Practice Policies

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.

Our Patient Charter 2025 – Please click HERE

Freedom of Information

Information about the General Practitioners 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’re here to help
If you have a concern about our service, please let us know.
• We will listen
• We will try to resolve issues quickly
• Your feedback will be reviewed
Speaking to the Practice Manager
The Practice Manager is not available for immediate calls on demand.
However, your concern will always be reviewed and responded to.
How we handle your request:
1. Reception will take details
2. Your concern is reviewed
3. You receive a response or call back if appropriate
Formal complaints:
• Speak to our colleagues or submit in writing
• Acknowledged within 3 working days
We aim to resolve concerns fairly while maintaining safe services

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.