Missed Appointments Carers' Information Chaperone Policy Confidentiality Policy	Video Recording Computers Research Number 18 Surgery History

MISSED APPOINTMENTS
Due to the number of patients failing to attend for their appointment this may mean that you may not be able to see the doctor on the day that you wish to. 

In an attempt to try and resolve this the practice has developed the following policy:

If you fail to attend for 2 consecutive appointments without informing us we will write to you asking if there are any specific problems preventing you from letting us know.

If you fail to attend for a 3rd appointment you may be removed from the practice list and have to find an alternative GP Practice.

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CARERS' INFORMATION
DO YOU LOOK AFTER SOMEONE WHO IS ILL, FRAIL, DISABLED OR MENTALLY ILL?

We are interested in identifying carers, especially those people who may be caring without help or support. We know that carers are often “hidden” looking after a family member or helping a friend or neighbour with day to day tasks and may not see themselves as a carer.

Caring for someone is an important and valuable role in the community, which is often a 24-hour job that can be very demanding and isolating for the carer. Carers should receive appropriate support by way of access to accurate information on a range of topics such as entitlement to benefits and respite care and not least, a listening ear when things get too much.

As a Carer, you are also entitled to have your needs assessed by Adult Care Services. A Carer’s Assessment is a chance to talk about your needs as a carer and the possible ways help could be given. It also look at the needs of the person you care for. There is no charge for an assessment.

If you are a carer, please ask at Reception for a:

CARERS IDENTIFICATION AND REFERRAL FORM

which you can complete to let us know about your caring responsibilities.

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CHAPERONE POLICY
Patients and staff need to be confident that best practice is being followed. For certain examinations you will be offered a chaperone which on occasion may mean rebooking your appointment. If you think a chaperone will be required please make this known when you book with reception.

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COMPUTERS
The Practice keeps a variety of information about patients on computers and is bound by the Data Protection Act.

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NUMBER 18 SURGERY CONFIDENTIALITY POLICY
Confidentiality is the cornerstone of health care and central to the work of everyone working at Number 18 Surgery. All information about patients is confidential: from the most sensitive diagnosis, to the fact of having visited
the surgery or being registered at the practice.

The duty of confidentiality owed to a person under 16 is as great as the duty owed to any other person.

All patients can expect that their personal information will not be disclosed without their permission except in the most exceptional of circumstances, when somebody is at grave risk of serious harm.

Responsibilities of practice staff:
All health professionals must follow their professional codes of practice and the law. This means that they must make every effort to protect confidentiality. It also means that no identifiable information about a patient is passed to any one or any agency without the express permission of that patient, except when this is essential for providing care or necessary to protect somebody's health, safety or well-being. All health professionals are individually accountable for their own actions. They should also work together as a team to ensure that standards of confidentiality are upheld, and that improper disclosures are avoided.
 
Additionally the GP as employer:

• Is responsible for ensuring that everybody employed by the practice
  understands the need for, and maintains, confidentiality.
• Has overall responsibility for ensuring that systems and mechanisms to
  protect confidentiality are in place.
• Has vicarious liability for the actions of those working in the practice -
  including the health professionals and non-clinical staff.

Standards of confidentiality apply to all health professionals, administrative and ancillary staff, including receptionists, secretaries, practice manager, cleaners and maintenance staff, who are bound by contracts of employment to maintain confidentiality - and also to students or others observing in the practice. They must not reveal to anyone outside the practice, personal information they learn in the course of their work, or due to their presence in the surgery, without the patients consent. Nor will they discuss with any colleagues any aspect of a patient’s attendance at the surgery, in a way that might allow identification of the patient, unless to do so is necessary for that patients care.

If disclosure is necessary
If a patient or another person is at grave risk of serious harm, which disclosure to an appropriate person would prevent, the relevant health professional will counsel the patient about the benefits of disclosure. If the patient refuses to allow disclosure, the health professional can take advice from colleagues within the practice, or from a professional, regulatory or defence body, in order to decide whether a disclosure without consent is justified to protect the patient or another person. If a decision is taken to disclose, the patient should always be informed before the disclosure is made, unless to do so could be dangerous. If at all possible, any such decisions should be shared with another member of
the practice team.

Any decision to disclose information to protect health, safety or well-being will be based on the degree of current or potential harm, not on the age of the patient.

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RESEARCH
The Practice has a keen interest in research and undertakes some projects in conjunction with the Medical Research Council. One nurse has special responsibility for such projects. We also carefully monitor the way we work and conduct frequent audits to help keep standards as high as possible.

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VIDEO RECORDING
From time to time we may wish to use video recording as part of doctors' training. This will not be done without patients' consent and will never be used during intimate physical examination. Patients may ask for the video recorder to be turned off at any time during a consultation.

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Number 18 Surgery Timeline

• Early 1900s
  Dr Heathcote had a surgery at Twerton Villa.
• 1911
  Lloyd George Insurance Act.
• 1919
  Dr. R. Craig joined the surgery in Twerton and Dr. Heathcote moved to Upper Oldfield Park.
• 1932
  Dr. Craig took over from Dr. Heathcote.
• 1948
  NHS came into being.
• 1951
  Dr. R. Jameson took over from Dr. Craig at No. 31 Upper Oldfield Park.
• 1956
  Dr. R. Jameson co-published an article on Nail-Patella syndrome.
• 1963
  Dr. R. King started as Assistant Partner. First practice secretary.
• 1964
  Expansion into No. 29 next door.
• 1967
  First Receptionist – before this the Dr’s wife did the job unpaid!
• 1967
  Dr. Scott Reid (Bear Flat) died and his patients were added to the list.
• 1970
  First attached District Nurse.
• 1971
  Dr. A. Jameson joined her husband in the Practice, half time.
• 1972
  First attached Health Visitor - the first in Bath.
• 1973
  Dr. King started Bath GP training scheme.
• 1975
  First Treatment Room Nurse.
• 1976
  First attached Social Worker.
• 1977
  First Practice Manager.
• 1980
  Research with MRC into treatment of high blood pressure.
• 1982
  Dr. P. Booth came as an extra Partner.
• 1982
  Move across the road to Number 18.
• 1983
  Dr Tierney retired in Twerton. His patients were added to the list.
• 1984
  Dr. M Muddiman started as half time Partner. First computerised prescribing system piloted with another local Practice.
• 1985
  Dr. S. Medworth replaced Drs. R. and A. Jameson who were both part time by this stage.
• 1985
  First GP Trainee (Registrar) at the surgery.
• 1986
  First diabetic clinic.
• 1992
  Joined fundholding scheme (third wave).
• 1993
  Dr. L. McHugh joined as jobshare partner with Dr Medworth. Clinical records started to be kept on computer.
• 1995
  Joined Bath Primary Care Co-operative for providing out-of-hours care.
• 1994
  Extension to surgery and installation of lift to all floors.
• 1995
  Dr. C. Berrisford took over from Dr. King.
• 1999
  Fundholding ended.
• 2003
  Independent Saturday morning surgeries at Number 18 ceased.
• 2004
  Night and weekend patient care taken over by BEMS.
• 2005
  Dr. M. Muddiman retired, Dr P. Nicholson started as Salaried Partner.

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