Patient Rights and Responsibilities
Patients have the right to confidentiality, respect, good service, a friendly environment, and good quality care in accordance with evidence-based practice. We will do our best to resolve any problems. If you do find yourself unhappy with anything, please let us know. We usually resolve complaints through our own complaints procedure outlined in our complaints leaflet which is available to download here: Complaints Leaflet or from Reception. Our Feedback and Complaints Officer is Karen Kennedy, Practice Manager.
As patients, we ask you to co-operate in your treatment, show patience at busy times, treat our staff well, keep your appointments, and help preserve a quiet and friendly environment in the waiting areas. We are required to advise that unacceptable behaviour from patients may result in their removal from our list. We will normally discuss the problem with the patient, and if removal from the list is appropriate, we will provide a written reason. The patient will then be expected to register with another practice.
Confidentiality and 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. An emergency care summary (ECS) allows out of hours doctors and nurses to access data on any allergies and your current medication. You may opt out of this by letting the surgery 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. Young persons (over 16years) are encouraged to discuss issues with their parents/guardians but have a legal right to see a doctor on their own with the same degree of confidentiality and access to medical records as adults.
Freedom of Information
Information about the GP’S 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.
