Practice Information – Woodlands Family Medical Centre

About Woodlands Family Medical Centre

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.

Disabled Access

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.

NHS e-Referral Service

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.

Healthy Lifestyle

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.

www.nhs.uk/change4life

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

Zero Tolerance Towards Aggression

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.

A Selection Of Useful Links And Telephone Numbers

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

Mean Earnings of all GPs in the practice

NHS England require that the net earnings of doctors engaged in the practice is publicised and the required disclosure is shown below.

However, it should be noted that the prescribed method for calculating earnings is potentially misleading because it takes no account of how much time doctors spend working in the practice and should not be used to for any judgement about GP earnings, nor to make any comparisons with other practices.

The average earnings for GPs working in the Woodlands Family Medical Centre in the last financial year ending in 2018/19 was £93,683 before taxation and National Insurance.

This is for 2 full time GPs and 5 part time GPs who worked in the practice for more than 6 months

Access To Health Record

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.

Private Medicals

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

Named GP

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.

Specialist Personnel

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.

Freedom of Information - Publication Scheme

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

Practice Privacy Notice

How we use your information

This privacy notice explains why we as a Practice collect information about our patients and how we use that information.

Woodland Family Medical Centre manages patient information in accordance with existing laws and with guidance from organisations that govern the provision of healthcare in England such as the Department of Health and the General Medical Council.

We are committed to protecting your privacy and will only use information collected lawfully in accordance with:

• Data Protection Act 1998

• Human Rights Act 1998

• Common Law Duty of Confidentiality

• Health and Social Care Act 2012

• NHS Codes of Confidentiality and Information Security

As data controllers, GPs have fair processing responsibilities under the Data Protection Act 1998. In practice, this means ensuring that your personal confidential data (PCD) is handled clearly and transparently, and in a reasonably expected way.

The Health and Social Care Act 2012 changed the way that personal confidential data is processed, therefore it is important that our patients are aware of and understand these changes, and that you have an opportunity to object and know how to do so.

The health care professionals who provide you with care maintain records about your health and any NHS treatment or care you have received (e.g. NHS Hospital Trust, GP Surgery, Walk-in clinic, etc.). These records help to provide you with the best possible healthcare.

NHS health records may be processed electronically, on paper or a mixture of both; a combination of working practices and technology are used to ensure that your information is kept confidential and secure. Records held by this GP practice may include the following information:

• Details about you, such as address and next of kin

• Any contact the practice has had with you, including appointments (emergency or scheduled), clinic visits, etc.

• Notes and reports about your health

• Details about treatment and care received

• Results of investigations, such as laboratory tests, x-rays, etc.

• Relevant information from other health professionals, relatives or those who care for you

The practice collects and holds data for the sole purpose of providing healthcare services to our patients and we will ensure that the information is kept confidential. However, we can disclose personal information if:

a) It is required by law

b) You provide consent – either implicitly or for the sake of their own care, or explicitly for other purposes

c) It is justified to be in the public interest

Some of this information will be held centrally and used for statistical purposes. Where we hold data centrally, we take strict and secure measures to ensure that individual patients cannot be identified.

Information may be used for clinical audit purposes to monitor the quality of service provided, and may be held centrally and used for statistical purposes. Where we do this we ensure that patient records cannot be identified.

Sometimes your information may be requested to be used for clinical research purposes – the practice will always endeavour to gain your consent before releasing the information.

Improvements in information technology are also making it possible for us to share data with other healthcare providers with the objective of providing you with better care.

Patients can choose to withdraw their consent to their data being used in this way. When the practice is about to participate in any new data-sharing scheme we will make patients aware by displaying prominent notices in the surgery and on our website at least four weeks before the scheme is due to start. We will also explain clearly what you have to do to ‘opt out’ of each new scheme.

A patient can object to their personal information being shared with other health care providers but if this limits the treatment that you can receive then the doctor will explain this to you at the time.

Mobile Telephone

If you provide us with your mobile phone number we may use this to send you reminders about any appointments or other health screening information being carried out.

Practice Website

Our Website does use cookies to optimise your experience. Using this feature means that you agree to the use of cookies as required by the EU Data Protection Directive 95/46/EC. You have the option to decline the use of cookies on your first visit to the website.

