
Will choosing this opt-out affect your care and treatment?
No, choosing to opt out will not affect how information is used to support your care and treatment. You will still be invited for screening services, such as screenings for bowel cancer.
What do you need to do?
If you are happy for your confidential patient information to be used for research and planning, you do not need to do anything.
To find out more about the benefits of data sharing, how data is protected, or to make/change your opt-out choice visit www.nhs.uk/your-nhs-data-matters
Do Not Attend (DNA) POLICY
Due to an increase in the number of wasted appointments through patients failing to attend appointments without informing the surgery, it has become necessary to implement the following policy:
If you repeatedly fail to attend appointments you may be removed from this practice list and may be required to find an alternative doctor.
If you cannot attend your appointments for any reason please let us know as soon as possible, giving at least 24 hours notice. We can then offer the appointment to someone else.
Freedom of Information
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.
GP Net Earnings
The average pay for GP’s working at Riversley Road Surgery in the last financial year was £76,004 before Tax and National Insurance. This is for 2 Full-time GP’s and 1 Part-time GP who worked in the practice for more than six months.
NHS England requires that the net earnings of Doctors engaged in General 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 does not take into account how much time doctors spend working in the Practice, and should not be used to form any judgment about GP earnings, nor to make any comparison to any other Practice.
NATIONAL DATA OPT-OUT PROGRAMME
The National Data opt-out will sit alongside the new General Data Protection Regulations/Data Protection Bill 2017 and is not replaced or changed by it.
Previously you could indicate a preference to enable your clinical data not to be shared with other health care providers or external organisations, which we as a GP practice could add to your record.
From the 25th May 2018 we can no longer do this and you will need to register with the National opt-out programme if you wish to take this step (details below).
If you have currently requested that your data is not shared, then you will be written to by NHS Digital advising you of the changes, but the codes which we have previously applied should be carried over onto the new system.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:
National Data Opt-out Programme web-pages and to join the mailing list:
https://digital.nhs.uk/services/national-data-opt-out
Understanding Patient Data – Wellcome Trust
https://understandingpatientdata.org.uk
National Data opt-out enquiries mailbox
New Data Protection Regulations from May 2018 (GDPR)
Under the new data protection regulations introduced from 25th May 2018, we will continue to contact patients via text messages regarding the delivery of care if they have provided consent to do so.
If practices are sending messages about recommended treatment for the management of a specific health issue, then this is defined as providing appropriate care for patients, not marketing purposes.
If you would like to opt-out of any future contact via text messaging, then please complete the form and indicate in the marked section.
Our ICB
Coventry and Warwickshire Integrated Care Board
Westgate House,
Market St,
Warwick CV34 4DE
Summary Care Record
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
Violence Policy
The NHS operates 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.
WE ARE MAKING IT EASIER FOR YOU TO FIND OUT HOW WE HANDLE YOUR INFORMATION
The data privacy law was introduced in the UK in 2018. As a result of this law we have published a Privacy Notice on the 25th May 2018, this makes it easier for you to find out how we use and protect your information. We will not be changing the way we use your personal information, but the new notice will provide you with additional details such as:
– Your increased rights in relation to the information we hold about you
– How we keep your personal information secure
– The types of personal information that Riversley Road Surgery collects about you, how we collect it, and how we use it
– The legal grounds for how we use your information
What is the Accessible Information Standard
The Accessible Information Standard is known officially as SCCI1605 Accessible Information. This is a new ‘information standard’ for implementation by all organisations that provide NHS or adult social care.
Compliance with information standards of this type is a mandatory requirement, including for NHS Trusts and GP practices. This is set out in section 250 of the Health and Social Care Act.
The Accessible Information Standard aims to ensure that people who have a disability or sensory loss receive information that they can access and understand, in a variety of formats, for example in large print, braille or via email, and professional communication support if they need it, for example from a British Sign Language interpreter.
The Standard requires organisations that provide NHS or adult social care to:
- Ask people if they have any information or communication needs, and find out how to meet their needs.
- Record those needs clearly and in a set way.
- Highlight or flag the person’s file or notes so it is clear that they have information or communication needs and how to meet those needs.
- Share people’s information and communication needs with other providers of NHS and adult social care, when they have consent or permission to do so.
- Take steps to ensure that people receive information which they can access and understand, and receive communication support if they need it.
Which patients are affected by the Standard?
The Standard applies to patients and service users who have information and/or communication needs relating to a disability, impairment or sensory loss. It also applies to parents and carers of patients / service users who have such information and/or communication needs, where appropriate. Individuals most likely to be affected by the Standard include people who are blind or deaf, who have some hearing and/or visual loss, people who are deafblind and people with a learning disability. However, this list is not exhaustive.
At Riversley Road Surgery, we will ask all newly registered patients about their specific needs when they register.
For existing patients, our staff will routinely ask when you visit. Please help us to communicate with you effectively by making us aware of your specific needs.
As of 1 April 2016, there has been a contractual requirement for the practice to offer online access to all detailed information, i.e. information that is held in a coded form within the patient’s electronic medical record. We currently offer online appointments, prescriptions and access to the patient detailed care record.
Any patient aged 16 or over can apply for access. You will be required to fill out an application form which can be obtained from Reception. You will need to provide two forms of I.D; one that proves your address and a second which is photographic ID (driving licence and/or passport).
We aim to activate your account within 28 days of receiving your application. This is only a guide and there may be some cases where this may take longer.
The practice may not be able to offer online access due to a number of reasons, such as concerns that it could cause harm to a patients physical or mental health or where there is reference to third parties. The practice has the right to remove online access to services for anyone that does not use them responsibly.
There are two levels of access that we offer to patients:
- Appointments, prescriptions and summary care records.
- Appointments, prescriptions and detailed coded record access.
Please let Reception know which services you wish to use.