Confidentiality

The Data Protection Act 1998 and the ethical codes of conduct of all health care professionals require that medical data be treated with great respect for confidentiality. Confidential information held at this practice is shared with members of our health care team, as necessary, to ensure the best possible provision of care. All members of our healthcare team are bound by a strict duty of confidentiality.

Sometimes it may be necessary to share confidential data with individuals outside our healthcare team in order to provide you with the best care possible. For example, if the doctor refers you to another health care professional it is necessary to divulge confidential information in order to treat you properly. Information is only disclosed to those who also have a strict duty of confidentiality.

Occasionally we are asked to divulge information that is not directly related to your own health care. For example, we are sometimes asked to provide information for the purposes of education, audit or research or for the purposes of health care administration. It may not always be practical to seek your consent to this on every occasion. In all cases the person to whom such information is released is bound by a duty of confidentiality. The information disclosed is kept to the minimum necessary for the purpose and is anonymised where possible.

If you wish to register any objection to the sharing of confidential information as outlined above, or wish for further information or wish to discuss any issues of confidentiality, please contact the Data Controller;

Michelle Raymond (Practice Manager)
Fordingbridge Surgery
Bartons Road
Fordingbridge
Hampshire
SP6 1RS 

Any objection will be respected if this is possible unless the disclosure is required by law or is essential to protect you or someone else from the risk of death or serious harm. The Data Protection Act also gives you the right to see your notes or to have a copy of them. Please contact the Data Controller, as above, if you require further information or advice.

---

Access to medical records

Whilst we are responsible for the proper maintenance of your medical record during your period of registration with this Practice, these records remain the property of the Health Authority Fordingbridge Surgery is registered under the Data Protection Act 1988. We are required under the Data Protection Act 1988 to maintain your personal medical records in a confidential manner, and access to your records is therefore restricted to those persons deemed to be maintaining those records on behalf of the Department of Health and by those directly involved in your health care.

As a training Practice we are often called upon to facilitate research into clinical conditions and prevalence data. Only fully qualified medical staff undertakes such research and the data extracted is fully anonymised to ensure that no individual patient (Data Subject) can be identified.

As the patient (Data Subject) you have a right, subject to limitations under the law, to have access to your personal medical record. Enquiries about your medical history from such bodies as insurance/life assurance companies etc. are generally only permissible with your formal consent. You will normally be asked to give consent to such enquiries before your General Practitioner releases information. If for any reason you wish to view your personal medical record you are required to make a formal written request to the Practice Manager who will agree a date and time for you to visit the Practice and have access to those records. Whilst viewing your record you are at liberty to make any notes that you may feel appropriate.

You will be allowed to ask for copies of any information that you have seen and you will be asked to pay a nominal sum for these copies. You are not allowed under any circumstances to amend, delete or in any other way alter the records. If you believe that there is an error in your record, you must bring this to the attention of the Practice Manager who will ensure that your concerns are notified to your General Practitioner. The alleged error will be investigated and if the error is confirmed, the General Practitioner will amend your records accordingly.  

Michelle Raymond (Practice Manager)
Fordingbridge Surgery
Bartons Road
Fordingbridge
Hampshire
SP6 1RS 

Sharing Medical Information With a Third Party

You may, at some point, have a need to ask a relative or carer to contact us on your behalf.

Due to the strict rules and guidelines we work to, we require your written consent to permit us to share this information with another specified person. This is then recorded on your medical record so that all staff at the practice are aware of your wishes.

A copy of the consent form can be obtained from reception or download a copy here Consent.doc.

Once fully completed please return it to the practice.

.

Violent or abusive behaviour

Our staff are encouraged to handle all enquiries in a friendly and helpful manner and, wherever possible, to avoid confrontation. We are aware that for many patients their attendance at a GP Surgery can be a stressful experience. We endeavour to provide a clean and relaxing environment so that patients can await their consultation with the clinician in comparative peace.

Occasionally patients may for various reasons feel that they have a right to express their feelings in a violent or abusive manner. Whilst recognising that in some cases patients may feel there could be some justification for extreme behaviour, the other patients, our GPs, Nurses and staff are not here to be the butt of unreasonable expressions of anger. If a patient persists in such behaviour and continues to act unreasonably in either a verbal or physically violent manner we are at liberty to take action which may result in the patient being removed permanently from the Practice list.

We will, in extreme cases, enlist the assistance of the local Police to remove an offender and in this instance we will ask the Police to issue a crime reference number which will be reported to the New Forest Primary Care Trust. Violent or abusive patients who have been identified to the Primary Care Trust in this manner may subsequently find it difficult to register for medical services with an alternative General Practice in the locality, and may be referred to a special unit which deals specifically with violent or abusive patients.

Comments & Complaints

We make every effort to give the best service possible to everyone who attends our practice.

However, we are aware that things can go wrong resulting in a patient feeling that they have a genuine cause for complaint. If this is so, we would wish for the matter to be settled as quickly, and as amicably, as possible.

To pursue a complaint please contact the practice manager and she will deal with your concerns appropriately. Further written information is available on the complaints procedure from reception.

We are continually striving to improve our service. Any helpful suggestions would be much appreciated and a suggestion box is located in the waiting area.

The Health Service Ombudsman in England

The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman website contains detailed information on raising a complaint about any aspect of the NHS in England. There is also a leaflet explaining the procedure of bringing a complaint to the ombudsman.