Practice Policies

Freedom of Information

Information about the General Practioners and the practice required for disclosure under this act can be made available to the public. All requests for such information should be made to the Operation Officer.

Infection Control

We aim to keep our surgery clean and tidy and offer a safe environment to our patients and staff. We are proud of our modern, purpose built Practice and endeavour to keep it clean and well maintained at all times.

If you have any concerns about cleanliness or infection control, please report these to our Reception staff.

Our GPs and nursing staff follow our Infection Control Policy to ensure the care we deliver and the equipment we use is safe.

We take additional measures to ensure we maintain the highest standards:

  • Encourage staff and patients to raise any issues or report any incidents relating to cleanliness and infection control.  We can discuss these and identify improvements we can make to avoid any future problems.
  • Carry out an annual infection control audit to make sure our infection control procedures are working.
  • Provide annual staff updates and training on cleanliness and infection control.
  • Review our policies and procedures to make sure they are adequate and meet national guidance.
  • Maintain the premises and equipment to a high standard within the available financial resources and ensure that all reasonable steps are taken to reduce or remove all infection risk.
  • Use washable or disposable materials for items such as couch rolls, modesty curtains, floor coverings, towels etc., and ensure that these are laundered, cleaned or changed frequently to minimise risk of infection.
  • Make Alcohol Hand Rub Gel available throughout the building.

Your Rights and Responsibilities

We are committed to giving you the best possible service. This will be achieved by working together. As a patient at Parkwood Surgery, you are entitled to the following rights to ensure best care and dignity. With these rights come certain responsibilities, and for patients we would respectfully request that you keep the following in mind whilst you are registered at Parkwood Surgery:

Patient’s Rights Patient’s Responsibilities
  • You will be treated with courtesy and respect.
  • You will be treated as a partner in the care and attention that you receive.
  • All aspects of your visit will be dealt with in privacy and confidence.
  • You will be seen by a doctor of your choice subject to availability.
  • In an emergency, out of normal opening hours, if you telephone the practice you will be given the number to receive assistance, which will require no more than one further call.
  • You can bring someone with you, however you may be asked to be seen on your own during the consultation.
  • Repeat prescriptions will normally be available for collection within two working days of your request.
  • Information about our services on offer will be made available to you by way of posters, notice boards and newsletters.
  • You have the right to see your medical records or have a copy subject to certain laws.
  • Treat practice staff and doctors with the same consideration and courtesy that you would like yourself. Remember that they are trying to help you.
  • Please ensure that you order your repeat medication in plenty of time allowing 2 working days.
  • Please ensure that you have a basic first aid kit at home and initiate minor illness and self-care for you and your family.
  • Please attend any specialist appointments that have been arranged for you or cancel them if your condition has resolved or you no longer wish to attend.
  • Please follow up any test or investigations done for you with the person who has requested the investigation.
  • Attend appointments on time and check in with Reception.
  • Patients who are more than 10 minutes late for their appointment may not be seen.
  • If you are unable to make your appointment or no longer need it, please give the practice adequate notice that you wish to cancel. Appointments are heavily in demand and missed appointments waste time and delay more urgent patients receiving the treatment they need.
  • An appointment is for one person only. Where another family member needs to be seen or discussed, another appointment should be made.
  • Patients should make every effort to present at the surgery to ensure the best use of nursing and medical time. Home visits should be medically justifiable and not requested for social convenience.
  • Please inform us when you move home, change your name or telephone number, so that we can keep our records correct and up to date.
  • Read the practice leaflets and other information that we give you. They are there to help you use our services. If you do not understand their content please tell us.
  • Let us have your views. Your ideas and suggestions whether complimentary or critical are important in helping us to provide a first class, safe, friendly service in pleasant surroundings.

You and Your General Practice

This guide tells you what to expect from your general practice (GP) and how you can help them, so you get the best from the National Health Service (NHS):

Zero Tolerance

The NHS operate a zero tolerance policy with regard to violence and abuse and the practice has the right to remove violent patients from the list with immediate effect in order to safeguard practice staff, patients and other persons. Violence in this context includes actual or threatened physical violence or verbal abuse which leads to fear for a person’s safety. In this situation we will notify the patient in writing of their removal from the list and record in the patient’s medical records the fact of the removal and the circumstances leading to it.