In accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998 and Access to Health Records Act, patients may request to see their medical records. Such requests should be made through the practice manager and may be subject to an administration charge. No information will be released without the patient consent unless we are legally obliged to do so.

ACCESSIBLE STANDARDS AND COMMUNICATIONS POLICY

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) are the independent regulator of health and adult social care in England.

The CQC make sure health and social care services provide people with safe, effective, compassionate, high-quality care and encourage them to improve.

They monitor, inspect and regulate services to make sure they meet fundamental standards of quality and safety and publish what is found, including performance ratings to help people choose care.

Our GP Practice has recently undergone a CQC inspection and the results are now freely available on the CQC Website.  You can access the report below

Dr Newbound & Partners

We make every effort to give the best service possible to everyone who attends our practice.

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.

ADVONET

We will acknowledge your complaint, log it on our system, and check for any immediate patient safety, safeguarding or practitioner performance issues. If there are, we will take immediate action as necessary.
If your complaint is about anything else, it will remain open until further notice, unless you choose to withdraw it.  We will investigate and deal with it as soon as we can.

COMPLAINTS PROCEDURE PDF

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.

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 diagnoses 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

Download a copy of the patient leaflet

Information about the General Practitioners 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.

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

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 form any judgement about GP earnings, nor to make any comparison with any other practice.

The average pay for GPs working in Meanwood Group Practice in the last financial year was £71,003 before tax and National Insurance. This is for 2 full time GPs, 8 part time GPs and 3 locum GPs who worked in the practice for more than six months

Responsibility for the Management of Infection Risk

We are committed to improving our practices to combat slavery and human trafficking.

Slavery and human trafficking remains a hidden blight on global society and we have a responsibility to be alert to the risks in everything we do.

Meanwood Group Practice is committed to upholding the provisions of the Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking Act 2015, and we expect our staff and suppliers to comply with the legislation and report concerns where they have them.

Meanwood Group Practice together with WYICB and NHSE update policies on a regular basis to highlight obligations where any issues of modern slavery or human trafficking might arise, particularly in our procedures for safeguarding adults and children, tendering for goods and services, and recruitment and retention.

Meanwood Group Practice’s procurement process has been reviewed to ensure that human trafficking and modern slavery issues are considered at an early stage, requiring self-certification from potential suppliers that their supply chains comply with the law. We procure many goods and services through frameworks endorsed by our ICB the Cabinet Office and Department of Health & Social Care, under which suppliers such as NHS Supply Chain adhere to a code of conduct on forced labour. We operate professional practices relating to procurement and supply.

All staff receive a comprehensive induction programme which includes information on, and guidance regarding, slavery and human trafficking. Meanwood Group Practice also requires all staff to complete safeguarding courses, which cover obligations under the Act.

All clinical and non-clinical staff have a responsibility to consider issues regarding modern slavery and incorporate their understanding of these into their day-to-day practices.

Meanwood Group Practice believes that it is following good practice in implementing steps to prevent slavery and human trafficking.

This statement has been produced in accordance with provisions as set out in the Modern Slavery Act 2015/Section 54(1) of the Modern Slavery Act and applies to Meanwood Group Practice. The statement was approved by Shelli Fineberg, Managing Partner

All of our patients now have a “named accountable GP”.  Please ask the Receptionist for the name of yours.

The accountable GP takes lead responsibility for co-ordinating and delivering services to meet the needs of their patients.

This does not affect your right to see any doctor of your choosing at the practice.

Up-to-Date Phone Numbers

Please let us have your most up to date phone numbers and email addresses to make contacting you easier.

There is a link at the bottom of the home page which will open a form, once completed this will be sent electronically to us and we will be able to update your records.

Link to the Practice Overview of the National Patient Survey carried out by Ipsos Mori,

National Patient Survey

Supplementary Privacy Notice – During COVID-19

Practice Fair Processing & Privacy Notice

How can be my information be viewed outside of Meanwood Group Practice?

Your health information can be shared both locally and nationally at differing levels of detail.

For direct care locally in Leeds: Leeds Care Record
Patients in Leeds are able to benefit from the sharing of information via the Leeds Care Record. This shares contact details, diagnosis list, medications, allergies, test results, referrals & letters and care plans between health professionals in Leeds. Information is shared by GP practices, the Hospital trusts, Community and Mental Health services, and Social Care.

You have the right to object to your Leeds Care Record being shared by contacting them directly. Details are available via their website.

