Withycombe Lodge Surgery - Surgery policies on confidentiality, comments and suggestions, data protection etc

Withycombe Lodge Surgery
123 Torquay Road
Paignton
Devon, TQ3 2SG
Tel: 01803 525525

Health Charities

Marie Curie Cancer Care is a UK charity dedicated to the care of people with terminal cancer and other illnesses. Over the financial year 2010/11, we reached a total of 31,799 patients

01 Dec - 28 Feb
YouthHealthTalk

Youthhealthtalk enables young people, their family and friends, and professionals such as doctors and teachers to understand young people's experiences of health, illness and life in general. The website feature real-life accounts of issues such as effect on work and education, social life and relationships, consulting health professionals and treatment.

03 Sep - 28 Feb
Macmillan Cancer Support

One in three of us will get cancer and it’s the toughest thing most of us will ever face. If you’ve been diagnosed with cancer, or a loved one has, you’ll want a team of people in your corner supporting you every step of the way. Macmillan provide practical, medical and financial support and push for better cancer care.

BBC Health

GMC guidance on assisted suicide

The General Medical Council launches guidelines on assisted suicide to help it decide if doctors should face a disciplinary panel on the issue.

NHS translation bill 'tops £23m'

The NHS in England spends £59,000 a day on translating documents and providing interpreters, according to a health think tank.

Campaign to cut smoking in cars

A campaign to stop people smoking in cars when carrying children - and which could pave the way for a ban - is launched by the Welsh government.

Transplant jaw made by 3D printer

An 83-year-old woman is fitted with a jaw made by a 3D printer in what doctors say is the first operation of its kind.

'Birth defect risk' for diabetics

The risk of birth defects increases four-fold if the pregnant mother has diabetes, a study of 400,000 pregnancies in England suggests.

'A little too much drink' warning

Drinking "just a little more than they should" puts people at risk of serious illness including heart disease, stroke and cancer, the government is warning.

Malaria toll 'is twice as high'

The number of deaths worldwide from malaria has been underestimated, according to data published in the medical journal the Lancet.

Health bodies reject NHS reforms

Physiotherapist leaders have joined the Royal College of GPs in calling for the health bill in England to be scrapped, increasing pressure on the government.

Under 10s have eating disorders

A number of children under 10 are treated in hospitals in Northern Ireland for eating disorders, the Department of Health says.

Weekend hospital admission fears

Research which suggests that patients are more likely to die in hospital if they are admitted at the weekend is backed up by a major study.

Health Protection Agency

Current alert level: Level 3 - Cold Weather Action in one or more regions of England

There is a 100% probability of severe cold weather between 1000 on Monday and 1000 on Friday in parts of England.

Health Protection Agency confirms new incinerator study

A new study to further extend the evidence base as to whether emissions from modern well run Municipal Waste Incinerators affect human health has been approved by the Health Protection Agency.

HPA helps solve radon problems in West Oxfordshire homes

Hundreds of homes across West Oxfordshire have been found to have high levels of radioactive gas radon. Last summer, the Health Protection Agency invited about 9,000 householders across West Oxfordshire to apply for a free test for radon, a naturally occurring gas present in all homes.

HPA helps solve radon problems in Orkney homes

Hundreds of householders across Orkney are being advised to act to protect their health, after HPA tests detected high levels of radioactive gas radon.

Cornish radon hotspot targeted

Thousands of households in a part of Cornwall with historic radon problems are being offered a free test for levels of the radioactive gas radon.

New Guidelines to Control Group A Streptococcal (GAS) Infections in UK Hospitals Launched

The Health Protection Agency (HPA) together with the group A streptococcal (GAS) Working Group* has today launched new guidelines for the investigation, control and prevention of GAS infection in acute healthcare settings, including maternity units, in the UK.

Whooping cough cases increase

Cases of whooping cough (pertussis) reported to the Health Protection Agency (HPA) in England and Wales have more than doubled from 421 cases in 2010 to 1040 in 2011. Increases in levels of whooping cough are seen every three to four years and figures in 2011 are in line with cases reported in the last peak year of 2008.

HPA publishes second migrant health report

The Health Protection Agency’s (HPA) second report on Migrant Health, and the first UK-wide report is published today.

Levels of norovirus within seasonal norms

Norovirus is highly contagious and can be transmitted by contact with an infected person; by consuming contaminated food or water or by contact with contaminated surfaces or objects. The virus spreads rapidly in closed environments such as hospitals, schools, nursing and residential homes.

HPA warns winter sun seekers to seek protection from malaria

The Health Protection Agency (HPA) is reminding UK travellers visiting friends and family or taking winter sun holidays to ensure they take anti-malaria tablets when visiting countries where malaria is prevalent.

Your Information

Confidentiality

Complaints

Sharing Your Information

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION

Blue_Locked_Folder This Publication Scheme is a complete guide to the information routinely made available to the public by the doctors at Withycombe Lodge Surgery. It is a description of the information about our General Practitioners and our practice, which we make publicly available.

It will be reviewed at regular intervals and we will monitor its effectiveness.

Freedom of Information Act

CONFIDENTIALITY

We ask you for information so that you can receive proper care and treatment. Everyone working in the NHS has a legal duty to keep information about you confidential. We ensure that all your information is kept safe and secure. We will only ever pass on information about you if people have a genuine need for it, you have provided your consent or there is a legal requirement to.

Under the Data Protection Act 1998 you have a right to access your medical records held at this practice. There is a fee for this service.

If you wish to view your medical records or would like further details on how and why we share your information please contact our Practice Manager

This Practice is a training practice involved in training medical students from the Peninsula Medical School in Plymouth. We will always ask your permission for a medical student to be present during your consultation

Confidentiality

We have a duty of care and confidentiality to all our patients including those under the age 16. The NHS offer free advice in a number of areas of your life whatever your age. We are not here to judge or to make assumptions but to help and give advice. You are welcome to visit your GP or a Nurse at the practice to discuss any issues you have or just to ask for advice and it will remain confidential.

The confidentiality policy applies not just to GP's but to all of the practice staff, however should you wish to see a Dr or a nurse you can do this without having to inform any other member of staff the reason for your appointment.

WITHYCOMBE LODGE - OUR PLEDGE

PRACTICE COMPLAINTS PROCEDURE

pad_and_pen Our aim is to provide the highest possible standard of service and we try to deal swiftly with any problems that may occur. We therefore offer a Practice complaints procedure to deal with comments, suggestions or complaints about the services we provide.

Lesley Jones, our Practice Manager will be happy to provide you with further information or personally listen to your comments. Contact Lesley on – 01803 523618. Or use the comments facility on our website.

Your Information

What you need to know

We have produced a leaflet which explains:

why we collect information about you
how we use this information
how you can access the information held in your health care record

The leaflet is available by clicking on the following link:

Sharing Your Information Leaflet

A paper copy is available at the surgery.

All NHS staff have a duty of confidentiality and personal information is only shared on a ‘need to know’ basis to support your care and treatment.

If you have any concerns about the sharing of your information, please tell your GP or ask to speak to the Practice Manager.

Please help us to keep your information accurate and up-to-date by informing us of any changes to the information that we hold, i.e. change of name, address, telephone number, etc

Further Information

For quick medical advice online or on the telephone contact NHS Direct

NHS 111 is a new service being introduced to make it easier for you to access local NHS healthcare services