Woodlands Family Medical Centre was founded back in 1922 after Dr. Beatty and Dr. Collinson retired leading the way for Dr. Manners and Dr. Irving to set up their own practice at Van Mildert House, 27 Yarm Road in Stockton.
In 1932 Dr. Hunter, who also worked at Stockton and Thornaby hospital as a GP Surgeon, joined the practice, along with Dr. Manners who was a hospital physician.
Many of our now retired past doctors are remembered with fondness and admiration by our older patients.
The Woodlands Medical Centre building has been designed for disabled access. There is a disabled access point at the reception desk & disabled toilets. A wheelchair is available for those who require it for their visit. We would ask that you let us know if you need help as your disability may not be a visible one. We would also welcome any suggestions you may have in making your visit to the surgery easier.
The NHS e-Referral Service combines electronic booking with a choice of place, date and time for first hospital or clinic appointments. Patients can choose their first hospital or clinic appointment, book it in the GP surgery, online or on the phone.
Our core philosophy is all about promoting and encouraging a healthy lifestyle agenda
Here are some other great ideas that you can look at and follow through to ensure that you make a real positive difference for yourself, your family and your friends. Go for it!
CHANGE 4 LIFE
Learn how to eat well, move more and live longer. And have fun along the way at the same time! Find out how you can really start changing life around for you your family and your friends.
HEALTHY ACTIVITIES
How much physical activity do adults aged 19-64 years old need to do to stay healthy
http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/fitness/Pages/physical-activity-guidelines-for-adults.aspx
Early childhood (under 5 years old)
http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/fitness/Pages/physical-activity-guidelines-for-children.aspx
Young people (5 to 18 years old)
http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/fitness/Pages/physical-activity-guidelines-for-young-people.aspx
Older adults (65 and over)
http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/fitness/Pages/physical-activity-guidelines-for-older-adults.aspx
YOUR PERSONAL HEALTH BAROMETER
See how you measure up. Try out at home the psychological and aptitude tests, the instant weight calculators and lots more. Find out how healthy you really are with just a click of the mouse.
www.nhs.uk/livewell
www.bhf.org.uk
DRUGS AND ALCOHOL
Misuse of drugs and alcohol can destroy the fabric of the individuals, families and friendships. Whether it is for you or for someone else see how you can access help and advice.
http://www.talktofrank.com/
http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/alcohol/Pages/Alcoholhome.aspx
STRESS? WHAT STRESS?
Stress and anxiety can affect anyone at any time and can have consequences on job, family and health. Find out how to sleep better, beat the blues, do more and feel more confident in yourself.
http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/stress-anxiety-depression/pages/understanding-stress.aspx
10 Stress Busters
http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/stress-anxiety-depression/pages/reduce-stress.aspx
Mental Wellbeing
Evidence suggests there are five steps we can all take to improve our mental wellbeing.
If you give them a try, you may feel happier, more positive and able to get the most from life.
http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/stress-anxiety-depression/Pages/improve-mental-wellbeing.aspx
We strongly support the NHS policy on zero tolerance.
Anyone attending the surgery who abuses the GP's, staff or other patients 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.
When you first register with the practice you will be required to read and sign a declaration of zero tolerance.
