The Data Protection Act 1988 gives you the right to see, or have a copy of, any personal information held in your health record, this is known as the right of ‘subject access’. If you want to see your records, or have a copy of your health records, you should make a written request to the Practice Manager, who will then guide you through the process of gaining access to them.

A charge will be made for photocopying and administration. Please note, if you would like your representative to have access to your records such as a solicitor, there may be a charge up to a maximum of £50 if after reading this you have any queries or want further information please write to or telephone the Practice Manager.

Everyone working for the NHS has a legal duty to keep your information confidential, and anyone who receives that information from us is also under a legal duty to keep it confidential. If you are receiving care from other people as well as the NHS, we may need to share relevant information, to enable us all to work together for your benefit.

The sharing of some information is strictly controlled by law. Unless there are exceptional circumstances, such as when the safety of others is at risk, we will not disclose your information to third parties, without your permission.

We only ever use or pass on information about you if people have a genuine need for it in your and everyone’s interest. Whenever we can we will remove details, which identify you. The sharing of some types of very sensitive personal information is strictly controlled by law. We will only give information to your relatives, friends and carers if you want us to and have given your written permission.

Sometimes the law requires us to report information to appropriate authorities, such as when we encounter infectious diseases, which endangers the safety of others or where a formal court order has been issued. Our aim is that any records we have about you are accurate, secure and held in strictest confidence.

Your Data Matters to the NHS

Information about your health and care helps us to improve your individual care, speed up diagnosis, plan your local services and research new treatments. The NHS is committed to keeping patient information safe and always being clear about how it is used.

How your data is used

Information about your individual care such as treatment and diagnosis is collected about you whenever you use health and care services. It is also used to help us and other organisations for research and planning such as research into new treatments, deciding where to put GP clinics and planning for the number of doctors and nurses in your local hospital.  It is only used in this way when there is a clear legal basis to use the information to help improve health and care for you, your family and future generations.

Wherever possible we try to use data that does not identify you, but sometimes it is necessary to use your confidential patient information.

You have a choice

You do not need to do anything if you are happy about how your information is used. If you do not want your confidential patient information to be used for research and planning, you can choose to opt out securely online or through a telephone service. You can change your mind about your choice at any time.

Will choosing this opt-out affect your care and treatment?

No, choosing to opt out will not affect how information is used to support your care and treatment. You will still be invited for screening services, such as screenings for bowel cancer.

What do you need to do?

If you are happy for your confidential patient information to be used for research and planning, you do not need to do anything.

To find out more about the benefits of data sharing, how data is protected, or to make/change your opt-out choice visit www.nhs.uk/your-nhs-data-matters

The freedom of information act requires the practice to make certain information available to the general public if requested.

Most of this information is contained in the practice booklet and on this website.  However you may access the freedom of information website at www.foi.gov.uk.

All GP Practices are required to declare the mean earnings (e.g. average) for GPs working to deliver NHS Services to patients at each practice.

The average pay for GPs working in The Crescent Surgery in the last financial year before Tax and National Insurance was £60,182.

This is for 4 full time GPs and 0 locum GPs who worked in the practice for more than 6 months.

It should be noted that 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 form any judgment about GP earnings, nor to make any comparison with any other practice.

From April 2015 the Government has extended the Named GP scheme to all patients. This is something that the practice already operates as each patient is registered with an individual doctor.

This does not mean that you have to see that doctor or that you cannot see anyone else in the practice – as always you can ask to see any specific clinician if that is important to you and they are able to manage the issue in question. It does mean that there is an individual who takes an overview of the services being provided to patients registered with them to ensure that we are offering relevant and suitable care.

If you would like to know who your Named GP is you can find out in a number of ways:

• Check the right hand side of prescriptions: we have configured the system to print your Named GP here from now on
• Ask any clinician within the practice when you next attend
• Contact the practice in any of the usual ways if you need to know and do not have a forthcoming visit (please do not make appointments just to ask this question)

If you would prefer to have a different Named GP than the one you are currently allocated we will do our best to accommodate this. Please make such a request in writing to the Practice Manager.

Summary Care Record

The Practice believes that its staff, patients and others have a right not to be subjected to any kind of harassment or abuse. In order to protect and support staff, patients or visitors from any unacceptable behaviour, the Practice reserve the right to take appropriate action.

This can include

• Asking patients or relatives or others to modify their behaviour
• Requiring relatives or others to leave the premises if their behaviour compromise staff’s ability to provide an appropriate level of care to the patients in their charge.
• Reporting acts of harassment or abuse to the police.

The purpose of this policy is to protect staff, patients relatives and visitors from any form of harassment or bullying.