Confidentiality

All patients’ records and computer files are confidential. To protect this, laboratory and x-ray results will only be given to the patients themselves or to the parents of minors if appropriate. We are registered under the Data Protection Act. If you have a Carer or would like your partner to be able to receive your results please put this is writing to the Practice Manager.

Health Records

You have the right to see your health records, subject to the limitations of the law. These will be kept confidential at all times.

Voice Recording of Telephone Calls

Swanage Medical Practice uses the surgery telephone system to communicate with patients to a high degree. For your safety and security all calls to and from the practice are securely recorded using computerised technology. Access to recordings is password protected. For any call to be accessed the need for this has to be agreed by the practice manager.. It is envisaged that it would be extremely rare that there will be any need to listen retrospectively to any call and we wish to reassure all our patients that this will occur only when there is a specific need. A record of any access will be kept.

If any patient has any queries please contact the practice manager Natasha Ritchie.

Freedom of Information

The Freedom of Information Act 2000 obliges the practice to produce a Publication Scheme. A Publication Scheme is a guide to the ‘classes’ of information the practice intends to routinely make available. This scheme is available from the practice manager.

Zero Tolerance

We strongly support the NHS policy on zero tolerance. Anyone attending the surgery who abuses the GPs, staff or other patients be it verbally, physically or in any threatening manner whatsoever, will risk removal from the practice list. In extreme cases we may summon the police to remove offenders from the practice premises.