Practice Policies

COVID-19 Privacy Notice – Please click HERE

Confidentiality & 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.

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.

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 make every effort to give the best service possible to everyone who attends our practice.  We don’t always get it right but if you talk to us regarding your concern, most queries can be dealt with quickly and efficiently.  Our staff are very knowledgeable and should be able to resolve minor issues immediately.

We are aware that things can go wrong resulting in a patient feeling that they have a genuine cause for complaint. We are sad when this happens but we will listen and learn from your experiences allowing us to apologise and ensure future patient care is responsive, safe and compassionate.

To pursue a complaint please contact the practice and we will forward your concerns to the appropriate member of the management team.

Further written information is available regarding the complaints procedure from reception.

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.

For the safety of our patients, staff and premises, Newbold Surgery operates a CCTV system.

Infection Prevention and  Control Policy Statement 

Newbold Surgery is committed to the control of infection within the building and in relation to the clinical procedures carried out within it.

The practice will undertake to maintain the premises, equipment, drugs and procedures to the standards detailed within cleaning schedule and will undertake to provide facilities and resources to ensure that all reasonable steps are taken to reduce or remove all infection risk.

Wherever possible or practicable, the practice will seek to use washable or disposable materials for items such as soft furnishings and consumables, e.g. seating materials, wall coverings- including paint, couch rolls, bed curtains, floor coverings, towels etc. and ensure that these are cleaned or changed frequently to minimise the risk of infection.