Statement of Intent – Online Access

ELECTRONIC PATIENT RECORDS

STATEMENT OF INTENT FOR BARNSBURY MEDICAL PRACTICE

Nationally the way GP records are managed in the NHS is changing in three important ways.

Summary Care Record (SCR)
GP to GP Record Transfers
Patient Online Access to Their GP Record

These changes do not let your records be shared outside of the team of professionals who look after you. They are designed to improve and speed up your care and let you have more access to what is in your medical records.

If you want to find out more about these, or any other way in which your records are handled, please read the leaflets available in your practice or speak to a member of practice staff.

Patient Online Access to Their GP Record
As you may know, we already offer the facility for booking and cancelling appointments and also for ordering your repeat prescriptions online. Alongside this, all patients in England will have access to their GP medical records online by 31st March 2015.

This means you can have secure online access to relevant parts (Current medications, immunisations and allergies) of your record from a device that can access the internet.

To get online access to your records you will need to come to the practice with photographic ID. We will then give you the login details you will need.

Summary Care Record (SCR)
NHS England requires GP practices to upload any changes to a patient’s summary information on their Summary Care Record by 31st March 2015.

A Summary Care Record (SCR) is a brief summary of your medical records that will help anyone treating you in an emergency who does not have your full medical record. The SCR contains information like any medicines you may be taking or any allergies you have. Your SCR is automatically updated at least daily to ensure that your information is as up to date as it can possibly be.

You do not have to have a SCR if you do not want one. If you don’t, then let us know. You can do this by informing our reception team at the practice.

GP to GP Record Transfers
A new way of transferring patient records between GP practices has been developed to be used when a patient moves from one GP practice to another.

NHS England requires this new method to be used for all new or de-registered patients by 31 March 2015. However, we are already using this new method here at Killick Street Health Centre,

For your own medical care, it is very important that you are registered with a GP practice. If you leave your GP and register with a new GP, your medical records will be forwarded on to your new GP. It can take up to two weeks for your paper records to reach your new surgery.

With the new system, your electronic record is transferred to your new practice much sooner.

Summary Care Record

There is a new Central NHS Computer System called the Summary Care Record (SCR). It is an electronic record which contains information about the medicines you take, allergies you suffer from and any bad reactions to medicines you have had.

Why do I need a Summary Care Record?

Storing information in one place makes it easier for healthcare staff to treat you in an emergency, or when your GP practice is closed.

This information could make a difference to how a doctor decides to care for you, for example which medicines they choose to prescribe for you.

Who can see it?

Only healthcare staff involved in your care can see your Summary Care Record.

How do I know if I have one?

Over half of the population of England now have a Summary Care Record. You can find out whether Summary Care Records have come to your area by looking at our interactive map or by asking your GP

Do I have to have one?

No, it is not compulsory. If you choose to opt out of the scheme, then you will need to complete a form and bring it along to the surgery. You can use the form at the foot of this page.

More Information

For further information visit the NHS Care records website.

Download the opt out form >>>>

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.

Your request must be in writing and can be either posted or emailed.
Please write “Freedom of Information” in the subject line. We only supply relevant information that is not already available from other sources.

Freedom of Information Policy

Access to Records

In accordance with the Data Protection Act 2018 and Access to Health Records Act, patients may request to see their medical records. Such requests should be made through the practice manager. Repeated requests for medical records by the same patient and in cases where our clinicians need to write a report may be subject to an administration charge. No information will be released without the patient consent unless we are legally obliged to do so.

Subject Access Request Policy

Violence Policy

The Practice staff shall always show due respect and courtesy when dealing with patients and their representatives. We respectfully request that patients and their representatives do the same when dealing with members of the practice team.

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.

No form of aggression (whether verbal or physical in nature) will be tolerated – any instances of such behaviour on the practice premises may result in the perpetrator being reported to the Police and removed from the practice’s List of Registered Patients.

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.

Suggestions & Complaints

Want to make a suggestion to the practice?

Your comments and suggestions are important to us, please click on the ‘Suggestions Form’ link below, complete the form to send them to us.

Please note: only use this form for comments about the practice and suggestions as to how we can improve our service to you.

Medical matters and official complaints cannot be dealt with via this form. If you have a query regarding a medical matter please telephone reception to make an appointment to see the appropriate person.

Want to make a a complaint

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 complete this form and the practice manager will deal with your concerns appropriately.

Feedback Form

General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) & Practice Privacy Notice

The EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)is a rule from the European Union. It started at the end of May 2018, along with the new UK Data Protection Act 2018. These rules tell us how to handle personal and sensitive information.

At Killick Street Medical Practice, we follow these rules and also the Common Law Duty of Confidentiality and the 8 Caldicott Principles.

We promise to keep your information private. We only share your data for your care, if the law requires it, to meet our NHS contract, or if not sharing it could be more harmful.

Our Privacy Notice explains in detail how we handle your data.

Personal Data

The following IT systems are in use at the practice:

Referral Management (using NHS numbers in referrals)
Electronic Appointment Booking (the facility to book routine appointments online and, similarly, to cancel appointments
Online booking of repeat prescriptions
Summary Care Record (uploading details of your current medication and allergies to the national “spine” so that these are available for doctors involved in your care elsewhere)
GP to GP transfers (the electronic transfer of records from practice to practice when you re-register
Patient Access to records (the facility to view your medical records online).

If you are not already registered for online access and would like to be please complete our online form.

If you would like access to your medical records enabled or would like to opt out of the local or national summary care record, please contact reception.

Chaperone Policy

We will always respect your privacy, dignity and your religious and cultural beliefs particularly when intimate examinations are advisable – these will only be carried out with your express agreement and you will be offered a chaperone to attend the examination if you so wish.

You may also request a chaperone when making the appointment or on arrival at the surgery (please let the receptionist know) or at any time during the consultation.

Data Protection

In order to provide the right level of care, we are required to hold personal information about you on our computer systems and in paper records to help us to look after your health needs, and your doctor is responsible for their accuracy and safe-keeping. Please help to keep your record up to date by informing us of any changes to your circumstances.

Confidentiality and Personal Information

Doctors and staff in the practice have access to your medical records to enable them to do their jobs. From time to time information may be shared with others involved in your care if it is necessary. Anyone with access to your record is properly trained in confidentiality issues and is governed by both legal and contractual duty to keep your details private.

All information about you is held securely and appropriate safeguards are in place to prevent accidental loss.

In some circumstances we may be required by law to release your details to statutory or other official bodies, for example if a court order is presented, or in the case of public health issues. In other circumstance you may be required to give written consent before information is released – such as for medical reports for insurance, solicitors etc.

To ensure your privacy, we will not disclose information over the telephone or fax unless we are sure that we are talking to you. Information will not be disclosed to family, friends or spouses unless we have prior written consent, and we do not, leave messages with others.

You have a right to see your records if you wish. Please ask at reception if you would like further details about our patient information leaflet. An appointment may be required. In some circumstances a fee may be payable.