Risk Stratification

Risk stratification is a process for identifying and managing patients who are at high risk of requiring emergency or urgent care. Typically this is because patients have a long term condition such as COPD, cancer or other medical condition at risk of sudden worsening. NHS England encourages GPs to use risk stratification tools as part of their local strategies for supporting patients with long-term conditions and to provide care plans and planned care with the aim to prevent avoidable admissions or other emergency care.

Risk stratification enables your GP to focus on preventing ill health and not just the treatment of sickness. If necessary your GP may be able to offer you additional services.

Please note that you have the right to opt out of Risk Stratification.

Should you have any concerns about how your information is managed, or wish to opt out of any data collection at the practice, please contact the practice, or your healthcare professional to discuss how the disclosure of your personal information can be limited.

Patients have the right to change their minds and reverse a previous decision. Please contact the practice, if you change your mind regarding any previous choice.

Invoice Validation

If you have received treatment within the NHS your personal information may be shared within a strictly monitored, secure and confidential environment in order to determine which HB/CCG should pay for the treatment or procedure you have received.

Information such as your name, address and date of treatment may be passed on to enable the billing process - these details are held in a secure environment and kept confidential.

This information will only be used to validate invoices, and will not be shared for any further commissioning purposes.

How do we maintain the confidentiality of your records?

We are committed to protecting your privacy and will only use information collected lawfully in accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998 (which is overseen by the

Information Commissioner’s Office), Human Rights Act, the Common Law Duty of Confidentiality, and the NHS Codes of Confidentiality and Security. Every staff member who works for an NHS organisation has a legal obligation to maintain the confidentiality of patient information.

All of our staff, contractors and committee members receive appropriate and regular training to ensure they are aware of their personal responsibilities and have legal and contractual obligations to uphold confidentiality, enforceable through disciplinary procedures. Only a limited number of authorised staff has access to personal information where it is appropriate to their role and is strictly on a need-to-know basis.

We maintain our duty of confidentiality to you at all times. We will only ever use or pass on information about you if 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 (i.e. life or death situations), or where the law requires information to be passed on.

Remote Consultation

You may be offered a remote consultation as an alternative to attending the practice in person.
If you agree to a remote consultation the GP or healthcare professional may need to receive and store images taken by patients for clinical purposes; this could include images for the purpose of intimate clinical assessment.
This will only be done in the interests of the patient where it is necessary for providing health care and with patient consent.
The approach to video consulting, image sharing, and storage is the same as it would be for face to face interactions.
If we need to store images on your GP record this will be only for as long as necessary.
It is a patient’s choice to share an image either of a patient’s own accord or on request of the health professional treating you.
Refusal to share an image does not prevent access to care and treatment or result in patients receiving an inferior standard of care.
Further details about how remote consultation works can be obtained by contacting the 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

• 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’

Access to personal information

You have a right under the Data Protection Act 1998 to access/view information the practice holds about you, and to have it amended or removed should it be inaccurate. This is known as ‘the right of subject access’. If we do hold information about you we will:

• give you a description of it

• tell you why we are holding it

• tell you who it could be disclosed to

• let you have a copy of the information in an intelligible form

If you would like to make a ‘subject access request’, please contact the practice manager in writing. There may be a charge for this service. Any changes to this notice will be published on our website and on the practice notice board.

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 such as date of birth is incorrect in order for this to be amended. You have a responsibility to inform us of any changes so our records are accurate and up to date for you.

Notification

The Data Protection Act 1998 requires organisations to register a notification with the

Information Commissioner to describe the purposes for which they process personal and sensitive information. This information is publicly available on the Information

Commissioners Office website www.ico.org.uk.

Who is the Data Controller?

The Data Controller, responsible for keeping your information secure and confidential is Dr Jonathan Robinson and Partners. Any changes to this notice will be published on our website and displayed in prominent notices in the surgery.

Further information

Further information about the way in which the NHS uses personal information and your rights in that respect can be found in:

• The NHS Care Record Guarantee: http://www.nigb.nhs.uk/pubs/nhscrg.pdf

• NHS Digital’s Guide to Confidentiality in Health & Social Care gives more information on the rules around information sharing :

http://content.digital.nhs.uk/article/4979/Assuring-information

The Information Commissioner’s Office is the Regulator for the Data Protection Act 1998 and offer independent advice and guidance on the law and personal data, including your rights and how to access your personal information. For further information please visit the