Your Personal Health Information
What we record
To provide you with the care you need we hold details of your consultations, illnesses, tests, prescriptions and other treatments that have been recorded by anyone involved in your care e.g. GP, Practice Nurse, Health Care Assistant. This may be stored on paper or electronically on computer files by practice staff.
How We Use Your Personal Health Information
We may need to disclose information to other health professionals involved in your care, such as when your GP refers you to a specialist at hospital we will send relevant details about you in a letter. Our practice also participates in regional and national screening programmes such as cervical cytology service and your basic details will be given to allow them to send you an invitation.
We need to use some information for administrative purposes in order to receive payment for services provided. Basic details go to the NHS Tayside and to the Common Services Agency for the Scottish Health Service. These organisations have a role in protecting funds and are authorised to check that payments are being made properly. We must co-operate with these checks and the disclosure of data is a necessary part of our provision of healthcare services.
Sometimes we participate in studies to allow us to improve our services and we ensure that patients cannot be identified from any information given in these circumstances.
We are also sometimes involved in research and the teaching of students and other health professionals. We will not use or disclose any personal health information for these purposes unless you have been informed and have given consent to allow us to do so.
Where you need a service jointly provided with a local authority we will seek your permission before giving them your details.
Sometimes we are required by law to pass on information e.g. the notification of births, deaths and certain disease or crimes to the government is a legal requirement.
Our use of your personal health information is covered by a duty of confidentiality and is regulated by the Data Protection Act. This Act gives you a right to access the information we hold about you. Should you wish to view your health records please enquire at reception or write to the Practice Manager.
Everyone working for the NHS has a legal duty to keep information about you confidential and adheres to a Code of Practice on Protecting Patient confidentiality. Further information on this can be found at www.nhsis.co.uk/confidentiality. Anyone who receives information from us is also under a legal duty to keep it confidential.
Complaints
We take seriously any comments or complaints and have a procedure to deal with such instances as part of the NHS system for dealing with complaints. We hope that most problems can be sorted out easily and quickly, often at the time they arise and with the person concerned. Complaints should be addressed to Mrs Gillian Linnen, Practice Manager or any of the doctors. Alternatively, you may ask for an appointment with Mrs Linnen to discuss your concerns. Complaint forms are also available from reception desk.
Violent and Abusive Behaviour
We have a zero tolerance towards violent/abusive patients. Any patient who acts in an unacceptable manner will be removed from the list of patients for this practice. In the unlikely event of such an incident the patient will be informed in writing and advised to register with another practice.