Confidentiality

We ask you for information so that you can receive proper care and treatment. We keep this information together with details of your care because it may be needed if we see you again. Everyone working for the NHS has a legal duty to keep information about you confidential.

We may use some of this information for other reasons: for example, to help us protect the health of the public generally and to see that the NHS runs efficiently. Information may also be needed to carry out medical and other health research for the benefit of everyone. Whenever this is the case we will remove any details that identify you.

The NHS Central Register for England and Wales contains basic personal details of patients registered with a general practitioner. The register does not contain clinical information. You may be receiving care from other people as well as the NHS. So that we can all work together for your benefit we may need to share some information about you. The sharing of sensitive information is strictly controlled by law, and anyone who receives information from us also has a legal duty to keep it confidential.

You have a right of access to your records under the 1998 Data Protection Act.; please speak to the Practice Manager and complete an Access to Health Records form.  There may be a charge for this service. As required by law we are registered with the Data Protection Commissioner.  

The Practice is committed to continuously improving its IT systems to enable us to maintain up-to-date information and accurate patient records. All stored data is subject to the data protection act.

Suggestions & Complaints

We have a standard complaints procedure in operation. If you have a problem, complaint or suggestion please contact Mary Orgill Practice Manager. We welcome constructive ideas for improving the services that we offer.

The Practice Manager is always available to discuss problems, suggestions and complaints. Please ask at reception to arrange this. We also like to know when you are pleased with our services!

Practice Charter

The Doctors and Staff at Alma Road Surgery work together and are all committed to give you the best possible service.

We offer

• Receptionists 
  Our  Receptionists will help you make the best use of the services whether calling by telephone or visiting the Surgery. They have separate telephone lines to give you direct telephone access.
• Doctors Appointments
  You will normally be seen by your own doctor when they are available. This will be as soon as possible in an emergency, on the day you request if it is urgent or when mutually convenient when it is routine.
  Surgeries and clinics normally start on time and we aim to see you within 20 / 30 minutes of your appointment time. Please appreciate that delays are sometimes unavoidable but when this happens, we will try and keep you informed. Please ask for information if you have waited 30 mins beyond your appointment time.
• Home Visits
  If you are too ill or frail to attend surgery, we will visit you at home. Please ring, if possible, before 10.30 AM and the staff and doctor can decide if and when a visit is required. We will visit as soon as possible for an emergency and on the day requested for non-urgent visits.
• Repeat Prescriptions
  If you are on regular medicines, repeat prescriptions will be normally available within 48 hours from the Dispensary. Please use repeat cards provided. The Dispensary is available during surgery hours to give advice on prescriptions and medication. Your medication will be reviewed regularly.
  We are only allowed to dispense to patients living in rural areas.
• Results of Investigations
  It is your responsibility to find out the results of all tests and you must not assume the Surgery will contact you in the event of some abnormality. If phoning for results, please phone between 11am and 4pm and always try to quote your Surgery Number.
• Hospital Referrals
  If your GP thinks it necessary, you will be referred to a consultant.
• Students
  From time to time we have medical students in the Surgery. If you do not want a student present, please tell the receptionist.
• Training Practice
  We are a training practice for qualified doctors who want to enter General Practice. Some are only recently qualified (house officers) and some have several years' experience (registrars). You may be offered an appointment with them. Please say if this is not to your satisfaction.
• Confidentiality
  We ask you for information so that you can receive proper care and treatment.
  We Keep this information together with details of your care because it may be needed if we see you again generally and to see that the NHS runs efficiently, plans for the future, trains its staff, pays its bills and can account for its actions. Information may also be needed to help educate tomorrow's clinical staff and to carry out medical and other health research for the benefit of everyone.
  The NHS Central Register for England and Wales contains basic personal details of patients registered with a general practitioner. The register does not contain clinical information.
  You have a right of access to your records under the 1998 Data Protection Act.
  Everyone working for the NHS has a legal duty to keep information about you confidential
  You may be receiving care from other people as well as the NHS. So that we can all work together for your benefit we may need to share some information about you.
  Sometimes the law requires us to pass on information. We only ever use or pass on information about you if the people have a genuine need for it in your and everyone's interests. Whenever we can we shall remove details which identify you. The sharing of some types of very sensitive information from us is strictly controlled by law.
  Anyone who receives information from us is also under a legal duty to keep it confidential.
  As required by law we are registered with the Data Protection Commissioner.
  If you want further information you may request a Data Protection leaflet from our receptionists.
• Complaints
  Please voice any complaints as this will help us to improve our service. In the first instance please contact your own doctor or the Practice Manager.
• Practice Charity
  The Alma Road Practice Charitable Trust (No. 296849) has been set up to help provide facilities and equipment which would otherwise not normally be available. Names of the Trustees, none of whom work within the Practice, are available on request.
  Donations can be made payable to Alma Road Surgery Charitable Trust.

How you can help us :

You can help us provide an efficient service by :

• Keeping appointments or giving as much notice as possible should you need to cancel. (If you need a long appointment let us know)
• Making requests for routine visits before 10.30 AM
• Using the Out of Hours services only in an emergency
• Keeping us informed of changes of address, telephone numbers etc.
• Asking for immediate appointments only if it is urgent otherwise patients who have booked appointments will be delayed.

Please let us know if our standards are not to your satisfaction. Constructive ideas are always welcome