Practice Policies

In line with the following requirement Rawmarsh Health Centre has a plan to manage access.

Make use of GP Patient Survey results for practices in the PCN to (i) identify patient groups experiencing inequalities in their experience of access to general practice, and (ii) develop, publish and implement a plan to improve patient experience and access for these patient groups, taking into account demographic information including levels of deprivation

Rawmarsh Health Centre believes in Inclusivity and does not prioritise one group of patients over another group of patients.

Read our Managing Access Policy (DOCX, 73KB)

We aim to provide the best possible service to our patients and hope you will feel that we achieve that aim. The care of your health is a partnership between yourself and the Primary Health Care Team. The success of that partnership relies on co-operation between us.

Our Responsibility To You

• You have a right to confidentiality.
• You have the right to see your medical records, subject to the limitations of the law.
• If your problem is urgent we will see you on the same day
• We will inform you when a doctor has to attend an emergency. We will give you the opportunity to book another appointment or, see another doctor.
• We will refer you to a consultant when your GP thinks it necessary. We will make an urgent referrals within one working day.
• You have the right to receive appropriate drugs and medication.
• We will provide the result of any test or investigation on request or at your next appointment.

Your Responsibility To Us

• Treat all surgery staff with respect.
• Do not ask for information about anyone other than yourself.
• Tell us of any change of name or address.
• Only request an urgent appointment if appropriate.
• You should only request a home visit if you are too ill to attend surgery.
• Cancel your appointment if you are unable to attend.
• An appointment is for one person only. If another member of the family has a medical problem you will need to book a separate appointment.
• Be be on time for your appointment.
• Do let us know whenever you feel we have not met our responsibility to you.
• We would, of course, also be pleased to hear when you feel praise is due!

You can now access your summary care record on-line please contact reception for further details

The practice uses SystmOne for your electronic health record this means other NHS commissioned services using this system can see some of your GP held medical records. If you do not wish to share your medical records please inform the surgery.

From 11th October 2018 patients are unable to submit type 2 objections via a GP surgery. Patients wishing to opt-out must go to www.nhs.uk/your-nhs-data-matters where you can find out more about data sharing.

A type 2 objection is when NHS digital are instructed not to share a patients confidential information beyond their individual care i.e Dissent from disclosure of personal confidential data by Health and Social Care information centre.

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.

What is confidential patient information

Confidential patient information is when 2 types of information from your health records are joined together.

The 2 types of information are:

• something that can identify you
• something about your health care or treatment

For example, your name joined with what medicine you take.

Identifiable information on its own is used by health and care services to contact patients and this is not confidential patient information.

How we use your confidential patient information

Your individual care

Health and care staff may use your confidential patient information to help with your treatment and care. For example, when you visit your GP they may look at your records for important information about your health.

Research and planning

Confidential patient information might also be used to:

• plan and improve health and care services
• research and develop cures for serious illnesses

Your choice

You can stop your confidential patient information being used for research and planning. Find out how to make your choice.

If you’re happy with your confidential patient information being used for research and planning you do not need to do anything.

Any choice you make will not impact your individual care

To find out more please visit: nhs.uk/your-nhs-data-matters

Rawmarsh Health Centre operates a zero tolerance policy to any abuse or bad behaviour towards its staff, doctors or other patients. This could be physical, verbal or online abuse.

GPs and staff have a right to care for others without fear of being attacked, abused or treated badly in any way. To successfully provide our services a mutual respect between staff and patients has to be in place. All our staff aim to be polite, helpful, and sensitive to all patients’ individual needs and circumstances. We would respectfully remind patients that very often staff could be confronted with a multitude of varying and sometimes difficult tasks and situations, all at the same time.

However, aggressive behaviour, be it physical, verbal or online, will not be tolerated and may result in you being removed from the practice list and, in extreme cases, the Police being contacted.

In order for the practice to maintain good relations with our patients we would like to ask all our patients to read and take note of the occasional types of behaviour we see that are unacceptable:

• Using bad language, shouting or raising of voices at practice staff.
• Any physical violence towards any member of our team or other patients.
• Verbal abuse towards staff or patients in any form including shouting.
• Racist, xenophobic, sexist, homophobic or other intolerant Language, discrimination or sexual harassment will never be tolerated.
• Persistent or unrealistic demands that cause stress to staff will not be accepted. Requests will be met wherever possible and explanations given when they cannot be met.
• Being perceived to bully or manipulate a staff member to obtain some-thing.
• Causing damage to, stealing or not returning practice equipment from the practice’s premises, staff or patients.
• Obtaining drugs and/or medical services fraudulently.