Other Information
Complaints/Suggestions
The practice operates a complaints
procedure in line with national criteria. If you have any problems or concerns
which you are unable to have resolved at the time with the person concerned and
wish to take the matter further, a leaflet outlining the procedure is available
from reception.
Premises
And Access For The Disabled
Your
Personal Health Information
To provide you with the care you
need, we hold the details of your consultations, illnesses, tests, prescriptions
and other treatments that have been recorded by everyone involved in your care
and treatment, eg the GP, health visitor and practice nurse. This information
may be stored on paper or electronically on computer files by practice staff.
We sometimes disclose some of your personal health information with other
organisations involved in your care. For example, when your GP refers you to a
specialist at the hospital we will send relevant details about you in the referral
letter and receive information about you from them. Our practice also participates
in regional and national programmes such as the cervical cytology screening service
and your name and address, date of birth and health number will be given to them
in order to send an invitation to you.
We need to use some of your personal
health information for administrative purposes. In order to receive payment for
services provided to you, we have to disclose basic details about you to the NHS
Board responsible for this area and to the Common Services Agency for the Scottish
Health Service. These organisations have a role in protecting public funds, and
are authorised to check that payments are being properly made. We are required
to co-operate with these checks and the disclosure of your data is a necessary
part of our provision of healthcare services.
Sometimes, we may participate
in studies that are designed to improve the way services are provided to you or
to check that our performance meets required standards and benchmarks. Whenever
we take part in activities such as these we will ensure that as far as possible
any details that may identify you are not disclosed.
We are sometimes
involved in health research and the teaching of student nurses, doctors and other
health professionals. We will not use or disclose your personal health information
for these purposes unless you have been informed beforehand and given your consent
for us to do so.
Where you need a service jointly provided with a local
authority we will seek your permission before giving them your details.
Sometimes we are required by law to pass on information, eg the notification of
births and deaths and certain diseases or crimes to the government is a legal
requirement.
Our use of your personal health information is covered by
a duty of confidentiality, and is regulated by the Data Protection Act. The Data
Protection Act gives you a number of rights in relation to how your personal information
is used, including a right to access the information we hold about you.
Everyone working for the NHS has a legal duty to keep information about you confidential
and adheres to a code of practice on protecting patient confidentiality.
Further information on this can be found at www.nhsis.co.uk/confidentiality.
Anyone who receives information from us is also under a legal duty to keep
it confidential.
If you have any queries or concerns on how we use your
personal health information, or would like to access your information, please
contact our practice manager.
Violent Or Threatening
Behaviour
Any patient displaying violent or
threatening behaviour to any member of the Primary Care team may be removed from
the practice list. If you are dissatisfied with the service you have received,
please contact the Practice Manager.
