
GENERAL
INFORMATION
How to Register
If you live in the area of our practice, as
listed below, please call in to reception to complete an application form to
join the practice. The practice staff
will enter your details on the computer.
As it takes up to 6 – 8 weeks for your notes to be transferred from your
previous GP we ask all our new patients to book in with our Health Care
Assistant for a new patient medical.
Ampthill, Clophill, Eversholt, Flitton,
Flitwick,
Change of Address
If you change your address or telephone number
please inform us as soon as possible, if we need to contact you urgently it is
very important that we have the correct contact number. If you move out of the
practice area you need to register with a Doctor in your new locality.
Temporary Residents
We are prepared to see patients who are
temporary residents in the area should medical advice be required.
Laboratory Tests and Results
Please hand laboratory specimens
into Reception before
Sickness Certificates
A sickness certificate completed and signed by
your Doctor is only required for an absence from work for more than seven days.
Absences of up to three days do not require certificates, and absences for
between three to seven days are covered by a "self certificate".
These forms are available from your employers who should be aware of these
rules.
New Patient Medicals
Patients newly registered at the Practice are
offered a check-up with our Health Care Assistant. It is important that all new
patients take this opportunity to be seen as it can take between 6 - 8 weeks
for your medical notes to arrive from your previous GP. The
Non NHS Medical
Examinations
These include medical examination for HGV licences and insurance purposes. These are by appointment with your Doctor and will be charged as recommended by BMA.
DATA PROTECTION ACT – PATIENT INFORMATION
We need to hold personal information about you on our Computer system and in paper records to help us to look after your health needs, and your doctor is responsible for their accuracy and safe-keeping. Please help to keep your record up to date by informing us of any changes to your circumstances.
Doctors and staff in the practice have access to your medical records to enable them to do their jobs. From time to time information may be shared with others involved in your care if it is necessary. Anyone with access to your record is properly trained in confidentiality issues and is governed by both a legal and contractual duty to keep your details private.
All information about you is held securely and appropriate safeguards are in place to prevent accidental loss.
In some circumstances we may be required by law to release your details to statutory or other official bodies, for example if a court order is presented, or in the case of public health issues. In other circumstances you may be required to give written consent before information is released – such as for medical reports for insurance, solicitors etc.
To ensure your privacy, we will not disclose information over the telephone or fax unless we are sure that we are talking to you. Information will not be disclosed to family, friends or spouses unless we have prior written consent, and we do not leave messages with others. You have a right to see your records if you wish. Please ask at reception if you would like further details.
Suggestions and
Complaints
If you have any complaints about any aspects of
the service we offer please discuss the difficulties as soon as possible with
your own Doctor or the Senior Partner. If
he or she is not available we will always ring you back as soon as possible.
Violence Against
GPs and their Staff
THE NHS zero tolerance
zone is a nationwide campaign to stop violence against staff working in the
NHS.
The campaign has been initiated by the
Secretary of State for Health, and has the full support of the Home Secretary,
the Lord Chancellor and the Attorney General.
Violence means any incident
where GPs or their staff are abused, threatened or assaulted in circumstances
arising out of their work, involving an explicit or implicit challenge to their
safety, well-being or health.
Staff working in the
NHS so to care for others. They do not go to work to be victims
of violence.
Aggressive, violent and threatening behaviour
does not go with the job and will not be tolerated any longer. Violence against staff working in the NHS is
a crime and employers will work with the police locally to prevent it. Individuals behaving violently towards staff
will be reported to the police.
Those few patients in Bedfordshire who are
violent or abusive to GPs or their staff will in future only be treated at the
Secure Treatment Scheme run by the local health services in Luton.
ZERO TOLERANCE MEANS
RIDDING THE NHS OF INTIMIDATION