Health Care / Medical
University Hospital of North Tees - 24-hour A&E - www.northeast.nhs.uk - (01642) 617 617
James Cook University Hospital - 24-hour A&E - www.northeast.nhs.uk - (01642) 850850
University Hospital of Hartlepool - Minor injury unit only - www.northeast.nhs.uk - (01429) 266 654
Darlington Memorial Hospital - 24-hour A&E - www.northeast.nhs.uk - (01325) 380 100
NHS Walk-in Centre - Stockton - Open Daily 8am-8pm - www.stocktonnhshealthcentre.nhs.uk - (01642) 525 480
NHS Walk-in Centre - Darlington Open Daily 8am-8pm - Dr Piper House, King Street, Darlington DL36JL - (01325) 364271
NHS 111 - If you need medical help fast, but its not a life-threatening emergency, call NHS 111 (replaces NHS Direct) NHS 111 Service
Teesside Dental Helpline - Finding a NHS Dentist and about NHS dental charges - www.tees.nhs.uk - 0345 045 0620
Dental Emergency Helpline - This is for dental emergencies out of normal hours only - www.teeswideoutofhours.nhs.uk - 0300 123 1933
British Red Cross - www.redcross.org.uk - 0844 871 1111
St John Ambulance - www.sja.org.uk - 08700 104950
National Blood Service - www.blood.co.uk - 0300 123 2323
NHS Organ Donar Register - www.uktransplant.org.uk - 0300 123 2323
Sexual Health - Advice and support on all aspects of sexual health, sex and relationships - www.fpa.org.uk - 0845 122 8690
National Helplines
Samaritans - Samaritans provides confidential non-judgemental emotional support, 24 hours a day for people who are experiencing feelings of distress or despair, including those which could lead to suicide. - www.samaritans.org - 08457 90 90 90
Cruse Bereavement Care - Cruse exists to promote the well-being of bereaved people and to enable anyone bereaved by death to understand their grief and cope with their loss. Services are free to bereaved people. - www.crusebereavementcare.org.uk - 0844 477 9400
Missing People - Missing People offers a lifeline for the 250,000 people who run away and go missing each year. For those left behind, we search and provide specialised support to end the heartache and confusion. - www.missingpeople.org.uk - 0500 700 700
Rape & Sexual Abuse Support Centre - Open every day of the year 12.00 to 2.30 and 7.00 to 9.30 - www.rasasc.org.uk - 0808 802 9999 - National Domestic Violence Helpline
Women's Aid - is the key national charity working to end domestic violence against women and children. They support a network of over 500 domestic and sexual violence services across the UK. - www.womensaid.org.uk - 0808 2000 247
Victim Supportline - A national charity giving free and confidential help to victims of crime, witnesses, their family, friends and anyone else affected across England and Wales. - www.victimsupport.org - 0845 30 30 900
Carers Direct - Information, advice and support for carers - www.nhs.uk/carersdirect - 0808 802 02 02
Mind Infoline - Mind provides two confidential mental health information services. - www.mind.org.uk - 0845 766 0163
Parentline Plus - The leading national charity providing help and support to anyone caring for children – parents, grandparents, step-parents, relatives – for families living together as well as apart. - www.parentlineplus.org.uk - 0808 800 2222
National Debtline - The helpline that provides free confidential and independent advice on how to deal with debt problems. - www.nationaldebtline.co.uk - 0808 808 4000
Shelter - If there's no time to get advice before you become homeless, it is still worth getting advice once you are homeless. You might have rights or housing options you don't know about. - www.england.shelter.org.uk - 0808 800 4444
Childline [24hr] - A free helpline offering comfort and advice for any young person with any problem. - www.childline.org.uk - 0800 1111
NSPCC Child Protection - Confidential 24hr help and support 0800 800 5000
Age UK - Formally Help The Aged/Age Concern - www.ageuk.org.uk - 0800 169 6565
SeniorLine - Advice and information service for older people - 0808 800 6565
Care UK - Working in close partnership with Local Authorities and Primary Care Trusts, they provide care and support for older people as well as a range of health care services. - www.careuk.com (Online only)
Carers Federation - Dedicated to supporting carers of all ages - www.carersfederation.co.uk - 01159 629 310
Winter Warmth Advice Line - 0800 085 7000
Local Help
Stockton Borough Council - Customer Services - www.stockton.gov.uk - (direct link) - 393939
Middlesbrough Borough Council - Council Offices - www.middlesbrough.gov.uk - 245432
Children Education and Social Care - Children Education and Social Care (CESC - previously known as Social Services) offers support to many people in a wide range of circumstances. - www.stockton.gov.uk - (direct link) - 527764
Stockton Registry Office - Births, Deaths, Marriages - www.stockton.gov.uk - (direct link) - 527720
Middlesbrough Registry Office - Births, Deaths, Marriages - www.middlesbrough.gov.uk - (direct link) - 729366
The Coroner for the Redcar & Cleveland district - Coroners inquire into deaths reported to them, which appear to be violent, or of sudden and unknown causes. - www.redcar-cleveland.gov.uk - (direct link) - 729350
Citizens Advice - Telephone advice service (limited hours) - www.adviceguide.org.uk - 607445
The George Hardwick FoundationCarers' Centre - Stockton - www.georgehardwickfoundation.org - 0845 3025523
The George Hardwick Foundation - North Tees - Centre for Carers' and Patients - www.georgehardwickfoundation.org - 0845 3025524
Alzheimer's Disease Society - 611110
Cleveland Police - www.cleveland.police.uk - 326326
Stockton Police - www.cleveland.police.uk - 607114
Middlesbrough Police - www.cleveland.police.uk - 248184
Crimestoppers - www.crimestoppers-uk.org - 0800 555 111
Help in an emergency
For police, fire brigade or ambulance call 999 or 112 - textphone 18000
British Transport Police - 0800 40 50 40
National Gas Emergency Service - 0800 111 999
NEDL - 0800 668877 - For Information on other local electricity companies see the Utilities heading in Thompson Local or Yellow Pages.
