Confidentiality
Patients tell us things they don’t want anyone else to know. Patient information is confidential and all members of our team have a professional responsibility to take your confidentiality seriously.
No member of our team will discuss your medical records with someone else without your consent. Anything you discuss with a member of our practice team will be treated as confidential, even if you are under 16 years of age. Although it is rare, there are a few instances, defined by law, when information can be released without your consent.
If you would like further information about this or how the practice operates please ask a receptionist for a copy of our brochure on confidentiality. Patients’ details are held on our computer system and the Practice is registered under the Data Protection Act.
If you have a query and would like more specific details about what information we hold, where we hold it and how we use it, please do not hesitate to contact the surgery, so that arrangements can be made to provide you with this.
Freedom of Information
Our practice routinely makes information available to the public in relation to its functions and activities. Under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, general practices are now officially required to adopt and maintain a scheme, which makes information they hold available. The Act asserts the right of individuals to obtain access to official information to the greatest extent possible, consistent with the public interest and the need to protect legitimate confidential information.
Individuals already have the right of access to information about themselves under the Data Protection Act 1998. You are also entitled to request information about the practice under the NHS Openness Code 1995.
Like other public authorities our practice is been required to maintain a Publication Scheme setting out the classes of information we hold, the manner in which we intend to publish the information and whether a charge will be made for that information. Information already available to the public can be accessed without using the Freedom of Information Act.
These classes of information do not include information about particular patients, members of staff or other individuals, nor does it contain information that may endanger the physical or mental health of individuals, including our staff.
If you would like a copy of our Publication Scheme or further information about the Freedom of Information Act, please speak to our Management Partner.