PRACTICE CHARTER

This practice is committed to giving you the best possible service. This will be achieved by working together. Every individual should be responsible for their own health. Members of our team will endeavour to help you achieve optimum health.

Our Responsibility To You

• To provide a courteous welcome in a pleasant and friendly atmosphere.
• To see you within 30 minutes of any appointment you are offered at the surgery and, failing this, be offered an explanation.
• To have long-term medications and treatment reviewed at agreed regular intervals.
• To give you access to a selection of appointments which can be booked up to eight weeks in advance as well as the majority which can be booked on the day.
• To give full information about practice services.
• Health promotion
We will advise you of:
- steps you can take to promote good health and to avoid illness.
- self-help for minor ailments when a doctor is not required.
• The right to see your health records, subject to limitations in the law. These will be kept confidential at all times.

Your Responsibility To Us

Help us to help you

• Please let us know if you change your name, address or telephone number.
• Please treat the doctors and practice staff courteously at all times.
• Please be punctual for your appointment or, if you are unable to attend, cancel well in advance. If you are late for an appointment with the GP/nurse, it will be at the discretion of the practice whether you will be seen at the end of the surgery. If you persistently fail to keep appointments you risk being removed from our list.
• If you would like to see a doctor for a recurring problem or something you have had for months, or even years, please be flexible by accepting the next routine appointment.
• Telephone after 11.00am for telephone advice or test results. If you ring before that time you will only be asked to ring back later.
• Ask to be visited at home only if you are too ill to come to the surgery. If you are not sure, please ring the surgery and seek advice. If you need a visit, please ring before 10.00am if possible.
• When requesting urgent appointments or home visits please be prepared to give a description of your problem.
• If you have a regular prescription for the same medicine, please order repeat prescriptions in plenty of time (ie at least two working days).
• Please let us know how you feel about the service you receive. This will help us to improve our service for you and others.
• If you are dissatisfied with, or have a query about any aspect of the care or servicewhich you have received, please notify the practice manager or her assistant at your earliest convenience.

Violence

We strongly support the NHS policy on zero tolerance. Anyone attending the surgery who abuses the GPs, staff or other patients be it verbally, physically or in any threatening manner whatsoever, will risk removal from the practice list. In extreme cases we may summon the police to remove offenders from the practice premises

Medical Information And Confidentiality

All information and records are held in the strictest confidence. Access is restricted to healthcare professionals and the practice teams. All staff are bound by the rules of confidentiality. Patients can be provided with copies of their medical notes upon written request. If you have any concerns regarding the way your data is handled, please contact the practice manager. Disclosure of information to third parties requires the consent of the patient. You have the right to opt out of the NHS electronic care record service.