Floodline - 0845 988 1188
Northumbrian water [24hr] - 0845 717 1100
Requested links
Nutritionist Resource - Search for a nutritionist near you if you're in need of support, search their network to be connected with a professional nutritionist. - www.nutritionist-resource.org.uk - 01276 301235
Following recent activity on Facebook where patients of Woodlands Family Medical Centre posted derogatory comments about some of our staff, we now have the following policy in place.
If any such posts are brought to our attention we will contact the patients involved and invite them in to have a face to face discussion about the issues that they have. This will be viewed as a potential break down in the doctor – patient relationship and may result in you being removed from our list.
However, we would ask that rather than posting derogatory or hurtful comments about any of our staff on social media, or if there are any aspects of the service that you are not entirely happy with, please ask to speak to the practice manager about this or put your comments to us in writing giving us the opportunity to respond. We welcome all feedback, positive and negative as it gives us the opportunity to review the services that we provide and where necessary or appropriate, make any changes or improvements.
YOU WOULD NOT EXPECT TO READ DEROGATORY COMMENTS ABOUT YOURSELF AT YOUR OWN PLACE OF WORK, NOR DO WE.
Under the Data Protection Act 1998 people have the right to see any files about them, including their health records. Access can only be denied if there are compelling reasons. the Data Protection Act replaced the access to Health Records Act 1990 on 1st March 2000, except applications to see records of someone who has died.
The practice has a procedure for patients to apply to see their health records. If you would like further information or an application form please ask at reception.
A range of private medicals are available through our occupational health department Teesside Centre for Occupational Medicine.
We are the North East's premier occupational health facility
- APPOINTED BY THE HEALTH & SAFETY EXECUTIVE
- ASBESTOS & IONISING RADIATION
- OFFSHORE MEDICALS - OIL & GAS
- HGV & PSV MEDICALS
From 1st April 2015, all practices are required to inform their patients including children of their named accountable GP. The named GP will have overall responsibility for the care and support that the surgery provides to you. However, you are welcome to see any doctor who is available.
If you would like to know who your named GP is please contact reception.
As an added service for our patients we employ the services of several other specialist personnel:
Pharmacist - Our in-house pharmacist is available by appointment to discuss your prescribing needs and any issues you may have regarding your medication.
No doctors appointment is necessary, you can ask for an appointment in the usual way.
Phlebotomy - Our phlebotomy department is open every weekday morning from 8.30am for patients who are fasting or who will be continuing on to their place of work and from 9.00am for everyone else, appointments are generally not required.
Phlebotomy finishes at 12.30pm but the doors may close before then if it is busy.
Phlebotomy is now also open on a Monday & Tuesday afternoon between 1.00pm and 3.00pm.
Phlebotomy (blood tests) are now by pre-booked appointment only, please call the surgery to book a blood test.
Counsellors - NHS counsellors are available by referral either by a doctor or self-referral via telephone helpline. Please ask at reception for a leaflet with contact details for the relevant NHS counselling service.
Alcohol Counselling - Advice regarding alcohol is provided in our surgery by our Healthcare Assistant as well as specialist alcohol workers.
Drug and alcohol services are also offered by:
Tees Addictive Behaviours Service - click here for details.
Lifeline - click here for details.
Implied Consent
Implied consent will be assumed for many routine physical contacts with patients. Where implied consent is to be assumed by the clinician, in all cases, the following will apply:
- an explanation will be given to the patient about what the clinician is about to do and why.
- the explanation will be sufficient for the patient to understand the procedure.
- in all cases where the patient is under 18 years of age, a verbal confirmation of consent will be obtained and briefly entered into the medical record.
- where there is significant risk to the patient an "expressed consent" will be obtained in all cases.
Expressed Consent
Expressed consent (written or verbal) will be obtained for any procedure which carries a risk that the patient is likely to consider as being substantial. A note will be made in the medical record detailing the discussion about the consent and the risks. A consent form may be used for the patient to express consent.
The Freedom of Information Act 2000 obliges the practice to produce a Publication Scheme.
A Publication Scheme is a guide to the 'classes' of information the practice intends to routinely make available.
