Practice Charter

Our practice charter sets out what you can expect from us, and what we in return, expect from you. Healthcare is a partnership between you and the practice team. The success of that partnership depends on a number of factors:

Having a clear understanding of each other’s needs.

Establishing a shared responsibility to prevent problems.

Developing regular feedback on how you feel about our services. Only by such cooperation will we be able to improve our services and achieve the aim of a healthier community.

Your Rights

• We will respect our patients' privacy and confidentiality
• You have a right to information and answers to questions about your own health and in particular:
  • Any illness and its treatment
  • Possible alternative treatments
  • Possible side effects
  • Prevention and avoidance of recurring illness
  • Any proposed investigations
• You have the right to see your medical records, subject to the limitations of the law (Access to Medical Records Act 1990) and you have access to those records written after 1st November 1991.
• You have the right to choose whether you take part in medical student training.

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We aim at all times to:

• Treat you to the best of our abilities Irrespective of your ethnic origin, religious belief, personal attributes, or the nature of your health problems.
• Give you a routine appointment with your own doctor within five working days.
• Provide a same-day emergency appointment when necessary but the appointment may be with any doctor and may not be at a time of your own choosing. See you within 30 minutes of your appointment time. However we must remind you that the doctor may have to deal with medical emergencies which must take priority over routine matters. If there is a delay we will offer you an explanation.
• Provide and maintain premises that are clean, safe and comfortable and accessible to all patients.
• Meet written requests for prescriptions within two working days unless the doctor advises that the patient needs to be seen first.
• Dispatch routine referral letters or have them ready for collection within five working days of the referral being agreed with the doctor.
• Use instruments and equipment that have been regularly serviced to ensure safety and accuracy.

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Your Responsibility to us

• You are responsible for keeping appointments with us and for giving adequate notice if you are unable to attend. You are also asked to attend promptly.
• Please Inform us if you change your address and to make sure that we have your current telephone number.
• Remember that an appointment is for one person only.
• You should come to the surgery for appointments rather than asking for a home visit. A doctor can see many more patients in the time it takes to do one visit.
• If you need a home visit you should request this before 10 00 am.
• When the surgery Is closed, you should only telephone If you consider that the problem is URGENT and cannot wait until the following day.
• You should remember that the doctors and staff at the practice deserve the same courtesy and respect as our patients. They should be able to carry out their duties without fear of abuse.

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