Fell Cottage Surgery need to ensure that any emails we send are secure and encrypted to protect the information within the email.

We do need to share confidential information with our NHS colleagues for referrals etc and other instances to support your care (but you will normally be advised this is happening).

There are occasions when we need to email you (fit notes, copy of notes etc) and we will email you from our secure NHSmail but unless you have a secure email address, we need to encrypt it with the NHS software and that is called egress Egress – Human Layer Email & Data Security Software.

When we send you an email (with personal information in it) you will need to register for a FREE egress account and once you have done this you can log in for any future emails.

We know this is an additional step but we need to make sure the personal information we share with you is secure.

Declaration of Earnings

NHS England require that the net earnings of doctors engaged in the practice is publicised,
and the required disclosure is shown below. However, it should be noted that the prescribed method for calculating earnings is potentially misleading because it takes no account of how much time doctors spend working in the practice and should not be used to form any judgement about GP earnings, nor to make any comparison with any other practice.

The average pay for GPs working in Fell Cottage Surgery in the last financial year (2022/23) was £74,788 before tax and national insurance. This is for zero full time GPs, 5 part time GPs and zero locum GPs who worked in the practice for more than six months.

Records about you and your health will be kept completley confidential at the surgery. You have a right to see your own health records, subject to limitations of the law. A leaflet is available which outlines your rights. Information held in your records can be released to insurance companies or solicitors, but this will not be done without your written consent.

The practice does, on occasion, carry out health audits, which require anonymised data to be provided to the Primary Care Trust. If you have any objection to your data being used in such audits, please let us know. No personal data will be released without your permission.

We will give you information and answer questions about your health, in particular about:

• Your illness and its treatment
• Alternative forms of treatment
• Possible side-effects of treatments
• Prevention of illness

Statement of Intent

Plan to Meet GMS / PMS 2015-16 Contractual Requirement for Patient Online Service

This practice plans to offer the facility for patients to view online, export or print detailed coded information held in their own records from 12th March 2016. These dates are subject to the necessary NHS GP systems and software being available to the practice.

This practice currently offers the facility for patients:

• To book, view, amend, cancel and print appointments online.
• To order online, view and print a list of their repeat prescriptions for drugs, medicines or appliances.
• To view online, export or print summary information from their record, relating to medications, allergies, adverse reactions and any other items agreed between the practice and individual patient

We will publicise and promote our online services to our practice’s patients through the practice website, practice waiting room leaflets, posters and the Patient Participation Group by 12th March 2016.

Please ask a member of the Reception Team for details on how to register for Patient Access.

Our aim is the provision of high quality, evidence based, effective care for all patients.

Read our Privacy Notice (July 2022)

A copy of the practice charter is available in the surgery which sets out a statement of what you can expect from us and what we ask you in return.

Violent and Abusive Behaviour

This practice has signed up to the NHS Zero Tolerance Campaign, which makes verbal abuse, threat and physical violence to all NHS staff unacceptable. Any incident which occurs will result in action being taken in line with local policy guidelines and could result in the patient being removed from the practice list.

Non-Attendance

If you are unable to attend an appointment please let us know as soon as possible as another patient may be able to take this appointment. Patients who frequently fail to attend may be asked to leave the practice list.

NHS Summary Care Recor

The following information is provided by NHS England.

Introduction to Summary Care Records.

Today, records are kept in all the places where you receive care. These places can usually only share information from your records by letter, email, fax or phone. At times, this can slow down treatment and sometimes information can be hard to access. We are introducing Summary Care Records to improve the safety and quality of patient care.

Because the Summary Care Record is an electronic record it will give healthcare staff faster, easier access to essential information about you, you help provide you with safe treatment when you need care in an emergency or when your GP practice is closed

We are telling you about this before a Summary Care Record is made for you, so that you have time to think about your choices.

You Can Choose to Have a Summary Care Record:

You do not need to do anything. This will happen automatically. Healthcare staff will ask your permission every time they look at your Summary Care Record.

You Can Choose not to Have a Summary Care Record:

If you don’t want a Summary Care Record, you need to let your GP practice know by filling in and returning an opt-out form. (you can obtain this from your GP practice). Should you wish not to have a summary care record please complete the ‘opt out form’ and return it to the surgery

About Your Summary Care Record.

If you decide to have a Summary Care Record it will contain important information about any medicines you are taking, allergies you suffer from and any bad reactions to medicines that you have had. Giving healthcare staff access to this information can prevent mistakes being made when caring for you in an emergency or when your GP practice is closed.

Your Summary Care Record will also include your name, address, date of birth and your unique NHS Number to help identify you correctly. You may want to add other details about your care to your Summary Care Record. This will only happen if you ask for the information to be included. You should discuss your wishes with the healthcare staff treating you.

How Will Summary Care Records Help me?

• Healthcare staff will have quicker access to information about any medicines you are taking, allergies you suffer  from and any bad reactions to medicines you have had.
• This means they can provide you with safer care during an emergency, when your GP practice is closed or when you are away from home in another part of England.
• You will be able to look at your Summary Care Record at any time at a secure website called Healthspace. You must register to use Healthspace to keep it as secure as possible.  Where can I get more information? phone the Summary Care Record Information Line on 0300 123 3020 or visit www.nhscarerecords.nhs.uk

You can also pick up a leaflet from your GP Practice. Alternatively, click on the following link for further info: Health and Social Care Information Centre