The scheme is available from the practice manager Sharon Leonard
How we use your information
WOODLANDS FAMILY MEDICAL CENTRE
106 Yarm Lane, Stockton-On-Tees, TS18 1YE
Telephone: (01642) 607398. Visits: (01642) 613392
Privacy Notice
Your information, what you need to know
This privacy notice explains why we collect information about you, how that information may be used, how we keep it safe and confidential and what your rights are in relation to this.
Why we collect information about you
Health care professionals who provide you with care are required by law to maintain records about your health and any treatment or care you have received within any NHS organisation. These records help to provide you with the best possible healthcare and help us to protect your safety.
We collect and hold data for the purpose of providing healthcare services to our patients and running our organisation which includes monitoring the quality of care that we provide. In carrying out this role we may collect information about you which helps us respond to your queries or secure specialist services. We may keep your information in written form and/or in digital form. The records may include basic details about you, such as your name and address. They may also contain more sensitive information about your health and also information such as outcomes of needs assessments.
The NHS Care Record Guarantee for England https://digital.nhs.uk/binaries/content/assets/legacy/pdf/1/8/care_record_guarantee.pdf sets out the rules that govern how patient information is used in the NHS and what control patients can have over this.
The NHS Constitution establishes the principles and values of the NHS in England. It sets out rights to which patients, public and staff are entitled, and pledges which the NHS is committed to achieve, together with responsibilities, which the public, patients and staff owe to one another to ensure that the NHS operates fairly and effectively.
NHS Digital
NHS Digital collects health information from the records health and social care providers keep about the care and treatment they give, to promote health or support improvements in the delivery of care services in England https://digital.nhs.uk/
We keep a Register of all our information processing activities, including those involving the use of personal information. This records lots of metadata including where we get the information from, with whom we share it, the legal basis allowing us to process personal data and the security arrangements in place.
Details we collect about you
The health care professionals who provide you with care maintain records about your health and any treatment or care you have received previously (e.g. from Hospitals, GP Surgeries, A&E, etc.). These records help to provide you with the best possible healthcare. Records which this GP Practice may hold about you may include the following:
- Details about you, such as your address and next of kin
- Any contact the surgery has had with you, such as appointments, clinic visits, emergency appointments, etc.
- Notes and reports about your health
- Details about your treatment and care
- Results of investigations, such as laboratory tests, x-rays, etc.
- Relevant information from other health professionals, relatives or those who care for you
How we keep your information confidential and safe
Everyone working for our organisation is subject to the Common Law Duty of Confidence. Information provided in confidence will only be used for specific purposes in accordance with the law. The NHS Digital Code of Practice on Confidential Information https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/looking-after-information/data-security-and-information-governance/codes-of-practice-for-handling-information-in-health-and-care/code-of-practice-on-confidential-information applies to all NHS staff and they are required to protect your information, inform you of how your information will be used, and allow you to decide if and how your information can be shared. All our staff are expected to make sure information is kept confidential and receive regular training on how to do this.
The health records we use may be electronic, on paper or a mixture of both, and we use a combination of working practices and technology to ensure that your information is kept confidential and secure. Your records are backed up securely in line with NHS standard procedures. We ensure that the information we hold is kept in secure locations, is protected by appropriate security and access is restricted to authorised personnel. We also make sure external data processors that support us are legally and contractually bound to operate and prove security arrangements are in place where data that could or does identify a person are processed. We are committed to protecting your privacy and will only use information collected lawfully in accordance with:
- Data Protection Act 2018 (UK GDPR)
- Human Rights Act
- Common Law Duty of Confidentiality
- NHS Codes of Confidentiality and Information Security
- Health and Social Care Act 2015
- And all applicable legislation
We have a senior person responsible for protecting the confidentiality of patient information and enabling appropriate information sharing. This person is called the Caldicott Guardian. The Caldicott Guardian for the practice is Sharon Leonard and Dr Jonathan Slade, who can be contacted using the contact details at the top of this document. We also have a Senior Information Risk Owner (SIRO) who is responsible for owning the practice’s information risk. The SIRO is Sharon Leonard.
We are registered with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) as a data controller which describes the purposes for which we process personal data. A copy of the registration is available from the ICO’s web site by searching on our name.
We maintain our duty of confidentiality to you at all times. We will only ever use or pass on information about you if we reasonably believe that others involved in your care have a genuine need for it. We will not disclose your information to any third party without your permission unless there are exceptional circumstances (such as a risk of serious harm to yourself or others) or where the law requires information to be passed on.
How we use your information
Improvements in information technology are also making it possible for us to share data with other healthcare organisations for the purpose of providing you, your family and your community with better care. For example it is possible for healthcare professionals in other services to access your record with your permission when the practice is closed. This is explained further in the Local Information Sharing section below.
