Help us find a vaccine for COVID-19

The NHS COVID-19 vaccine registry allows members of the public to register their interest and be contacted to participate in vaccine studies. You can sign up if you are 18 or over, and live in the UK.

You are not signing up to take part in a specific health study when you use this service. You are letting researchers know you’re happy for them to contact you if they think you might be suitable to take part in their studies. 

The new system will enable researchers to quickly identify and match suitable and willing volunteers to appropriate vaccine trials. This will help us to carry out studies and find a vaccine faster.

Signing up is an individual choice and you can change your mind about participating at any time.

More information about taking part in research and other opportunities to take part in COVID-19 research can be found at www.bepartofresearch.uk

Guidance for patients requesting face covering letters:

As you may know, it is obligated by law to wear face coverings on public transport and in shops and supermarkets from 24th July 2020. You are also strongly encouraged to wear a face covering in other enclosed public spaces where social distancing may be difficult and where you come into contact with people you do not normally meet.

We appreciate some patients might understandably be anxious about the Government’s recent announcements around the use of ace masks/coverings in various public settings. Some have expressed concerns about face coverings possibly affecting oxygen levels in the body. Thankfully, there is no scientific proof to show a relationship between face coverings and oxygen levels. Wearing face covering is extremely safe and does not cause oxygen levels in the body to fall.

Face coverings are not classified as PPE (personal protective equipment), but have been proven to reduce droplet spread, and can protects others against the spread of infection. Therefore, the collective wearing of face coverings can help us all to protect each other and reduce spread of COVID-19.

In settings where face coverings are mandated in England, there are some circumstances, for health, age or equality reasons, whereby people are not expected to wear face coverings. You do not need to wear a face covering if you have a legitimate reason not to. This includes:

1. Young children under the age of 11.

2. Not being able to put on, wear or remove a face covering because of a physical or mental illness or impairment, or disability.

3. If putting on, wearing or removing a face covering will cause you severe distress.

4. If you are travelling with or providing assistance to someone who relies on lip reading to communicate.

5. To avoid harm or injury, or the risk of harm or injury to yourself or others.

6. To avoid injury, or to escape risk of harm, and you do not have a face covering with you.

7. If a police officer or other official requests you to remove your face covering.

There are also scenarios when you are permitted too remove your face covering when asked:

1. If asked to do so by shop staff for the purpose of age identification.

2. If speaking with people who rely on lip reading, facial expressions and clear sound.

The Government guidance on exemptions suggests there is no requirement for evidence for exemption therefore it is sufficient for an individual to self-declare this. GP’s are unfortunately not in a position to provide individual risk assesments or letters for patiens who feel that they should be exempt from wearing a face mask/covering. Practices are under no obligation to provide letters of support for anyone who does not fall under the list of exemptions, but who consider themselves to have another reason to be exempted.

With respect to public transport, the reponsibilty for issuing exemptions lies with the transport provider not your GP. The same applies with shops and supermarkets, who reserve the right to refuse entry to their premises to those not wearing face coverings to protect their patrons. Please see Gov.uk for more guidance.

Dr Sewell and Partners

Temporary Residents

If you are not registered with a doctor but need to see one, you can receive emergency treatment from a surgery for 14 days. After 14 days you will need to register as a temporary patient or permanent patient.

You can request a Temporary Resident Form from your surgery. You can register as a temporary patient if you are in the area for longer than 24 hours but less than three months.

For more information please see here.

Coronavirus

The NHS and Public Health England (PHE) are extremely well prepared for outbreaks of new infectious diseases. The NHS has put in place measures to ensure the safety of all patients and NHS staff while also ensuring services are available to the public as normal.

If you think you might have coronavirus or you’ve been in close contact with someone who has it:

• stay at home and avoid close contact with other people
• DO NOT GO to a GP surgery, pharmacy or hospital

• use the NHS 111 online coronavirus service to find out what to do next

• The 111 coronavirus service will tell you if you need to continue to stay at home (self-isolate) or if you need medical help.

If you’ve recently travelled abroad, see the coronavirus advice for travellers to find out what to do.

Further information is available on nhs.uk/coronavirus.

Advice accurate as of 12/03/2020.

If you need to visit our surgery you will be asked to use our intercom system and be triage before entering the surgery.  This is for the safety of all our staff and patients.

 

	Privacy information leaflet for children The Shrubbery and Riverview Park Surgeries 01474 356661 or 01474 362060 www.theshrubberysurgery.co.uk

 

What is a privacy notice?

