Our Policies
Confidentiality & Medical Records
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.
Details of what happens to any personal data that you give us, or any that we may collect from or about you, can be found by downloading and viewing a copy of our Data Protection Privacy Notice For Patients here:>>
You have the right to see your health records, subject to the limitations of the law. These will be kept confidential at all times. For our more information on how we manage medical information, please follow this link to our Data Protection and Privacy web page:>>
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.
Special Arrangements for a Consultation with your GP
Where a registered patient has reached the age of 16 but not reached the age of 75 and has never attended for a consultation with a GP, nor a clinic provided by the Practice, within a period of three years prior to the date of request, he/she may request a consultation. Where such a request is made, the Practice will provide a consultation and the GP will, in the course of the consultation, make such inquiries and undertake such examinations as appear to be appropriate in all the circumstances.
Where a registered patient has reached the age of 75 and has never attended for a consultation with a GP, nor a clinic provided by the Practice, within a period of 12 months prior to the date of request, he/she may request a consultation. Where such a request is made the Practice will provide a consultation and the GP will, in the course of the consultation, make such inquiries and undertake such examinations as appear to be appropriate in all the circumstances. This consultation will take place in the home of the patient where, in the reasonable opinion of the GP, it would be inappropriate, as a result of the patient's medical condition, for the patient to attend at the surgery.