Under the powers of the Health and Social Care Act 2015, NHS Digital can request personal confidential data from GP Practices without seeking patient consent for a number of specific purposes, which are set out in law. These purposes are explained below. You may choose to withdraw your consent to personal data being shared for these purposes.
You can object to your personal information being shared with other healthcare providers but should be aware that this may, in some instances, affect your care as important information about your health might not be available to healthcare staff in other organisations. If this limits the treatment that you can receive then the practice staff will explain this to you at the time you object.
To ensure you receive the best possible care, your records are used to facilitate the care you receive. Information held about you may be used to help protect the health of the public and to help us manage the NHS.
Child Health Information
We wish to make sure that your child has the opportunity to have immunisations and health checks when they are due. We share information about childhood immunisations, the 6-8 week new baby check and breast-feeding status with NHS Tees, Esk & Wear Valleys Foundation Trust health visitors and school nurses.
Clinical audit
Information may be used by the Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) for clinical audit to monitor the quality of the service provided to patients with long terms conditions. Some of this information may be held centrally and used for statistical purposes (e.g. the National Diabetes Audit). When this happens, strict measures are taken to ensure that individual patients cannot be identified from the data.
Clinical Research
Sometimes your information may be requested to be used for research purposes – we will always ask your permission before releasing your information for this purpose.
Improving Diabetes Care
Information that does not identify individual patients is used to enable focussed discussions to take place at practice-led local diabetes review meetings between health care professionals. This enables the professionals to improve the management and support of these patients.
Individual Funding Request
An ‘Individual Funding Request’ is a request made on your behalf, with your consent, by a doctor, for funding of specialised healthcare which falls outside the range of services and treatments that the CCG has agreed to commission for the local population. An Individual Funding Request is taken under consideration when a case can be set out by a patient’s doctor that there are exceptional clinical circumstances which make the patient’s case different from other patients with the same condition who are at the same stage of their disease, or when the request is for a treatment that is regarded as new or experimental and where there are no other similar patients who would benefit from this treatment. A detailed response, including the criteria considered in arriving at the decision, will be provided to your GP.
Invoice Validation
Invoice validation is an important process. It involves using your NHS number to check which CCG is responsible for paying for your treatment. Section 251 of the NHS Act 2006 provides a statutory legal basis to process data for invoice validation purposes. We can also use your NHS number to check whether your care has been funded through specialist commissioning, which NHS England will pay for. The process makes sure that the organisations providing your care are paid correctly.
Local Information Sharing
Your GP electronic patient record is held securely and confidentially on an electronic system managed by your registered GP practice. If you require attention from a local health or care professional outside of your usual practice services, such as a GP Federation Service, Emergency Department, Minor Injury Unit or Out Of Hours service, the professionals treating you are better able to give you safe and effective care if some of the information from your GP record is available to them.
Where available, this information can be shared electronically with other local healthcare providers via a secure system designed for this purpose. Depending on the service you are using and your health needs, this may involve the healthcare professional accessing a secure system that enables them to view parts of your GP electronic patient record (e.g. Great North Care Record Care Summary or your Summary Care Record) or a secure system that enables them to view your full GP electronic patient record (e.g. SystmOne).
In all cases, your information is only accessed and used by authorised staff who are involved in providing or supporting your direct care. Your permission will be asked before the information is accessed, other than in exceptional circumstances (e.g. emergencies) if the healthcare professional is unable to ask you and this is deemed to be in your best interests (which will then be logged).
When analysing current health services and proposals for developing future services it is sometimes necessary to link separate individual datasets to be able to produce a comprehensive evaluation. This may involve linking primary care GP data with other data such as secondary uses service (SUS) data (inpatient, outpatient and A&E). In some cases there may also be a need to link local datasets which could include a range of acute-based services such as radiology, physiotherapy, audiology etc, as well as mental health and community-based services such as Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT), district nursing, podiatry etc. When carrying out this analysis, the linkage of these datasets is always done using a unique identifier that does not reveal a person’s identity. We may also contract with other organisations to process data. These organisations are known as Data Processors. We ensure external data processors that support us are legally and contractually bound to operate and prove security arrangements are in place where data that could or does identify a person are processed.
Currently, the external data processors we work with include NHS North of England Commissioning Support Unit, which is based at John Snow House, Durham, DH1 3YG and which has been granted a legal basis for processing data for us and which operates under strict controls to ensure your information is handled lawfully.