A privacy notice helps your doctor’s surgery tell you how it uses information it has about you, like your name, address, date of birth and all of the notes the doctor or nurse makes about you in your healthcare record.

Why do we need one?

Your doctor’s surgery needs a privacy notice to make sure it meets the legal requirements which are written in a new document called the General Data Protection Regulation (or GDPR for short).

 

What is the GDPR?

What a great question! The GDPR is a new document that helps your doctor’s surgery keep the information about you secure. It’s new and will be introduced on the 25^th May 2018, making sure that your doctor, nurse and any other staff at the practice follow the rules and keep your information safe.

How do you know about our privacy notice?

At your surgery, we have posters in our waiting room and leaflets to give to children and adults and we also have lots of information about privacy on our website, telling you how we use the information we have about you.

What information do we collect about you?

Don’t worry; we only collect the information we need to help us keep you healthy – such as your name, address, information about your parents or guardians, records of appointments, visits, telephone calls, your health record, treatment and medicines, test results, X-rays and any other information to enable us to care for you.

 

How do we use your information?

Another great question! Your information is taken to help us provide your care. But we might need to share this information with other medical teams, such as hospitals, if you need to been seen by a special doctor or sent for an X-ray. Your doctor’s surgery may be asked to help with exciting medical research; but don’t worry, we will always ask you, or your parents or adults with parental responsibility, if it’s okay to share your information.

How do we keep your information private?

Well, your doctor’s surgery knows that it is very important to protect the information we have about you. We make sure we follow the rules that are written in the GDPR and other important rule books.

What if I’ve got a long-term medical problem?

If you have a long-term medical problem then we know it is important to make sure your information is shared with other healthcare workers to help them help you, making sure you get the care you need when you need it!

Don’t want to share?

All of our patients, no matter what their age, can say that they don’t want to share their information.  If you’re under 16 this is something which your parents or adults with parental responsibility will have to decide. They can get more information from a member of staff at the surgery, who can also explain what this means to you.

How do I access my records?

Remember we told you about the GDPR? Well, if you want to see what is written about you, you have a right to access the information we hold about you, but you will need to complete a Subject Access Request (SAR). Your parents or adults with parental responsibility will do this on your behalf if you’re under 16. But if you are over 12, you may be classed as being competent and you may be able to do this yourself.

What do I do if I have a question?

If you have any questions, ask a member of the surgery team or your parents or adults with parental responsibility. You can:

1. Contact the practice’s data controller via email at shrubbery@nhs.net or riverview.park@nhs.net . GP practices are data controllers for the data they hold about their patients[1]
2. Write to the data controller at The Shrubbery Surgery, 65a Perry Street, Northfleet, Kent DA11 8RD or The Riverview Park Surgery, 1 Whinfell Way, Gravesend Kent DA12 4RX
3. Ask to speak to the practice manager

 

The Data Protection Officer (DPO) for The Shrubbery and Riverview Park Surgeries. Dr Yussuf

What to do if you’re not happy about how we manage your information

We really want to make sure you’re happy, but we understand that sometimes things can go wrong. If you or your parents or adults with parental responsibility are unhappy with any part of o  ur data-processing methods, you can complain. For more information, visit ico.org.uk and select ‘Raising a concern’.

We always make sure the information we give you is up to date. Any updates will be published on our website, in our newsletter and leaflets, and on our posters. This policy will be reviewed on 1 May 2019

[1] BMA GPs as data controllers under the GDPR

Protecting your Confidentiality

 Privacy Notice

 

Your information, what you need to know
This privacy notice explains why we collect information about you, how that information may be used and how we keep it safe and confidential.

 

Why we collect information about you.
Health care professionals who provide you with care are required by law to maintain records about your health and any treatment or care you have received within any NHS organisation.
These records help to provide you with the best possible healthcare.
We collect and hold data for the sole purpose of providing healthcare services to our patients.
In carrying out this role we may collect information about you which helps us respond to your queries or secure specialist services. We may keep your information in written form and/or in digital form. The records may include basic details about you, such as your name and address.
They may also contain more sensitive information about your health and also information such as outcomes of needs assessments.

 

Details we collect about you
The health care professionals who provide you with care maintain records about your health and any treatment or care you have received previously (eg. NHS Trust, GP Surgery, Walk-in clinic, etc.). These records help to provide you with the best possible healthcare.

