Accessing someone else’s information

As a parent, family member or carer, you may be able to access services for someone else. We call this having proxy access. We can set this up for you if you are both registered with us.

To requests proxy access:

collect a proxy access form from reception from 10am to 6pm

Linked profiles in your NHS account

Once proxy access is set up, you can access the other person’s profile in your NHS account, using the NHS App or website.

The NHS website has information about using linked profiles to access services for someone else.

Privacy Notice – Accurx

As part of the Digital First National programme of work, GP Practices are required to provide a tool for patients to access primary care services. The aim of the Accurx platform is to improve communications between healthcare staff and patients resulting in improved outcomes and productivity. The platform facilitates digital communications between the practice and our patients. Using the Accurx platform will require the processing of special category data by Accurx, their sub-processors and by default the GP Practice as a Controller. This will include; exchanging and storing messages in relation to patients and medical staff, performing video consultations (these will not be recorded or stored) between healthcare staff and their patients This will allow you to respond to the Practice in multiple ways such as; free text, questionnaires and submitting images/documents. If you have a non-urgent healthcare concern or need to contact the Practice for any medical or admin reason, click on the online via our website or via NHS app or via NHS website. Fill out the online form, which will then be reviewed and processed by our healthcare professionals to decide the right care for you. We will respond to online requests within 2 working days for medical queries and 5 working days for admin queries. Accurx is approved by NHS England to be used by GP practices and the other systems involved in patient care. NHS England has a lengthy assurance process to make sure they meet the highest standards of safety and security. Your data is safe and is shared only with your GP Practice for the purposes of your direct care. Your data is stored and sent securely using industry best practices, and Accurx only collect the data that is necessary to allow your GP Practice to provide you with care. The Practice uses the following Accurx features: · Online consultations · Video consultations · AccuMail · SMS · Friends and Family test · Record Views The Accurx privacy notice can be found on their website here: Accurx \| Privacy Policy.
1) Controller contact details	Bromley Common Practice
2) Data Protection Officer contact details	GP Data Protection Officer gpdpo@selondonics.nhs.uk
3) Purpose of the processing	The aim of the Accurx platform is to improve communications between healthcare staff and patients resulting in improved outcomes and productivity. The platform facilitates digital communications between the practice and our patients.
4) Lawful basis for processing	Under UK GDPR and DPA 2018 – 6(1)(e) ‘…necessary for the performance of a task carried out in the public interest or in the exercise of official authority…’. 9(2)(h) ‘…medical diagnosis, the provision of health or social care or treatment or the management of health or social care systems…’
5) Recipient or categories of recipients of the shared data	Data may be shared with Accurx, and their sub-processors such as cloud services used for Accurx’ own storage, communications, security, engineering, and similar purposes.
6) Rights to object	You have the right under Article 21 of the UK GDPR to object to your personal information being processed. Please contact the Practice if you wish to object to the processing of your data. You should be aware that this is a right to raise an objection which is not the same as having an absolute right to have your wishes granted in every circumstance.
7) Right to access and correct	You have the right to access copies of the data that is being shared and have any inaccuracies corrected. There is no right to have accurate medical records deleted except when ordered by a court of Law.
8) Retention period	The data will be retained for active use during the processing and thereafter according to NHS Policies and the law.
9) Right to Complain.	You have the right to complain to us about the way your data is handled or processed. To so, please contact the Practice using the following details: Bromley Common Practice Crown Medical Centre, 3 Mackintosh Street, Bromley BR2 9GT If you remain unsatisfied with our response, you have a right to complain to the Information Commissioner’s Office. To do so, you can use this link https://ico.org.uk/make-a-complaint/data-protection-complaints/ or call their helpline Tel: 0303 123 1113 (local rate) or 01625 545 745 (national rate) There are National Offices for Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales, (see ICO website).

Suggestions, Comments and Complaints

We make every effort to give the best service possible to everyone who attends our practice.

In the majority of cases the best way to resolve your concerns as quickly as possible is with the front line staff or the service or organisation that you are complaining about.

However, we are aware that things can go wrong 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.

