Confidentiality & Medical Records
We ask you for personal information so that you can receive appropriate care and treatment. This information is recorded on computer and we are registered under the Data Protection Act. The practice will ensure that patient confidentiality is maintained at all times by all members of the practice team.
However, for the effective functioning of a multi-disciplinary team it is sometimes necessary that medical information about you is shared between members of the team.
Prescriptions and some of the consultation records are run purely on computer. This enables us to analyse various aspects of health care and to offer better care to our patients
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.
Complaints
We are very happy to receive compliments, constructive comments and suggestions for improving our service to patients. Please write or speak directly to our practice manager/deputy. Our aim is to provide you with comprehensive general medical care of high quality, but there may be times when you feel that this has not happened.
We have a practice complaints procedure. We hope you will use it to allow us to look into and, if necessary, correct any problems you have identified (or mistakes that have been made). If you use this procedure it will not affect your right to complain to the NHS Buckinghamshire. Please note that we have to respect our duty of confidentiality to patients and a patient’s consent will be necessary if a complaint is not made by the patient in person.
If you wish to make a complaint please telephone or write to the practice manager. Full details will be taken and a decision made on how best to undertake the investigation with your agreement. Our practice procedure is not able to deal with questions of legal liability or compensation. We believe it is important to deal with complaints swiftly. Occasionally it may take longer than expected but we will keep you informed throughout.
We will try to address your concern, provide an explanation and discuss any action that may be needed. If you wish to meet with the practice manager to discuss your complaint this can be arranged.
NHS Choices
Patients may add complaints or compliments to our NHS Choices web pages. We do not routinely respond to these, but patients are welcome to contact the surgery directly to discuss any issues they may have.
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.