Records which this GP Practice may hold about you may include the following:

• Details about you, such as your address and next of kin
• Any contact the surgery has had with you, such as appointments, clinic visits,
  emergency appointments, etc.
• Notes and reports about your health
• Details about your treatment and care
• Results of investigations, such as laboratory tests, x-rays, etc.
• Relevant information from other health professionals, relatives or those who care for you

 

 

 

How we keep your information confidential and safe

Everyone working for the NHS is subject to the Common Law Duty of Confidence. Information provided in confidence will only be used for the purposes advised with consent given by the patient, unless there are other circumstances covered by the law. The NHS Digital Code of Practice on Confidential Information applies to all our staff and they are required to protect your information, inform you of how your information will be used, and allow you to decide if and how your information can be shared. All our staff are expected to make sure information is kept confidential and receive annual training on how to do this.

 

NHS health records may be electronic, on paper or a mixture of both, and we use a combination of working practices and technology to ensure that your information is kept confidential and secure. Your records are backed up securely in line with NHS standard procedures. We ensure that the information we hold is kept in secure locations, is protected by appropriate security and access is restricted to authorised personnel.
We also make sure external data processors that support us are legally and contractually bound to operate and prove security arrangements are in place where data that could or does identify a person are processed.

We are committed to protecting your privacy and will only use information collected lawfully in accordance with:

• Data Protection Act 1998
• General Data Protection Regulation 2018
• Human Rights Act
• Common Law Duty of Confidentiality
• NHS Codes of Confidentiality and Information Security
• Health and Social Care Act 2015

 

We maintain our duty of confidentiality to you at all times. We will only ever use or pass on information about you if others involved in your care have a genuine need for it. We will not disclose your information to any third party without your permission unless there are exceptional circumstances (i.e. life or death situations), or where the law requires information to be passed on.

 

How we use your information

Under the powers of the Health and Social Care Act 2015, NHS Digital can request personal confidential data from GP Practices without seeking patient consent. Improvements in information technology are also making it possible for us to share data with other healthcare providers with the objective of providing you with better care.

 

You may choose to withdraw your consent to personal data being used in this way. When we are about to participate in a new data-sharing project we will make patients aware by displaying prominent notices in the Practice and on our website at least four weeks before the scheme is due to start. Instructions will be provided to explain what you have to do to ‘opt-out’ of each new scheme.

 

You can object to your personal information being shared with other health care providers but if this limits the treatment that you can receive then the doctor will explain this to you at the time.

 

To ensure you receive the best possible care, your records are used to facilitate the care you receive. Information held about you may be used to help protect the health of the public and to help us manage the NHS.

 

Clinical Audit

Information may be used for clinical audit to monitor the quality of the service provided. Some of this information may be held centrally and used for statistical purposes. Where we do this we take strict measures to ensure that individual patients cannot be identified e.g. the National Diabetes Audit.

Clinical Research
Occasionally your information may be requested to be used for research purposes. The surgery will always gain your consent before releasing any information for this purpose.

National Registries
National Registries (such as the Learning Disabilities Register) have statutory permission under Section 251 of the NHS Act 2006, to collect and hold service user identifiable information without the need to seek informed consent from each individual service user.

 

Cabinet Office
The use of data by the Cabinet Office for data matching is carried out with statutory authority under Part 6 of the Local Audit and Accountability Act 2014. It does not require the consent of the individuals concerned under the Data Protection Act 1998.

Data matching by the Cabinet Office is subject to a Code of Practice.

Information on the Cabinet Office’s legal powers and reasons why it matches particular information. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/code-of-data-matching-practice-for-nationalfraud-initiative

 

Risk Stratification

Risk Stratification is a process for identifying and managing patients who are most likely to need hospital or other healthcare services. Risk stratification tools used in the NHS help determine a person’s risk of suffering a particular condition and enable us to focus on preventing ill health and not just the treatment of sickness. Information about you is collected from a number of sources including NHS Trusts and from this GP Practice.
Section 251 of the NHS Act 2006 provides a statutory legal basis to process data for risk stratification purposes. Further information is available from the following link:
https://www.england.nhs.uk/ourwork/tsd/ig/risk-stratification/

If you do not wish information about you to be included in the risk stratification programme, please let us know. We can add a code to your records that will stop your information from being used for this purpose.

