IMPORTANT PATIENT INFORMATION

REMINDER: If you are COVID POSITIVE, please DO NOT come into any of our buildings. This is for the safety of our other patients, our staff and our community. Thank you in advance for your co-operation.

Unfortunately, we are again experiencing a large number of staff absent with COVID-19. This means that we are having to cancel some pre-booked appointments at short notice. We apologise in advance if this affects you or a member of your family. If you have a pre-booked appointment and do not hear from us please assume that your appointment is still going ahead.

We understand that this is frustrating for our patients. It is also frustrating for us as we are not delivering the service we want to. Please be patient and kind and bear with us as appointments and clinics are disrupted. It is not the fault of our receptionists so please do not verbally abuse them.

Below are some tips to help you help yourself, and in turn help us and the NHS:

SELF-CARE: You can treat many minor illnesses such as colds and coughs, sore throats and upset stomachs at home. Make sure you are stocked up with healthcare essentials such as pain relief (e.g. Paracetamol), cough and sore throat remedies, upset stomach treatment, rehydration treatment, heartburn / indigestion treatments and a first aid kit.

USE YOUR LOCAL PHARMACIST: They can offer you advice and guidance on your symptoms and on the best treatment for you – no appointment needed. Pharmacists are available on every high street and in supermarkets, with many being open in the evenings and at weekends.

COMMUNITY PHARMACIST CONSULTATION SERVICE (CPCS): This service enables patients to have a same day appointment with their community pharmacist for minor illness or an urgent supply of a regular medicine. Should you need to be escalated or referred to an alternative service, the pharmacist can arrange this. Please speak to our reception team to be referred into this service.

USE THE NHS UK SYMPTOM CHECKER www.nhs.uk: This helpful tool can guide you through your symptoms and direct you to the most appropriate health service for your needs.

RING NHS 111, OPTION 2: If you are experiencing a mental health crisis this First Response Service puts your mental health first. It provides 24-hour access, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, to mental health care, advice, support and treatment.

MEDICATION: If you need to order medication, please do this online via SystmOnline or the Airmid app. Details of how to do this can be found on our website www.grantamedicalpractices.co.uk If you do not have internet or mobile telephone access, you can send in your repeat medication slip or write in with your repeat request. Unfortunately, we cannot take prescription orders over the telephone.

If you have done all you can but feel that your problem remains unresolved, please do ring us and we will be happy to help you. Please note that patient access continues to be by invitation only, following a prior telephone assessment, which includes a COVID-19 questionnaire.

Thank you for your continued understanding, patience and support. #bekind

Patient Confidentiality

NHS Digital is the national custodian for health and care data in England and has responsibility for standardising, collecting, publishing and sharing data and information from the health and social care system, including general practice.

NHS Digital has collected patient data from general practices using a service called the General Practice Extraction Services (GPES) for over 10 years and is now being replaced by General Practice Data for Planning and Research (GPDPR).

You can choose to stop your confidential patient information being shared with GPDPR, whilst your confidential information still being used for your individual care.

If you do not want your identifiable patient data to be shared for purposes other than your own care, you can opt-out by registering a Type 1 Opt-out. If you do not want your data shared with NHS Digital please register your Type 1 Opt-out by filling in this form now.

For further information about GPDPR and opting out please click here.

General Data Protection Regulation
Privacy Notice for Granta Medical Practices

This practice keeps medical records confidential and complies with the General Data Protection Regulation and UK data protection legislation.
We hold your medical record so that we can provide you with safe care and treatment.
We will also use your information so that this practice can check and review the quality of the care we provide. This helps us to improve our services to you.
We will share relevant information from your medical record with other health or social care staff organisations when they provide you with care. For example, your GP will share information when they refer you to a specialist in a hospital, or your GP will send details about your prescription to your chosen pharmacy.
We use a medical record system called SystmOne. Other health and social care organisations, for example GP Out of Hours services and community services, who also use this system may have the ability to view your GP medical record when they are providing care to you. You may be asked if you are happy for your record to be viewed, or in some circumstances you may be sent a verification code to allow services caring for you to view your record. You can choose not to allow other organisations to be able to view your GP medical record.
Healthcare staff working in A&E and out of hours care may also have access to your information. For example, it is important that staff who are treating you in an emergency know if you have any allergic reactions. This information may be obtained from your Summary Care Record or from SystmOne. For more information go here.
You have the right to request to have any mistakes in your medical record corrected.

Other important information about how your information is used to provide you with healthcare >>

Access to medical records

The practice is registered and complies with the Data Protection Act 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. Any request must be made in writing. Verbal or email requests will not be accepted. Please contact the practice for further information.

Patient confidentiality

All staff sign the Confidentiality Agreement contract. We respect your right to privacy and keep all your health information confidential and secure. It is important that the NHS keeps accurate and up-to-date records about your health and treatment so that those treating you can give you the best possible care.

This information may be used for management and audit purposes. However, it is usually only available to, and used by, those involved in your care. You have the right to know what information we hold about you. If you would like to see your records please contact the Practice.

GMS / PMS 2015-16 Contractual Requirement for Patient Online Service

Granta Medical Practices offer the facility for patients to view online, export or print detailed coded information held in their own records as soon as our Clinical System Provider (SystmOne) provide this facility. The functionality for detailed record access to coded data has now been released.

This practice currently offers the facility for patients:

to book, view, amend, cancel and print appointments online
to order online, view and print a list of their repeat prescriptions for drugs, medicines or appliances
to view online, export or print summary information from their record, relating to medications, allergies, adverse reactions and any other items agreed between the practice and individual patient
to view detailed coded record including blood results, xray results and coded data

Our practice is research active

All NHS organisations are expected to participate and support health and care research.

Conducting high-quality clinical research helps us to keep improving NHS care by finding out which treatments work best.

If you are asked about taking part in research, usually someone in the care team looking after you will contact you. People in your care team may look at your health records to check whether you are suitable to take part in a research study, before asking you whether you are interested or sending you a letter on behalf of the researcher.

For more information about how your information may be used in research and your rights please visit this website.