Practice Policies & Patient Information
About Rosemary Medical Centre
We are an exclusively NHS family practice, working from a modern, purpose built surgery. We have a superb team of doctors, nurses, health visitors, reception and admin staff who are committed to the ethos of our NHS. But while our facilities are modern, our values are traditional, where patients’ needs come before costs.Child, Young People and Vulnerable Adult Protection
This practice is fully committed to safeguarding the welfare of all children, young people and vulnerable adults. It recognises its responsibility to take all reasonable steps to promote safe practice and to protect children, young people and vulnerable adults from harm, abuse, neglect and exploitation. GPs, staff and volunteers of this practice will endeavour to work together to encourage the development of an ethos which embraces difference and diversity and respects the rights of children, young people and adults.
Complaints
We operate a Practice complaints procedure as part of the NHS regulations and our system meets the national criteria. The practice complaints leaflet gives details of the procedure and is available from reception. Our aim is to give you the highest possible standard of service and we try to deal swiftly with any problems that may occur. Please help us to help you.
NHS England
If you wish to complain about Primary Care services you can either contact the GP practice or NHS England as follows:
Email: http://www.england.nhs.uk/contact-us/
Number: 0300 311 2233
Postal address: NHS Commissioning Board, PO Box 16738, REDDITCH B97 9PT
Dorset Advocacy
If you are unhappy with your local NHS and are unsure whether you need to make a complaint at all or simply want to raise some concerns that you might feel are important, then why not contact Dorset Advocacy. This NHS service is free of charge and is designed to offer advice and support to patients, their families and carers. They will be able to provide information on NHS services, listen and respond to concerns, suggestions or queries and will help to sort out any potential problems quickly on your behalf.
Contact a Dorset Advocacy on Tel: 0300 3437000.
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.
Freedom of Information
Information about the General Practioners 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.
CCTV is installed internally and externally for security. Recordings are used entirely at the discretion of the Partners including the provision of images to the police or other official bodies and will otherwise comply with the Practice’s Data Protection registration.
The Practice also reserves the right to record telephone conversations for the purposes of patient and staff care, security, and dispute resolution.
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
Patient Privacy Notice
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
Training Practice
We are a training practice, and are involved in the training of both medical students, Foundation Level 2 Doctors and GP Trainees. You will always be asked beforehand if you mind if a student is present during your consultation, or if you are happy to see a Trainee Doctor. Do not hesitate to say if you would prefer them not present.
Medical students are still undergoing their university training to become a qualified doctor, and are attached to the practice for short periods to give them experience with real illnesses. They will generally be sat in with a qualified GP but also have some of their own clinics.
GP Trainees are fully qualified doctors who have had several years experience working in hospitals and are in the final stages of training to qualify as a GP. They are attached to the practice for 6 months to a year.
F2 (Foundation Level 2 doctors) are Junior doctors in their second year, on a 4 month placement in General Practice. They undertake their own clinics, under supervision of our GPs in the practice.
Violence Policy
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.