Simply contact the Practice Manager preferably in writing via our Contact Us page or by completing a complaints form available in surgery, and she/he will set all the necessary wheels in motion. Alternatively please visit our feedback form if you have any suggestions.

We are continually striving to improve our service. Any helpful suggestions would be much appreciated and a suggestion box is located in the waiting area.

London Care Record GP Short Privacy Notice

This practice uses a shared record system called the London Care Record. The London Care Record is a secure view of your health and care information and lets health and care professionals involved in your care see important details about your health when and where they need them. Having a single, secure view of your information helps speed up communication between care professionals across London, improves the safety of care and can save lives.

London Care Record can only be lawfully looked at by staff who are directly involved in your care. Your information isn’t available to anyone who doesn’t need it to provide treatment, care and support to you. Your details are kept safe and won’t be made public, passed on to a third party who is not directly involved in your care, used for advertising or sold. For more information please read the London Care Record privacy notice for South East London here: The London Care Record – South East London ICS (selondonics.org)

Opting out of the London Care Record

You have the right to object to your information being available through London Care Record. Although patients have the right to object and request restrictions on sharing their records, there may be instances where this request will not be upheld due to a clinical need as determined by the direct care giver. Please discuss this with your GP/ health and social care worker and you can find further information in this London Care Record leaflet.

For further information and advice about data protection or your right to object to sharing your data you can contact the team at Lewisham and Greenwich Trust who manage the London Care Record for South East London www.lewishamandgreenwich.nhs.uk/london-care-record or you can call 020 3192 6011 and leave your name and number for someone to contact you.

If you have already requested to stop sharing on ConnectCare/Local Care Record in South East London, then you will not have to request this again for London Care Record.

Named GP

Each of our GP’s take a section of the alphabet for patients’ surnames and generally see these patients, for consistency purposes and will do any referrals onto specialists for these patients.

If you would like to book with your ‘named’ GP please see the list below.

However this is optional and you are free to book with the GP of your choice.

PATIENT ALPHABET SPLIT FROM 1^st June 2023

GP	ALPHABET
Dr Savi	C D F G I
Dr Vinyas	J L P W X Y Z
Dr Sriwardhana	H S T
Dr Kulkarni	K M N O Q U V
Dr Patel	A B R E

Disability Access

If you have any special needs please let our staff know so that we can help and ensure you get the same support in the future.

Wheelchair access

Our premises have easy access, wide corridors, no steps, and a toilet for the disabled.

If you have any difficulty in using our facility do please ask a member of staff who will be pleased to assist you.

Disabled Parking – Blue Badge Scheme

The Blue Badge scheme is for people with severe mobility problems. It allows Blue Badge holders to park close to where they need to go.

Loop System

We have a loop induction system please ask reception for more details. For more information on the loop hearing system visit Hearing Link website.

• British Deaf Association

• The Deaf Health Charity – SignHealth

• Action Hearing Loss

• Royal Association for Deaf People

• National Deaf Children’s Society

Blind/Partially Sighted

If you or family members are blind or partially sighted we will try our best to provide help and assistance for you. If we cannot provide leaflets we will be very happy to explain and research information that you require. Just ask at reception and staff will either help directly or pass your request on to the Practice Manager.

For more advice and support for blind people please see the following websites:

• Royal National Institute of Blind People (RIND)

• Action for Blind People

• Blind.org.uk

• British Blind Sport

Guide Dogs

Guide dogs are welcome at the surgery with a bowl of water available upon request.

Other Disability Websites

• BID Services

• Disability Go

• Disabled People, your Rights, Benefits, Carers and the Equality Act

• Disability Rights UK

• Living with a Disability NHS Choice

• Disability Action

• Mencap

Freedom of Information

The Freedom of Information Act creates a right of access to recorded information and obliges a public authority to:

• Have a publication scheme in place

• Allow public access to information held by public authorities.

The Act covers any recorded organisational information such as reports, policies or strategies, that is held by a public authority in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and by UK-wide public authorities based in Scotland, however it does not cover personal information such as patient records which are covered by the Data Protection Act.

