Practice Policies & Patient Information
Complaints
We make every effort to give the best service possible to everyone who attends our practice or is seen on our behalf in an extended or out of hours service.
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 who will deal with your concerns appropriately. Further written information is available regarding the complaints procedure from reception.
Confidentiality & Medical Records
The practice complies with data protection and access to medical records legislation. Identifiable information about you will be shared with others in the following circumstances:
- To provide further medical treatment for you e.g. from district nurses and hospital services.
- To help you get other services e.g. from the social work department. This requires your consent.
- When we have a duty to others e.g. in child protection cases anonymised patient information will also be used at local and national level to help the Health Board and Government plan services e.g. for diabetic care.
If you do not wish anonymous information about you to be used in such a way, please let us know.
Reception and administration staff require access to your medical records in order to do their jobs. These members of staff are bound by the same rules of confidentiality as the medical staff.
Freedom of Information
Information about the General Practioners 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.
Access to Records
In accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998 and Access to Health Records Act, patients may request to see their medical records. No information will be released without the patient consent unless we are legally obliged to do so.
GDPR & Your Data – UPDATED
The Oaks Family Practice (the Practice)
IMPORTANT !!! YOU MAY HAVE LEARNED OF NHS DIGITAL’S PLANS TO EXTRACT DATA FROM YOUR GP RECORDS.
To learn more about this please click the link below.
Click the link below for the National Data Opt Out
https://www.nhs.uk/your-nhs-data-matters/manage-your-choice/
NHS Digital Data Share Opt Out Type 1 (link to online form requesting opt out)
https://www.online-consult.co.uk/org/the-oaks-family-practice
or print and complete this form
The Oaks Family Practice (the Practice)
Data Protection Privacy Notices for Patients. Please click the link for full information on how we use and protect your data.
The Oaks Family Practice (the Practice)
Data Protection Privacy Notices for Patients. Please click the link for full information on how we use and protect your data.
The Oaks Privacy Notice updated September 23
Data Protection Officer:
The Practice Data Protection Officer is Paul Couldrey of PCIG Consulting Limited. Any queries regarding Data Protection issues should be addressed to him at: –
Email: Couldrey@me.com
Postal: PCIG Consulting Limited
7 Westacre Drive
Quarry Bank
Dudley
West Midlands
DY5 2EE
Changes:
It is important to point out that we may amend this Privacy Notice from time to time. If you are dissatisfied with any aspect of our Privacy Notice, please contact the Practice Data Protection Officer.
Keeping our Access
We will always see children on the same day and we will always see patients if they consider their problem an emergency.
However, we need your help to maximise the use of our GP and Nurse appointments by using their time effectively, please consider some options we would like to adopt:
- Could your problem be dealt with by a telephone consultation ?
- Please only book a review appointment if your problem is not resolved
- Please only request a home visit if you are too sick to attend the surgery.
- Order your prescriptions early to avoid ‘last minute’ requests
- Is your problem urgent or will it wait until the next routine appointment slot ?
- Please cancel any appointments you no longer need – non attendance is a waste !
Our Reception team will be asking you to give brief details about your problem, this is so that we can direct you to the most appropriate member of staff. We now have mental health workers in our practice and are awaiting a physiotherapist, staff have direct access to book these for you.
Our receptionists are trained to help you and only ask for the details needed to assess how best to help you.
Help us to help you !!
Violence Policy
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. 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.