Patient Rights
Patients have the right of access to their own health records.
For more information, please see the posters and leaflets in reception regarding patients rights to health records.
Confidentiality
We provide a confidential service to all our patients, including those under 16. This means that you can tell others about your visits here, tests etc. but we won’t. The only reason why we might have to consider passing on confidential information without your permission would be to protect you or someone else from very serious harm. We would always try to discuss this with you first. If you have any worries about confidentially, please feel free to ask a member of staff. All our computer systems and policies comply fully with the Data Protection Act 1998.
Practice Registers
Our computer system keeps registers of patients with long term health problems like diabetes, asthma, heart disease or mental health problems. This enables us to provide the best systematic care for you. However, you have the right to refuse to be on such a register. If you wish to refuse, please let us know.
Freedom of Information
The Freedom of Information Act 2000 recognises that the public have a right to know how public services are organised and run, how much they cost and how decisions are made. This Act requires the Practice to produce a Publication Scheme, which is a guide to the ‘classes’ of information that the Practice intends to make available.
As well as accessing the information in the Publication Scheme you are entitled to request information about the Practice under the NHS Openness Code 1995.
From January 1st 2005, the Practice will respond to requests about the information that it holds recorded on paper or electronically (or in any other format). It will create a right of access to that information, with some exceptions which have to be taken into consideration before deciding what information can be released. Under the Data Protection Act 1998, you are also entitled to access your clinical records or any other personal information held about you.
The ICO has published a new Model Publication Scheme that all public authorities are required to adopt.
Model Publication Scheme - further information
Zero Tolerance
We operate a zero tolerance policy and will remove violent or abusive patients as per practice protocol.