Oakleaf Medical Practice

CONFIDENTIALITY

All patient notes are treated with the strictest confidentiality and we comply with the Data Protection Act 1998. The doctors, nurses, administrative and attached staff have access to your records. Information is only available on a 'need to know' basis. All staff are fully trained and compliant with the Data Protection Act 1998. Under this Act we are legally obliged to use your information appropriately. We hold information which is essential so that you can receive proper care and treatment. We may share some of this information with other health authorities, for example, immunisation data, cytology data, birth details and demographic data. This information is vital to protect public health generally and ensure that the Department of Health & Personal Social Services runs efficiently.

TRAINING

As an approved training practice we are allocated a Registrar Doctor (ST3) for the final 12 months of their training. The Registrar usually begins their attachments in August and works with us until July the following year. Patients can book appointments to see the Registrar in the normal way.
We have trainee councellors attached to the practice for 12-month periods. Patients with mild or moderate depression or anxient may be referred.

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION – PUBLICATION SCHEME

The Freedom of Information Act 2000 obliges the practice to produce a Publication Scheme. A Publication Scheme is a guide to the ‘classes’ of information the practice intends to routinely make available. This scheme is available from the practice manager.

PATIENTS' RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Patients have the right to expect and receive the highest quality of service that the practice can provide. Patients also have the right to be treated with courtesy and respect at all times. In the event of a patient being dissatisfied with the service we provide the practice expects the patient to act responsibly and reasonably to resolve the matter. Patients are also expected to act responsibly by cancelling appointments that they cannot attend, by complying with medical advice given, by following prescribed treatment plans and by treating all practice staff including doctors, nurses and administrative staff with respect and courtesy.

HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE BOARD (HSCB)

If you have any queries about primary medical services in our area, you can contact the HSCB at the following address:

Health & Social Care Board,
15 Gransha Park,
Clooney Road,
Derry
BT47 6FN
Tel: (028) 7186 0086

VIOLENT OR ABUSIVE PATIENTS

In the unlikely event that a patient is violent or abusive towards any of the practice personnel that patient will be removed from the practice list on the grounds that he/she had committed an act of violence or abuse and the matter will be reported. The request for removal will be made by telephone to the HSCB and confirmed by letter within seven days. The removal will be effective immediately. The patient will also be notified in writing unless such notification would be thought to be harmful to the physical or mental wellbeing of the patient or would put at risk the safety of one of the practice personnel, other patients or members of the public. The details of the removal will be recorded in the patient's medical notes.

CARERS

We are interested in the health and wellbeing of patients who act as carers. If you are a carer, please let us know so that we can provide you with, or refer you to, appropriate support care or counselling.