Practice Policies & Patient Information

Accessible Information Standard

We are always trying to improve how we can communicate with patients. Please tell us if you need communication support or information in a different format, this is of particular relevance to patients who have a learning disability, impairment or sensory loss such as blind or deaf.

Please visit the following website for further information:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/ourwork/accessibleinfo/

Please click here to view our Accessible Information Standard policy and if you wish to inform us of your communication requirement.

Thank you

Complaints

If you have any observations regarding the service provided at the Hastings Medical Centre, we would be pleased to hear them.
If an occasion arises when you feel you need to make a complaint, please address this to the Practice Manager in writing as soon as possible.

Complaints on behalf of others:
Due to strict patient confidentiality if you complain on behalf of someone else (even a close relative) we will require a note signed by that person allowing you to do so, unless that person is incapable of doing so.

Confidentiality & Patient Records

The Practice maintains records about its patients on paper and on the practice computer system.
These records are strictly confidential and are held in accordance with the Data Protection Act, and the strict code of confidentiality laid down by the General Medical Council.

All staff at the Hastings Medical Centre are fully conversant with requirements of confidentiality and have signed a confidentiality agreement as part of their contract of employment. Patient records are accessed by the relevant staff as required for giving advice, prescriptions and treatment.
No information held on a patients record can or will be disclosed to any third party without written consent of the individual. The only exception to this may be in a serious criminal police investigation and/or on the order of the Court.

Eventually some very basic information about your health will be loaded onto a national patient record system which will allow clinicians anywhere in the NHS to access important information about you in an emergency. If you DO NOT want this to happen you should complete and return the “Opt Out” form in the Our Documents section of the website.

Fees for Non NHS Services

Not all services we provide are available for free under the NHS.

There are a range of certificates, reports and medical examinations that you will have to pay for including:

Reports for insurance companies
Medical examinations and reports for occupational or driving reasons
Forms and letters requiring a medical opinion or report

If you require a service that incurs a fee reception staff will advise you of this and you will be expected to pay before the service is carried out.

We will only invoice employers etc when we have a letter or email confirming that they will pay.

Payment can be made by cash or cheque.

Freedom of Information

The Freedom of Information Act 2000 obliges the practice to produce a Publication Scheme. The practice complies with the guidelines currently set under the Freedom of Information Act. A Publication Scheme is a guide to the ‘classes’ of information the practice intends to routinely make available.

For more information please visit the following website:

https://ico.org.uk/for-organisations/guide-to-freedom-of-information/receiving-a-request/

or alternatively click here to print out our leaflet.

General Data Protection Regulations

The data we hold about you in your GP Practice can be used to help with research and planning of NHS Services. To find out more about this and if you wish, register your objection to having your data used in this way, please click on picture below:

Access to medical records:

The practice is registered and complies with the Data Protection Act 1998. Any request for access to notes by a patient, patients representative or outside body will be dealt with in accordance with the Act. Please contact the Practice Manager for further information.

GDPR Timescales

Please ensure you select the correct application form:

GP Earnings

All GP Practices are required to declare the mean earnings (e.g. average pay) for GPs working to deliver NHS Services to patients at each practice.

The average pay for GPs working here at Field View Surgery in the last financial year (2018/2019) was 69,403 before tax and National Insurance.

This is for 1 full time GPs and 1 part time locum GPs who have worked in the practice for more than six months.

Patient Transport

Practice / Patient Partnership

We will treat you with dignity, courtesy and respect.

We would ask you to treat members of the Practice Staff in the same way.

The Practice operates the NHS zero tolerance policy, and verbal or physical abuse will not be accepted and may result in removal from the Practice list.

In cases where staff are threatened or physically assaulted the Police will always be called and removal will be immediate.

The Practice has a contract with NHS England to provide General Medical Services to the residents of the Practice Area.

Statement Of Intent & Mission Statement

Summary Care Records (SCR)

The NHS in England is introducing the Summary Care Record which will be used in emergency care.

A Summary Care Record 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.

Having this information stored in one place makes it easier for healthcare staff to treat you in an emergency, or when your GP practice is closed.

For further information about the scheme visit www.nhscarerecords.nhs.uk or telephone 0300 123 3020.

You can choose not to have a Summary Care Record. You can download an “opt out” form here. Furthermore you can change your mind at any time by informing your GP practice in writing.

If you do nothing we will create a Summary Care Record for you.

Children under 16 will automatically have a Summary Care Record created for them unless their parent or guardian chooses to opt them out of the scheme.