We record any instances where we transfer personal information to a third country or international organisation. This is very limited and we check and record the safeguards in place to protect the information to be transferred.
National Fraud Initiative - Cabinet Office
The use of data by the Cabinet Office for data matching is carried out with statutory authority under Part 6 of the Local Audit and Accountability Act 2014. It does not require the consent of the individuals concerned under the Data Protection Act 2018. Data matching by the Cabinet Office is subject to a Code of Practice. For further information see:
National Registries
National Registries (such as the Learning Disabilities Register) have statutory permission under Section 251 of the NHS Act 2006, to collect and hold service user identifiable information without the need to seek informed consent from each individual service user.
Risk Stratification
‘Risk stratification for case finding’ is a process for identifying and managing patients who have or may be at-risk of health conditions (such as diabetes) or who are most likely to need healthcare services (such as people with frailty). Risk stratification tools used in the NHS help determine a person’s risk of suffering a particular condition and enable us to focus on preventing ill health before it develops. Information about you is collected from a number of sources including NHS Trusts, GP Federations and your GP Practice. A risk score is then arrived at through an analysis of your de-identified information. This can help us identify and offer you additional services to improve your health.
Risk-stratification data may also be used to improve local services and commission new services, where there is an identified need. In this area, risk stratification may be commissioned by the NHS Tees Valley Clinical Commissioning Group. Section 251 of the NHS Act 2006 provides a statutory legal basis to process data for risk stratification purposes. Further information about risk stratification is available from: https://www.england.nhs.uk/ourwork/tsd/ig/risk-stratification /
If you do not wish information about you to be included in any risk stratification programmes, please let us know. Please be aware that this may limit the ability of healthcare professionals to identify if you have or are at risk of developing certain serious health conditions.
Safeguarding
To ensure that adult and children’s safeguarding matters are managed appropriately, access to identifiable information will be shared in some limited circumstances where it’s legally required for the safety of the individuals concerned.
Summary Care Record (SCR)
The NHS in England uses a national electronic record called the Summary Care Record (SCR) to support patient care. It contains key information from your GP record. Your SCR provides authorised healthcare staff with faster, secure access to essential information about you in an emergency or when you need unplanned care, where such information would otherwise be unavailable.
Summary Care Records are there to improve the safety and quality of your care. SCR core information comprises your allergies, adverse reactions and medications. An SCR with additional information can also include reason for medication, vaccinations, significant diagnoses / problems, significant procedures, anticipatory care information and end of life care information. Additional information can only be added to your SCR with your agreement.
Please be aware that if you choose to opt-out of SCR, NHS healthcare staff caring for you outside of this surgery may not be aware of your current medications, allergies you suffer from and any bad reactions to medicines you have had, in order to treat you safely in an emergency. Your records will stay as they are now with information being shared by letter, email, fax or phone. If you wish to opt-out of having an SCR please return a completed opt-out form to the practice.
Supporting Medicines Management
Some North East CCGs operate pharmacist prescribing advice services to support local GP practices with prescribing queries, which may require identifiable information to be shared. Pharmacists and pharmacy technicians work with your usual GP to provide advice on medicines, prescription ordering processes, prescribing queries, and review prescribing of medicines to ensure that it is appropriate for your individual needs, safe and cost-effective. Where specialist prescribing support is required, the CCG medicines management team may discuss product choice with your GP and your nominated community pharmacist to ensure evidence based cost effective choices are made to support your care.
Supporting Locally Commissioned Services
CCGs support GP practices by auditing anonymised data to monitor locally commissioned services, measure prevalence and support data quality. The data does not include identifiable information and is used to support patient care and ensure providers are correctly paid for the services they provide.
Data Retention
We manage patient records in line with the Records Management NHS Code of Practice 2021 https://www.nhsx.nhs.uk/information-governance/guidance/records-management-code/ which sets the required standards of practice in the management of records for those who work within or under contract to NHS organisations in England, based on current legal requirements and professional best practice.
Who are our partner organisations?
We may also have to share your information, subject to strict agreements on how it will be used, with the following organisations:
- NHS Trusts
- Specialist Trusts
- GP Federations
- Independent Contractors such as dentists, opticians, pharmacists
- Private Sector Providers
- Voluntary Sector Providers
- Ambulance Trusts
- Clinical Commissioning Groups
- Social Care Services
- Local Authorities
- Education Services
- Fire and Rescue Services
- Police
- Other ‘data processors’
We will never share your information outside of health partner organisations without your explicit consent unless there are exceptional circumstances such as when the health or safety of others is at risk, where the law requires it or to carry out a statutory function.