Download a leaflet on Leeds Care Record or visit their website https://www.leedscarerecord.org/

This is also available in an Easy Read version.

You can opt in and out of these sharing agreements whenever you choose. Details of these schemes are as follows:

Nationally for direct care: Summary Care Record – sharing your information for your care across the NHS.
Your core Summary Care Record is created when you register at a GP practice (although you should be given the option to opt in/out during your registration). If you do not express a preference, it is currently assumed that your consent is implied.

The Summary Care Record shares only your contact details, medications and allergies with other healthcare professionals involved in your care.

You can also choose to share a Summary Care Record with Additional Information. This shares contact details, medications, allergies, diagnosis list, care plans, end of life care and immunisations with other healthcare professionals. Sensitive data is excluded. A Summary Care Record with Additional Information will only be created for you if you explicitly choose this option.  Only the most up to date information is shared for each category (EMISWeb).  All current and past information is shared for each category (SystmOne).

Choosing to share a summary care record with additional information is thought to be of great benefit if you are admitted to hospital locally or elsewhere in the UK.

You can opt out of sharing any of your information in a Summary Care Record. If you decide not to share this will not affect your entitlement to care. However, it could result in the delivery of your care being less efficient as other health professionals will not have access to these parts of your medical history.

Further details are available in this leaflet.

This is also available in an Easy Read version.

You can change your mind about your Summary Care Record at any time.

To register or change your Summary Care Record preferences, please complete this form and return it to us.

Summary Care Record Consent

Nationally: The national data-out.  For purposes beyond direct care.

NHS Digital is developing a new system to support the national data opt-out which will give patients more control over how identifiable health and care information is used for reasons other than your individual care and treatment. The system will offer patients and the public the opportunity to make an informed choice about whether they wish their personally identifiable data to be used for purposes beyond their direct care such as research and planning purposes.

In the past, you may have already chosen to prevent your identifiable data leaving NHS Digital, known as a Type 2 opt-out. All existing Type 2 opt-outs will be converted to the new national data opt-out and this will be confirmed by a letter to all individuals aged 13 or over with an existing Type 2 in place. Once the national data opt-out is launched, it will no longer be possible to change preferences via local GP practices.

The national data opt-out is due to be launched on 25 May 2018.

UPDATE:  OCTOBER 2018

A new national data opt-out model, launched in May, replaces the ‘type 2’ opt-out. The new model provides an online facility for individuals to opt-out from the use of their confidential data for purposes other than direct care i.e. for the purposes research and health service planning. Patients who had previously registered a ‘type 2’ opt-out have had this converted into a national data opt-out. It is important that patients are aware of their right to opt-out.

Despite efforts to raise public awareness as part of the Information Commissioner’s Office ‘your data matters’ campaign recently published figures show that uptake of the national opt-out has been lower than expected.

Patients can set their opt-out preferences at: https://www.nhs.uk/your-nhs-data-matters/ They will need their NHS number and a valid email address or telephone number which is on the GP record or on the Personal Demographics Service database to register their decision to opt out.

Patients who are unable to use the online facility can use a phone helpline to manage their choice – 0300 303 5678.

A paper print-and-post form is also available: https://www.nhs.uk/your-nhs-data-matters/manage-your-choice/other-ways-to-manage-your-choice/

More information is available via https://digital.nhs.uk/national-data-opt-out

More information about health and care records in general can be found on the NHS website here: NHS Choices

If you have any queries or concerns about how your information is handled, please do not hesitate to contact Martin Howard for further information.

There is a new Central NHS Computer System called the Summary Care Record (SCR). It is an electronic record which contains information about the medicines you take, allergies you suffer from and any bad reactions to medicines you have had.

Why do I need a Summary Care Record?

Storing information in one place makes it easier for healthcare staff to treat you in an emergency, or when your GP practice is closed.

This information could make a difference to how a doctor decides to care for you, for example which medicines they choose to prescribe for you.

Who can see it?

Only healthcare staff involved in your care can see your Summary Care Record.

How do I know if I have one?

Over half of the population of England now have a Summary Care Record. You can find out whether Summary Care Records have come to your area by looking at our interactive map or by asking your GP

Do I have to have one?

No, it is not compulsory. If you choose to opt out of the scheme, then you will need to complete a form and bring it along to the surgery. You can use the form at the foot of this page.

More Information

For further information visit the NHS Care records website

Download the opt out form

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.