OUR PRACTICE STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
Our aim is to provide the best possible health care for our patient population.
To ensure that the services are easily accessible, efficient and responsive to the needs of our patient population.
To maintain a pleasant, safe and efficient working environment for our patients, staff and other NHS Healthcare Agencies working within the practice.
To include all members of the team and our Patient Participation Group in decision making by encouraging teamwork and good communication.
Practice Charter
The surgery team aim to provide the best possible health care for our patient population.
We will utilise the resources available to ensure that the services are easily accessible, efficient and responsive to the needs of our patients.
About Your Rights
As an NHS patient you are entitled:
To receive general medical care from a GP on the basis of a clinical need and regardless of ability to pay.
To change your doctor if you want, quickly and easily.
To receive medical care services.
To be treated under the NHS by a GP if you are away from home.
To be treated by another GP in the practice if your own is not available.
To be offered a health check when first registering with a GP.
To have appropriate medicines and appliances prescribed when necessary.
To be referred to a consultant or specialist when your GP thinks necessary and be referred for a second specialist opinion if you and your doctor agree it is desirable.
To be assured of confidentiality in all contacts with your GP and practice staff.
To receive, free of charge, certificates for statutory sick pay for illness lasting more than six days and other statutory certificates where appropriate.
To have clearly explained the diagnosis, proposed treatment, major risks and any alternatives.
To have access to your health records held on computer or hand written, subject to any limitations in the law.
To receive an up-to-date information booklet.
To choose whether or not to take part in medical research and medical student training.
To choose to be registered with a doctor who provides contraceptive and maternity services. A patient may choose her own or any doctor that provides these services.
Where appropriate, to receive invitations for cervical screening.
To receive appropriate childhood vaccinations and immunisations.
To receive an invitation for free breast screening if you are a woman aged between 50 and 64 years old.
To receive advice about health, diet, exercise, smoking, alcohol, drugs and solvent abuse.
To have a complaint about any NHS service investigated and to receive a full and prompt written reply from the Chief Executive of the relevant health authority.
To see any medical report written about you for the purposes of insurance or employment.
What You Can Expect From Us
You have a right to be treated with courtesy. We will respect your cultural, religious and moral beliefs.
We will aim to see you within 20 minutes of your appointment time. When we are running late, there is usually a good explanation.
We will aim to offer an appointment with a doctor within four working days.
A doctor will always be available to assess more serious problems by telephone. They will decide to give advice, suggest a surgery or hospital attendance or arrange a home visit.
You have a right to information about your health. You can bring a friend or relative to the consultation if you wish.
You have a right to be referred to a consultant acceptable to you when your GP thinks it necessary.
You have a right to complete confidentiality in matters relating to your health.
You have a right to see your medical records written after November 1st 1991. This is at the discretion of the GP. It may be necessary to withhold certain information as it might be harmful to the patient. Under the items of the Data Protection Act, the practice is at liberty to charge a reasonable fee.
We will deal with complaints promptly and objectively. Our aim would be to produce a positive outcome for all concerned.
What We Expect From You
Please be courteous and polite when dealing with members of the practice team.
Please inform us if you cannot attend an appointment and please remember that an appointment should be for one person only.
Do not assume that a consultation will result in a prescription or referral unless the doctor considers it clinically necessary.
Home visits are for patients who are housebound or are too ill to attend the surgery. Requests for home visits should be made by 10:00 where possible.
At nights and weekends GPs are on call for emergencies only. Please do not ring about something that could wait until the next surgery. If you do ring NHS 111, you can be given telephone advice or you can be offered a consultation where considered appropriate.
Be prepared to wait 48 hours (two full working days) after requesting a repeat prescription. Do not ask the doctor to write out prescriptions that are obtainable via the computer. You should have a repeat prescription computer slip with your own personal number.