Within the health partner organisations and in relation to the above mentioned themes we will assume you are happy to for your information to be shared unless you choose to opt-out (see below). This means you will need to express an explicit wish to not have your information shared with the other organisations; otherwise it will be automatically shared. We are required by law to report certain information to the appropriate authorities. This is only provided after formal permission has been given by a qualified health professional. There are occasions when we must pass on information, such as notification of new births, where we encounter infectious diseases which may endanger the safety of others, such as meningitis or measles (but not HIV/AIDS), and where a formal court order has been issued. Our guiding principle is that we are holding your records in strictest confidence.
Your Rights
Your right to withdraw consent for us to share your personal information
The national data opt-out allows people to opt out of their confidential patient information being used for research and planning. It was introduced on 25 May 2018, providing a facility for individuals to opt-out from the use of their data for research or planning purposes. The national data opt-out replaces the previous ‘type 2’ opt-out, which required NHS Digital not to share a patient’s confidential patient information for purposes beyond their individual care. Any patient that had a type 2 opt-out has had it automatically converted to a national data opt-out from 25 May 2018 and has received a letter giving them more information and a leaflet explaining the new national data opt-out. If a patient wants to change their choice, they can use the new service to do this. You can find out more from the practice or by clicking here https://www.nhs.uk/your-nhs-data-matters/
Your right to opt out
The national data opt-out allows people to opt out of their confidential patient information being used for research and planning. It was introduced on 25 May 2018, providing a facility for individuals to opt-out from the use of their data for research or planning purposes. The national data opt-out replaces the previous ‘type 2’ opt-out, which required NHS Digital not to share a patient’s confidential patient information for purposes beyond their individual care. Any patient that had a type 2 opt-out has had it automatically converted to a national data opt-out from 25 May 2018 and has received a letter giving them more information and a leaflet explaining the new national data opt-out. If a patient wants to change their choice, they can use the new service to do this. You can find out more from by clicking here https://www.nhs.uk/your-nhs-data-matters/
Patients who have a type 1 opt-out
Some patients will have a type 1 opt-out registered with the practice, You can tell the practice if you do not want your confidential patient information held in your GP medical record to be used for purposes other than your individual care. This is commonly called a type 1 opt-out. This opt-out request can only be recorded by your GP practice.
If your wishes cannot be followed, you will be told the reasons (including the legal basis) for that decision. There are certain circumstances where a person is unable to opt out but these are only where the law permits this such as in adult or children’s safeguarding situations.
You have a right in law to refuse or withdraw previously granted consent to the use of your personal information. There are possible consequences of not sharing such as the effect this may have on your care and treatment but these will be explained to you to help with making your decision.
If you wish to exercise your right to opt-out, or to speak to somebody to understand what impact this may have, if any, please contact us using the usual practice contact details.
You can find out more by clicking here https://www.nhs.uk/using-the-nhs/about-the-nhs/opt-out-of-sharing-your-health-records/
Right of Access to Your Personal Information
We will tell you if we use your personal information, what that information is and why we use it. We will also tell you where we obtained the information from and with whom we share your information. Under this right we have to tell you how long we intend to keep your information for.
You are entitled to obtain a copy of the personal information held about you by the practice. You can view this or request copies of the records by making a subject access request. Any request to access or obtain a copy of this information will be considered in line with the data protection legislation. This is generally free of charge unless your request is very complicated and/or unreasonably excessive; if you require further copies of information already provided to you we may charge a reasonable administrative fee. If you want to access your data you can contact us using the contact details at the top of this notice. Under special circumstances, some information may be withheld.
Right to Rectification
This right allows you to ask for any information you believe to be inaccurate or incomplete to be corrected and completed. We are allowed one month from the date of your request in which to perform any such corrections or add supplementary statements. We will communicate any rectification of information to anyone to whom it has been disclosed unless this is not possible or involves disproportionate effort. We will tell you who those recipients are if you ask us.
Right to Erasure
This right is also commonly referred to as the ‘right to be forgotten’. You can request that your information be erased, subject to certain exemptions, if it is no longer needed by us for the original purpose we said we would use it for or if you decide to withdraw your consent or if you object to the use of your information. If it transpires that the information was unlawfully used or is found to infringe the law you can ask for it to be erased. We will erase your information if we have a legal obligation to do so. We will communicate any erasure of information to anyone to whom it has been disclosed unless this is not possible or involves disproportionate effort. We will tell you who those recipients are if you ask us.