 

Individual Funding Request

An ‘Individual Funding Request’ is a request made on your behalf, with your consent, by a clinician, for funding of specialised healthcare which falls outside the range of services and treatments that CCG has agreed to commission for the local population. An Individual Funding Request is taken under consideration when a case can be set out by a patient’s clinician that there are exceptional clinical circumstances which make the patient’s case different from other patients with the same condition who are at the same stage of their disease, or when the request is for a treatment that is regarded as new or experimental and where there are no other similar patients who would benefit from this treatment. A detailed response, including the criteria considered in arriving at the decision, will be provided to the patient’s clinician.

 

Invoice Validation
Invoice validation is an important process. It involves using your NHS number to check the CCG that is responsible for paying for your treatment. Section 251 of the NHS Act 2006 provides a statutory legal basis to process data for invoice validation purposes. We can also use your NHS number to check whether your care has been funded through specialist commissioning, which NHS England will pay for. The process makes sure that the organisations providing your care are paid correctly.

 

Supporting Medicines Management

CCGs support local GP practices with prescribing queries which generally don’t require identifiable information. CCG pharmacists work with your practice to provide advice on medicines and prescribing queries, and review prescribing of medicines to ensure that it is safe and cost-effective. Where specialist support is required e.g. to order a drug that comes in solid form, in gas or liquid, the CCG Medicines Management Team will order this on behalf of the practice to support your care.

 

Safeguarding
To ensure that adult and children’s safeguarding matters are managed appropriately, access to identifiable information will be shared in some limited circumstances where it’s legally required for the safety of the individuals concerned.

 

Summary Care Record (SCR)

NHS England uses a national electronic record called the Summary Care Record (SCR) to support patient care. It contains key information from your GP record. Your SCR provides authorised healthcare staff with faster, secure access to essential information about you in an emergency or when you need unplanned care, where such information would otherwise be unavailable.

 

Summary Care Records are there to improve the safety and quality of your care. SCR core information comprises your allergies, adverse reactions and medications. An SCR with additional information can also include reason for medication, vaccinations, significant diagnoses / problems, significant procedures, anticipatory care information and end of life care information. Additional information can only be added to your SCR with your agreement.

Please be aware that if you choose to opt-out of SCR, NHS healthcare staff caring for you outside of this surgery may not be aware of your current medications, allergies you suffer from and any bad reactions to medicines you have had, in order to treat you safely in an emergency.

Your records will stay as they are now with information being shared by letter, email, fax or phone. If you wish to opt-out of having an SCR please return a completed opt-out form to the practice.

 

 

Local sharing via My Care Record

Your patient record is held securely and confidentially on our electronic system. If you require attention from a health professional such as an Emergency Department, Minor Injury Unit or Out Of Hours location, those treating you are better able to give appropriate care if some of the information from your GP patient record is available to them. This information can be locally shared electronically via My Care Record.

 

In all cases, information is only used by authorised health and social care professional based organisations, involved in your direct care. Your permission will be asked before the information is accessed, unless the health and social care user is unable to ask you and there is a clinical reason for access, which will then be logged.

 

Data Retention

We will approach the management of patient records in line with the Records Management NHS Code of Practice for Health and Social Care which sets the required standards of practice in the management of records for those who work within or under contract to NHS organisations in England, based on current legal requirements and professional best practice.

 

Who are our partner organisations?

We may also have to share your information, subject to strict agreements on how it will be used, with the following organisations:

• NHS Trusts / Specialist Trusts
• Independent Contractors such as dentists, opticians, pharmacists
• Private Sector Providers
• Voluntary Sector Providers
• Ambulance Trusts
• Clinical Commissioning Groups
• Social Care Services
• Local Authorities
• Education Services
• Fire and Rescue Services
• Police
• Other ‘Data Processors’.

 

We will never share your information outside of health partner organisations without your explicit consent unless there are exceptional circumstances such as when the health or safety of others is at risk, where the law requires it or to carry out a statutory function.
Within the health partner organisations (NHS and Specialist Trusts) and in relation to the above mentioned themes – Risk Stratification, Invoice Validation, Supporting Medicines Management, Summary Care Record – we will assume you are happy to for your information to be shared unless you choose to opt-out (see below).

