Furthermore the doctors will request their immediate removal from our patient list.

Patients who are verbally abusive, without offering violence, to the doctors or practice staff will be warned in writing that such action is not acceptable and that any second occurrence will lead to their removal from our patient list.

This is obtained by making appointments from the range offered by the practice. Patients have the responsibility of keeping such an appointment, if at all possible. For more information about appointments, please visit our Appointments page.

Patients also have the responsibility of informing the surgery if they are unable to keep their appointment, thus making it available for another patient to book.

To cancel your appointment:

• use your NHS account (through the NHS website or NHS App)
• using the GP online system: Patient Access
• phone us on 01384 277591 during opening times
• reply CANCEL to your appointment reminder text message

They are attached to our practice for six to twelve months. The registrars usually become General Practitioners after completing their training.

Video Recording

There will be times when our GP registrars need to make video recordings of their consultations for training purposes. Intimate physical examinations will not be recorded, and the camera will be switched off on request.

The tape is used for the purpose of assessment of the registrar, for research, learning and teaching purposes. The tape will only be seen by persons who have legal access to your medical records. The trainer is responsible for the security and confidentiality of the video recording.

Should the tape have to leave the practice premises, it will be sent by hand courier or registered post. The recordings will be seen inside the practice, but may need to be seen in another location by personnel appointed to assess the standards of our registrar.

The tape will be erased as soon as possible but definitely not later than one year after the recording was made. You may be asked when booking an appointment if you wish to partake in this.

We hope you will give your permission and be able to help.

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.

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 Summary Care Record Opt-Out form to let the surgery know.

More Information

For further information visit the NHS Care records website.

• Summary Care Record (SCR)
• GP to GP Record Transfers
• Patient Online Access to Their GP Record
• Data for commissioning and other secondary care purposes

The same contractual obligations require that we have a statement of intent regarding these developments in place and publicised.

Please find below details of the practices stance with regards to these points.

Summary Care Record (SCR)

NHS England require practices to enable successful automated uploads of any changes to patient’s summary information, at least on a daily basis, to the summary care record (SCR) or have published plans in place to achieve this by 31st of March 2015.

Having your Summary Care Record (SCR) available will help anyone treating you without your full medical record. They will have access to information about any medication you may be taking and any drugs that you have a recorded allergy or sensitivity to.

Of course, if you do not want your medical records to be available in this way then you will need to let us know so that we can update your record. You can do this via our Summary Care Opt Out form.

The practice confirms that your SCR is automatically updated on at least a daily basis to ensure that your information is as up to date as it can possibly be.

GP to GP Record Transfers

NHS England requires practices to utilise the GP2GP facility for the transfer of patient records between practices, when a patient registers or de-registers (not for temporary registration).

It is very important that you are registered with a doctor at all times. If you leave your GP and register with a new GP, your medical records will be removed from your previous doctor and forwarded on to your new GP via NHS England. It can take your paper records up to two weeks to reach your new surgery.

With GP to GP record transfers your electronic record is transferred to your new practice much sooner. The practice confirms that GP to GP transfers are already active and we send and receive patient records via this system.

Patient Online Access to Their GP Record

NHS England require practices to promote and offer the facility to enable patients online access to appointments, prescriptions, allergies and adverse reactions or have published plans in place to achieve this by 31st of March 2015.

We currently offer the facility for booking and cancelling appointments and also for ordering your repeat prescriptions and viewing a summary of your medical records on-line. If you do not already have a user name and password for this system – please register your interest with our reception staff.

Data for commissioning and other secondary care purposes

It is already a requirement of the Health and Social Care Act that practices must meet the reasonable data requirements of commissioners and other health and social care organisations through appropriate and safe data sharing for secondary uses, as specified in the technical specification for care data.

At our practice we have specific arrangements in place to allow patients to “opt out” of care data which allows for the removal of data from the practice.

The practice confirm these arrangements are in place and that we undertake annual training and audits to ensure that all our data is handled correctly and safely via the Information Governance Toolkit.

For patients aged 75 and over, the named accountable GP is responsible for:

• working with health and social care professionals to deliver a care package that meets the needs of the patient
• ensuring that these patients have access to a health check

Patients can still choose to see any GP in the surgery. We will make reasonable efforts to accommodate their preference.

If you have a preference or want to know who your named GP is, you can contact us for more information.

You will be offered a health review when you join the practice. Any patients aged 16 –74 years who have not had a consultation within the last three years may request a consultation.

Over 75’s

Patients 75 years and over who have not had a consultation within the last twelve months may request a health review with one of our practice team.

If you are unable to attend the surgery, a home visit could be arranged.