Wine Street Medical Centre will strive to ensure that the highest possible standard of medical care is provided for all our patients. Our procedures and policies are consistent with the Medical Council's Guidelines on Ethical Conduct and Behaviour and the privacy principles of the the Data Protection Acts 1988-2003
Managing Your Information:
When you visit our practice, information about your health is collected so that we can provide safe and efficient care. This information is stored securely and is accessible to others only on a strict need to know basis. Everyone within the practice is aware of the confidential nature of the information and of the importance of preventing unauthorised access or disclosure to anyone outside the practice.
Our Disclosure Policies:
Disclosure outside the practice may be made in the following circumstances
(1) If you are referred to a specialist or other health professional, it is important that this person is aware of certain parts of your health record. In these instances we will disclose the relevant sections of your record to allow for your efficient and safe treatment.
(2) Employers may seek information about your illness. It is the usual policy of this practice to disclose only the fact that you are unfit for work and the likely duration of your illness. If your company demands more detailed information they will normally be asked to seek your consent.
(3) It is the practice of Insurance Companies to seek detailed information
from GP's about their clients before providing them with cover. While we do
not agree with this policy, if you agree to this and sign the company's
consent form we will accede to this request.
(4) Solicitors may seek a medical report relating to a medicolegal case you may be pursuing. In some circumstances they may request a copy of your medical notes under the Freedom of Information Act. You will have signed consent for this information to be passed on. In some circumstances we may discuss this with you to ensure that you are aware of the detail recorded in your notes.
(5) In certain rare circumstances is is necessary for us to reveal personal health information for legal reasons. This may for example occur in the case of a highly infectious disease.
Use of Information for Teaching and Training:
Wine Street Medical Centre is a designated training practice attached to the NorthWest Vocational Training Programme. We therefore provide training for young General Practitioners. These GPs are qualified doctors who have usually completed all of the necessary hospital training in order to become a GP. An important part of their learning process is the ability to discuss cases with an experienced GP within the practice. Your medical history may therefore be used for discussion between the GP in training and an experienced GP within the practice. If you would prefer that your case was not discussed in this way, please indicate this in writing or discuss the matter with us further.
To improve our consultation skills we also occasionally video record consultations. In all cases you will be informed in advance and asked to sign a consent form agreeing to this. All video tapes are erased after they have been used for consultation analysis
Access to your information:
You have a right of access to all personal information held about you by this practice. In most cases where you want to see your medical records it can be quickest to discuss the matter with one of the GP's who can then outline the information in the record with you.
Computers:
We use computers to store all of our medical records. The information is stored securely and password protected. To avoid loss or corruption of data all of the information is backed up regularly. We are registered under the Data Protection Act 1988.