Practice Policies & Patient Information
Access to medical records
The practice is registered and complies with the Data Protection Act 2018 (DPA 2018). Any request for access to notes by a patient, patient’s representative or outside body will be dealt with in accordance with the Act. Please contact the Practice Manager for further information. If you’re registered with a GP surgery, you’ll have a Summary Care Record unless you’ve chosen not to have one. It contains basic information including your allergies, medicines and any reactions you’ve had to medicine in the past. By storing all this information in one place, it makes it easier for healthcare staff to treat you in an emergency, or when your GP practice is closed. You cannot get your Summary Care Record online. If you’d like to see it, speak to your GP. To opt out of having a Summary Care Record, speak to your GP or another health professional. Coronavirus update: During the coronavirus outbreak, you will also have extra information added to your record. This includes significant medical history (past and present), reasons for medicines, care plan information and vaccinations. For further information, follow this link to visit the ‘How to access your health records’ page on the NHS website. Your health records contain a type of data called confidential patient information. This data can be used to help with research and planning. You can choose to stop your confidential patient information being used for research and planning. You can also make a choice for someone else like your children under the age of 13. Your choice will only apply to the health and care system in England. This does not apply to health or care services accessed in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland. Find out how this data is used and how to opt out on the following link:Summary Care Record
Your Data Matters to the NHS
Armed Forces Accreditation
Complaints policy
Every patient has the right to make a complaint about the treatment or care they have received at Bearsted Medical Practice. We understand that we may not always get everything right and by telling us about the problem you have encountered, we will be able to improve our services and patient experience. Most complaints can be resolved at a local level. Please speak to a member of staff if you have a complaint; all our staff are trained to handle complaints effectively. Alternatively, ask to speak to the Complaints Manager. At Bearsted Medical Practice the complaints Manager is Sarah Harrison, Practice Manager and he is supported by the GP Complaints Lead who is Dr Alison Milroy. A complaint can be made verbally or in writing. A Complaints Form is available from reception. Additionally, you can complain via email to: [email protected] The time constraint on bringing a complaint is 12 months from the occurrence giving rise to the complaint, or 12 months from the time you become aware of the matter about which you wish to complain. The complaints manager will respond to all complaints within 3 business days. Furthermore, they will provide regular updates for you regarding your complaint, whilst aiming to have the complaint completely resolved within 40 days. Bearsted Medical Practice will investigate all complaints effectively and in conjunction with extant legislation and guidance. Bearsted Medical Practice will ensure that all complaints are investigated with the utmost confidentiality and any documents are held separately from the patient’s healthcare record. All of your information will be dealt with according to current data protection legislation. Bearsted Medical Practice allows a third party to make a complaint on behalf of a patient. The patient must provide consent for them to do so. A Third Party Patient Complaint Form is available from reception. Bearsted Medical Practice will issue a final formal response to all complainants which will provide full details and the outcome of the complaint. Further information is detailed in our practice policy. Practice Complaints LeafletTalk to us
Who to Talk to
Time Frames for Complaints
Investigating Complaints
Confidentiality
Third Party Complaints
Final Response
Data Protection Privacy Notice
Click here to view our Data Protection Privacy Notice
Declaration of Earnings
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 for any judgement about GP earnings, nor to make any comparisons with other practices.
The average pay for GPs working at Bearsted Medical Practise in the last financial year was £82,354 before tax and national insurance. This is for 3 full time GPs and 6 part time GPs who worked in the practice for more than 6 months.
Named GP
All our patients have their own named doctor. This is the doctor that you are registered with and the reception staff are able to confirm who this is if you ask them or it can be seen on the right hand side of the repeat prescription slip. Please be aware that you are still able to see any doctor that you choose to.
Patient confidentiality
Confidentiality is a top priority if you wish to speak to a receptionist or any member of the practice team in private, please ask.
Prescribing Policy For Patients Travelling Abroad
This policy outlines the procedure for patients travelling abroad for short and long periods of time. By law, the NHS ceases to have responsibility for the medical care of patients when they leave the UK. In addition GPs are not required by their terms of service to provide prescriptions for the treatment of a condition that is not present and may arise while the patient is abroad. The NHS does accept responsibility for supplying ongoing medication for temporary periods abroad of up to 3 months. However, if a person is going to be abroad for more than 3 months, then they are only entitled (at NHS expense) to a sufficient supply of regular medication in order to get to their destination, where they should the find an alternative supply of that medication. Patients residing abroad for a period of more than 3 months should be removed from the registered patient list. For patients who inform us they will be out of the country for less than 3 months, we will provide sufficient medicines for an existing condition (e.g. asthma, diabetes…) for the period while the patient is away where it is safe to do so. Drugs that require frequent monitoring may not be prescribed where there are safety concerns. 1 months supply only will be issued for drugs normally available over the counter, such as paracetamol. Patients who inform us they will be leaving the country for more than 3 months will be prescribed sufficient medication to enable them to make alternative arrangements at their destination (up to 3 months supply where safe to do so). They will also be removed from our patient list. We will be pleased to re-register patients on their return to residence in the UK and can reassure patient that their electronic notes are kept on file for reference on your return. Patients and relatives should not seek medication for themselves while they are abroad as this constitutes NHS fraud.Prescribing Policy For Patients Travelling Abroad
NHS Policy
Travelling out of the Country for Less Than 3 Months
Travelling out of the Country for More Than 3 Months
Violent or Abusive Behaviour
We take seriously any threatening, abusive or violent behaviour against any of our staff or patients. If a patient is violent or abusive, they will be warned to stop their behaviour. If they persist, we may exercise our right to take action to have them removed, immediately if necessary, from our list of patients.