Public authorities include government departments, local authorities, the NHS, state schools and police forces.

The Act is enforced by the Information Commissioner who regulates both the Freedom of Information Act and the Data Protection Act.

The Surgery publication scheme

A publication scheme requires an authority to make information available to the public as part of its normal business activities. The scheme lists information under seven broad classes, which are:

• who we are and what we do

• what we spend and how we spend it

• what our priorities are and how we are doing it

• how we make decisions

• our policies and procedures

• lists and registers

• the services we offer

You can request our publication scheme leaflet at the surgery.

Who can request information?

Under the Act, any individual, anywhere in the world, is able to make a request to a practice for information. An applicant is entitled to be informed in writing, by the practice, whether the practice holds information of the description specified in the request and if that is the case, have the information communicated to him. An individual can request information, regardless of whether he/she is the subject of the information or affected by its use.

How should requests be made?

Requests must:

• be made in writing (this can be electronically e.g. email/fax)

• state the name of the applicant and an address for correspondence

• describe the information requested.

What cannot be requested?

Personal data about staff and patients covered under Data Protection Act.

For more information see these websites:

• Legislation GOV.UK

• Information Commissioners Office

How We Use Your Information

To Provide You with Treatment

Doctors need to make notes about any diagnosis, test results, treatments including drugs prescriptions, and other information that you may provide, that seems relevant to the treatment of your condition. We need to keep this information in order to provide proper care for you (for later treatment, or if you should be seen by another doctor) and to allow others to check the treatment that you have received.

Nurses and other health professionals also need access to these records, and will add their own notes, as part of the overall healthcare provision. Secretaries, receptionists, and other clerical staff need access to some of your records in order to do administrative tasks, such as: booking appointments and communicating with you and other parts of the NHS.

Your doctor may also need to provide information under certain Acts of Parliament (e.g. the Communicable Diseases Act 1978, which is necessary to prevent the outbreak of certain highly contagious diseases) to protect you and others.

The Health Service

In order to manage the NHS, some restricted information concerning treatments, drugs prescribed, numbers of patients seen etc. is needed, and hospitals and general practices must provide this information in returns to various central bodies. This information has personal details such as your name and address removed wherever possible. It is necessary from time to time to check these returns to prevent fraud as part of the NHS’s statutory obligations. This may result in your being contacted by an NHS Fraud Office to see if you will consent to your records being checked. Only if you provide your consent will the auditors be allowed to access your records.

Teaching Clinicians

Some medical files are needed to teach student clinicians. Without such materials, new doctors and nurses would be not be properly prepared to treat you.

Planning

We need to be able to plan ahead about treatments, patient numbers, etc., but this uses summary information, not personal information.

Medical Research

Some medical research will require your direct involvement (especially if taking part in clinical trials) in which case the circumstances will be fully explained to you, and your express consent required. If you do not consent, then you will not be included in the trial.

Other researchers only require access to medical statistics, and can greatly improve our understanding of health, and how to treat patients more effectively. Generally, researchers only need information about groups of people, so that no individual information is apparent. In some cases, they need individual records, but wherever we can we will provide these in an anonymous form (so individuals cannot be identified). Sometimes, researchers need access to individual medical files. We will contact you first for your consent (and before this the researchers must present their case before an Ethics Committee to check that their research is appropriate and worthwhile). Rarely, it may not be practicable (or even possible) to contact individuals for their consent, in which case the researchers must make their case before a Confidentiality Committee to show that there is enough benefit to the public at large to justify this.

How do we manage your information?

We need to be able to move electronic information from system to system, extracting the data and modifying it for the next system. Occasionally, tests will need to be made on the data to check that it has been transferred correctly. This will only be done under carefully controlled conditions and all employees and contractors will be under strict contractual obligations to protect your confidentiality.

Incident Reporting

Practice staff should use the new GP e-form to report all patient safety incidents and near misses whether they result in harm or not.

These reports are used to spot any emerging patterns of similar incidents or anything of particular concern.

This will help protect patients by raising awareness of the risks through shared learning with general practices and other health providers across the country.

Infection Control Statement

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