Right to Restriction of Processing
Restriction means marking information with the aim of limiting its processing in the future. Under this right you can request we restrict information processing for a period of time if you think the information is inaccurate, while we check its accuracy. If the information is found to have been used unlawfully you can ask for it to be restricted instead of being erased. If we no longer need to keep the information but you need us to keep it in connection with a legal claim you are involved with you can ask us to restrict it. You can also ask us to restrict processing if you have previously objected to us processing it whilst we check whether our legitimate reasons for processing it outweigh your right. Once processing has been restricted we can start to use the information again only if you have consented to this or where it is in connection with a legal claim or if it is to protect the rights of another person or there is a strong public interest. We will tell you before any restriction we have put in place is lifted. We will communicate any restriction of processing to anyone to whom it has been disclosed unless this is not possible or involves disproportionate effort. We will tell you who those recipients are if you ask us.
Right to Data Portability
The purpose of this right is to give a person more control over their personal information. Data Portability means you have the right to receive a copy of personal information which you have given us in a structured, commonly-used, machine-readable format and to have it transferred directly to another ‘controller’ where technically possible. This right only applies to information which is processed by automated means and where you have given consent to the processing or where processing is necessary for the performance of a contract. It does not apply if the processing is needed to comply with a legal obligation, our official duties or is for a task carried out in the public interest. It is therefore unlikely to apply to any of the processing carried out by the practice.
Right to Object
You can object to the processing of your personal information if the processing activity is necessary for the performance of a task carried out in connection with our lawful, official duties or those of a third party, or a task carried out in the public interest. We could refuse to comply with a request only where we could show that there was an overriding legal reason or if we need to process the information in relation to a legal claim.
You also have a separate right to object to processing if it is for direct marketing purposes. We do not use your information in this way but if we did we would tell you about it. This right also includes a specific right to object to research uses except where this is done in the public interest.
Automated Decision-Making, Including Profiling
Profiling means any form of automated processing (i.e. processed by a computer and not a human being) of personal information used to analyse, evaluate or predict things about someone; this can include things like someone’s health, personal preferences, interests, economic situation, reliability, performance at work behaviour, location or movements.
Under this right you can ask not to be subject to a decision made solely by automated means, including any profiling, which affects you in a legal way or has a similar significant effect. Automated decision-making and profiling is not allowed if it involves certain types of information; these ‘special categories’ of information are deemed to carry more sensitivity therefore we cannot use your health information for automated decision-making or profiling unless we have your explicit consent or there is substantial public interest allowing us to do so. We currently do not carry out any automated decision-making, including profiling.
Consent
Where processing is based on consent you have the right to withdraw consent to process your personal data.
Right to Complain to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO)
If you have concerns or are unhappy about any of our services, please contact the Practice Manager. For independent advice about data protection, privacy and data-sharing issues, or to complain to the ICO if you think any processing of your personal data infringes data protection legislation you can contact:
The Information Commissioner
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF
Phone: 0303 123 1113 Website: www.ico.gov.uk
Data Protection Officer (DPO)
As a public authority the practice must appoint a DPO. The DPO is an essential role in facilitating ‘accountability’ and the organisation’s ability to demonstrate compliance with the data protection legislation. The DPO for the CCG is Liane Cotterill, who can be contacted via the contact details at the top of this notice.
Change of Details
It is important that you tell the person treating you if any of your details such as your name or address have changed or if any of your details are incorrect in order for this to be amended. Please inform us of any changes so our records for you are accurate and up to date.
Mobile telephone number
If you provide us with your mobile phone number we may use this to send you reminders about your appointments or other health screening information. Please let us know if you do not wish to receive reminders on your mobile.
Reviews of and Changes to our Privacy Notice
We will keep our Privacy Notice under regular review. This notice was last reviewed in February 2022.
The new General Data Protection Regulation comes into force on 25th May 2018, superseding the current Data Protection Act (1998).
Under the terms of the new GDPR, a privacy notice is required to explain to patients what personal information is held about them and how it is collected and processed.
A direct link to our privacy notice is available below.
One very important aspect of the new GDPR is that the practice must now have explicit consent recorded in a patient's notes to be able to send text messages regarding:
- Appointment reminders
- Details of flu or other clinics
- Surgery closures
A text message will be sent on 15th May to all patients whose mobile phone number we hold, asking them to contact the surgery if they wish to continue to recieve these messages. it is extremely important that you do this before 21st May. On this date, all patients will be automatically opted out of recieving text messages and you will recieve no further text messages from the practice untill you take action.