 

This means you will need to express an explicit wish not to have your information shared with the other NHS organisations; otherwise they will be automatically shared. We are required by law to report certain information to the appropriate authorities. This is only provided after formal permission has been given by a qualified health professional. There are occasions when we must pass on information, such as notification of new births, where we encounter infectious diseases which may endanger the safety of others, such as meningitis or measles (but not HIV/AIDS), and where a formal court order has been issued. Our guiding principle is that we are holding your records in strictest confidence.

 

Your right to withdraw consent for us to share your personal information (Opt-Out)
If you are happy for your data to be extracted and used for the purposes described in this fair processing notice then you do not need to do anything. If you do not want your information to be used for any purpose beyond providing your care you can choose to opt-out. If you wish to do so, please let us know so we can code your record appropriately. We will respect your decision if you do not wish your information to be used for any purpose other than your care but in some circumstances we may still be legally required to disclose your data.

 

There are two main types of opt-out.

Type 1 Opt-Out

If you do not want information that identifies you to be shared outside the practice, for purposes beyond your direct care, you can register a ‘Type 1 Opt-Out’. This prevents your personal confidential information from being used other than in particular circumstances required by law, such as a public health emergency like an outbreak of a pandemic disease.

Type 2 Opt-Out

NHS Digital collects information from a range of places where people receive care, such as hospitals and community services. If you do not want your personal confidential information to be shared outside of NHS Digital, for purposes other than for your direct care, you can register a ‘Type 2 Opt-Out’. For further information about Type 2 Opt-Outs, please contact NHS Digital contact centre at enquiries@hscic.gov.uk referencing ‘Type 2 Opt-Outs – Data Requests’ in the subject line; or call NHS Digital on (0300) 303 5678; or visit the website http://content.digital.nhs.uk/article/7092/Information-on-type-2-opt-outs .

 

If you wish to discuss or change your opt-out preferences at any time please contact the Surgery Manager at the surgery you are registered with.

 

Access to your information
Under the new General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) 2018 everybody has the right to see, or have a copy, of data we hold that can identify you, with some exceptions. You do not need to give a reason to see your data.

 

If you want to access your data you must make the request in writing. Under special circumstances, some information may be withheld. If you wish to have a copy of the information we hold about you, please contact the Practice Manager.

Change of Details
It is important that you tell the person treating you if any of your details such as your name or address have changed or if any of your details are incorrect in order for this to be amended. Please inform us of any changes so our records for you are accurate and up to date.

Mobile Numbers & Email Addresses
If you provide us with your mobile phone number, we may use this to send you reminders about your appointments or other health screening information. Please let us know if you do not wish to receive reminders on your mobile.

 

If you provide us with your email address, we may use this to send you reminders to make an appointment for a review. Please let us know if you do not wish to receive correspondence by email.

 

Notification
Great Staughton Surgery is registered with the Information Commissioners Office (ICO) to describe the purposes for which they process personal and sensitive information.
We are a registered Data Controller and our registration can be viewed online in the public register at: http://ico.org.uk/what_we_cover/register_of_data_controllers .

Complaints
If you have concerns or are unhappy about any of our services, please contact the Practice Manager  Sheena Thorne.

 

For independent advice about data protection, privacy and data-sharing issues, you can contact: The Information Commissioners Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AF – Phone: 0303 123 1113 Website: www.ico.gov.uk .

 

Further Information
Further information about the way in which the NHS uses personal information and your rights in that respect can be found here: https://www.england.nhs.uk/contact-us/privacy/privacy-notice/your-information/

 

The NHS Care Record Guarantee
The NHS Care Record Guarantee for England sets out the rules that govern how patient information is used in the NHS, what control the patient can have over this, the rights individuals have to request copies of their data and how data is protected under the Data Protection Act 1998. http://systems.digital.nhs.uk/infogov/links/nhscrg.pdf

 

The NHS Constitution

The NHS Constitution establishes the principles and values of the NHS in England. It sets out the rights patients, the public and staff are entitled to. These rights cover how patients access health services, the quality of care you’ll receive, the treatments and programmes available to you, confidentiality, information and your right to complain if things go wrong.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-nhs-constitution-for-england

 

NHS Digital
NHS Digital collects health information from the records health and social care providers keep about the care and treatment they give, to promote health or support improvements in the delivery of care services in England.
http://content.digital.nhs.uk/article/4963/What-we-collect

 

Reviews of and Changes to our Fair Processing Notice
We will keep our Fair Processing Notice under regular review. This notice was last reviewed following GDPR implementation in May 2018.

 

Sheena Thorne, Practice Manager

Our next PPG Meeting TBC