Privacy Notice updated 20.09.2023
Covid Permanent Privacy Notice, August 2023
Your Data Matters Patient Leaflet
Our Practice Leaflet
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 Information & Research & Data
Who can use your confidential patient information for research and planning?
It is used by the NHS, local authorities, university and hospital researchers, medical colleges and pharmaceutical companies researching new treatments. However, you can choose to opt out of sharing your confidential patient information for research and planning.
There may still be times when your confidential patient information is used: example, during an epidemic where there might be a risk to you or to other people's health. You can also still consent to take part in a specific research project.
Click on the link below for further information including details on how to opt out.
Helping you choose whether to opt out of reasearch and planning
Freedom of Information
Information about the General Practioners 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.
Access to Records
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.
Complaints
Practice Complaints Leaflet
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.
Violence Policy
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.
Chaperone Policy
Practice Chaperone Policy
Practice Consent Policy
All clinical consultations, examinations and investigations are potentially distressing. Many patients find examinations, investigations, inspections of a personal nature distressing. The basic principles of respect, explanation, consent and privacy apply to all patients undergoing such examinations. Appropriate technique, sensitive behaviour and expertise of staff are of paramount importance. Please be assured that should you wish to have a chaperone present during examination we will arrange this for you. All our staff members who act as chaperones are fully trained and have annual update training. We have both male and female chaperones available.
Infection Control
Infection Control Policy.doc
Infection prevention and control is an essential element of high quality care. Having effective prevention and control measures in place contributes to the safety of the environment for service users, care workers and others.
The Health and Social Care Act 2012 and Code of Practice for Health and Adult Social Care on the Prevention and Control of Infections related Guidance requires all organisations which provide health and adult social care to have policies, procedures and protocols in place which minimise the risk of infection and sets out the key activities that should be undertaken to meet these requirements.
The Code of Practice is used by CQC to assess compliance with the registration requirements on cleanliness and infection prevention and control.
The employees at Swan Lane Medical Centre are committed to minimising the risk of infection and ensuring the safety of our patients by regularly reviewing the processes we have in place to ensure they remain appropriate and fit for purpose.
Swan Lane Medical Centre works alongside NHS Bolton CCG and our local Health Protection Services who are part of Public Health England (PHE) to ensure the highest level of communication and a consistent approach to prevent infection and control transmission