There is a new Central NHS Computer System called the Summary Care Record (SCR). It is an electronic record which contains information about the medicines you take, allergies you suffer from and any bad reactions to medicines you have had.

Why do I need a Summary Care Record?

Storing information in one place makes it easier for healthcare staff to treat you in an emergency, or when your GP practice is closed.

This information could make a difference to how a doctor decides to care for you, for example which medicines they choose to prescribe for you.

Who can see it?

Only healthcare staff involved in your care can see your Summary Care Record.

How do I know if I have one?

Over half of the population of England now have a Summary Care Record. You can find out whether Summary Care Records have come to your area by asking your GP

Do I have to have one?

No, it is not compulsory. If you choose to opt out of the scheme, then you will need to complete a form and bring it along to the surgery. You can use the form at the foot of this page.

More Information

For further information visit the NHS Care records website or the NHS Digital website.

Download the SCR Opt in / Opt out Form

Information about your health and care helps us to improve your individual care, speed up diagnosis, plan your local services and research new treatments. The NHS is committed to keeping patient information safe and always being clear about how it is used.

How your data is used

Information about your individual care such as treatment and diagnoses is collected about you whenever you use health and care services. It is also used to help us and other organisations for research and planning such as research into new treatments, deciding where to put GP clinics and planning for the number of doctors and nurses in your local hospital.  It is only used in this way when there is a clear legal basis to use the information to help improve health and care for you, your family and future generations.

Wherever possible we try to use data that does not identify you, but sometimes it is necessary to use your confidential patient information.

You have a choice

You do not need to do anything if you are happy about how your information is used. If you do not want your confidential patient information to be used for research and planning, you can choose to opt out securely online or through a telephone service. You can change your mind about your choice at any time.

Will choosing this opt-out affect your care and treatment?

No, choosing to opt out will not affect how information is used to support your care and treatment. You will still be invited for screening services, such as screenings for bowel cancer.

What do you need to do?

If you are happy for your confidential patient information to be used for research and planning, you do not need to do anything.

To find out more about the benefits of data sharing, how data is protected, or to make/change your opt-out choice visit www.nhs.uk/your-nhs-data-matters

IMPORTANT NOTICE

You can leave a compliment, comment or suggestion by clicking here

South Milford Surgery make every effort to give the best service possible to everyone who attends our practice and as such we are always happy to receive compliments, comments or suggestions.

However, we are aware that things can go wrong sometimes, resulting in a patient feeling that they have a genuine cause for complaint.  If this is so, we would wish for the matter to be settled as quickly and as amicably as possible.

If you have a complaint or concern about the service you have received from the doctors or staff working at this practice, please let us know.  We have a complaints procedure as part of the NHS system for dealing with complaints, which meets the NHS national criteria.

You can download a copy of the complaints procedure by clicking here

We hope that most problems can be sorted out quickly and easily, often at the time that they arise and with the person concerned. If your problem cannot be sorted out in this way and you wish to make a complaint, we would like you to let us know as soon as possible.

Complaints should be addressed to the The Complaints Manager by completing the complaints form below and bringing into the surgery by hand, posting or sending your complaint form via email to:-

b82073.complaintsmanager@nhs.net

It will be a great help if you are as specific as possible about your complaint.

You can download a complaint form by Clicking here

What we shall do 

We shall acknowledge your complaint within 3 working days and aim to have looked into your complaint within ten working days from the date when you raised it with us.  When we look into your complaint we shall aim to:

• Find out what happened and what went wrong
• Enable discussion with those concerned, if you would like this
• Offer an apology, where this is appropriate
• Consider changes to reduce the chances of the problem happening again

Complaining on behalf of someone else

Please note that we keep strictly to the rules of medical confidentiality.  If you are complaining on behalf of someone else, we have to know that you have their permission to do so.  A note signed by the person concerned will be needed unless they are incapable (because of illness or disability) of providing this or under the age of 16 years.

To view the full complaints procedure please download from the link above.

General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)

You may have already heard about the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) which came into force on 25th May 2018. It’s a change to the law around data protection & personal information. In line with the regulation we are updating our privacy notices and access requests process, to reflect the new and strengthened rights in relation to your data and the legal grounds for using it.

Your Information and How we Use it

The new General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) changes the way we use your information and the process we have for you to access your information. This page gives you all the information you need to understand how we will use and process your data and how you can access your information

Privacy Notice

This notice will tell you how we will use your information 

• GDPR Data Protection Privacy Notice

Medicines Management (Aug 2021)

Your GP Practice supports a medicines management review service of medications prescribed to its patients.  This service involves a review of prescribed medications to ensure patients receive the most appropriate, up-to-date and cost-effective treatments.  This service is provided by qualified and registered healthcare professionals from within the GP practice; our NHS Primary Care Network; NHS Vale of York Clinical Commissioning Group or by external partners approved by the GP practice.  Patient identifiable information does not leave the practice system but is accessed to ensure only appropriate clinical recommendations or decisions are made for each patient.  Each patient can opt out of (or back into) the practice using their data for anything other than specified purposes or where there is a lawful requirement to do so.

Subject Access Requests

As a data subject (a person we hold and process data for) you have a right to access the information we have about you.

To access this information you will need to complete a Subject Access Request form. This form can be accessed by clicking the form below. Once completed the form can be brought to any of our surgeries or you can email it to adminsouthmilford@nhs.net.  To complete your request you will need to provide us with ID verification ( this is whether you bring in your form, email it or a third party such as a solicitor requests it). We require one piece of ID from each category as below;

A – Passport, Driving Licence or Birth Certificate

B – Utility bill, Bank statement, Medical card or similar

In the rare circumstance that you do not have the above ID there is a countersignature form that you can get completed by a professional person.

• Subject Access Request Form

Once your ID has been verified your request is complete and we will provide your information within one calendar month. This will be provided via encrypted, password protected email,  unless you request an alternative form.

There is no charge for this, however if you require additional copies of the information or make excessive requests we do have the right to charge for these.

Consent for Children

If you have parental responsibility for a child up to the age of 12 you have full responsibility and full access to their records.

When your child turns 12 we suggest you contact the practice – there are a few options at this point.

From the age of 12 your child can come to consultations on their own provided the clinician is comfortable that the child is able to make their own decisions.

12-16 year olds can also have their own online access but a clinician has to approve competency.  Assessment of Gillick competence requires an examination of how the child deals with the process of making a decision based on an analysis of the child’s ability to understand and assess risks. It is a high test of competence that is more difficult to satisfy the more complex the treatment and its outcomes become.

If a parent wants online access for a child aged 12-16 they must have a signed consent from the child then the parent can have access to booking appointments and repeat medications but NOT the medical record.

If the parent wants access to the medical record we will need the child’s signed consent and a clinician will have to see the child to confirm this decision.

• Patient SystmOnline Request Form
• Proxy Access to GP Online Services

Our Data Controller is Dr Steve Lovisetto

Our Data Protection Officer is Mr Paul Couldrey