In accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998 and Access to Health Records Act, patients may request to see their medical records. Such requests should be made through the practice manager and may be subject to an administration charge. No information will be released without the patient consent unless we are legally obliged to do so.

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

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.

To pursue a complaint please contact the practice manager who will deal with your concerns appropriately. Further written information is available regarding the complaints procedure from reception or by clicking here.

The practice complies with data protection and access to medical records legislation. Identifiable information about you will be shared with others in the following circumstances:

• To provide further medical treatment for you e.g. from district nurses and hospital services.
• To help you get other services e.g. from the social work department. This requires your consent.
• When we have a duty to others e.g. in child protection cases.
• Anonymised patient information will also be used at local and national level to help the Health Board and Government plan services e.g. for diabetic care.

If you do not wish anonymous information about you to be used in such a way, please let us know.

Reception and administration staff require access to your medical records in order to do their jobs. These members of staff are bound by the same rules of confidentiality as the medical staff.

Your Data Matters to the NHS

Information about your health and care helps us to improve your individual care, speed up diagnosis, plan your local services and research new treatments. The NHS is committed to keeping patient information safe and always being clear about how it is used.

How your data is used

Information about your individual care such as treatment and diagnoses is collected about you whenever you use health and care services. It is also used to help us and other organisations for research and planning such as research into new treatments, deciding where to put GP clinics and planning for the number of doctors and nurses in your local hospital.  It is only used in this way when there is a clear legal basis to use the information to help improve health and care for you, your family and future generations.

Wherever possible we try to use data that does not identify you, but sometimes it is necessary to use your confidential patient information.

You have a choice

You do not need to do anything if you are happy about how your information is used. If you do not want your confidential patient information to be used for research and planning, you can choose to opt out securely online or through a telephone service. You can change your mind about your choice at any time.

Will choosing this opt-out affect your care and treatment?

No, choosing to opt out will not affect how information is used to support your care and treatment. You will still be invited for screening services, such as screenings for bowel cancer.

What do you need to do?

If you are happy for your confidential patient information to be used for research and planning, you do not need to do anything.

To find out more about the benefits of data sharing, how data is protected, or to make/change your opt-out choice visit www.nhs.uk/your-nhs-data-matters.

You can download a copy of the patient information leaflet here.

Our Emergency Prescriptions Policy can be found here.

Information about the General Practioners and the practice required for disclosure under this act can be made available to the public. All requests for such information should be made to the practice manager.

Our GDPR Policy can be found here.

Out General Practice Transparency Notice for GPES Data for Pandemic Planning and Research (COVID-19) Policy can be found here.

All GP practices are required to declare the mean earnings (e.g. average pay) for GPs working to deliver NHS services to patients at each practice.

The average pay for GPs working in Trent Vale Medical Practice in the last financial year (2019/20) was £51,724 before Tax and National Insurance. This is for 4 full time contractor GPs, 0 part time contractor GP, 0 full time salaried GP, 4 part time salaried GPs and 0 locum GP who worked in the practice for more than six months.

Contact Details for the ICB can be found here.

Website

or information or advice on our services, please contact us: 0300 123 1461
ssotics.comms@staffsstoke.icb.nhs.uk

To view our Statement of Intent: Offering and Promoting Patient Online Services Policy, please click here.

There is a new Central NHS Computer System called the Summary Care Record (SCR). It is an electronic record which contains information about the medicines you take, allergies you suffer from and any bad reactions to medicines you have had.

Why do I need a Summary Care Record?

Storing information in one place makes it easier for healthcare staff to treat you in an emergency, or when your GP practice is closed.

This information could make a difference to how a doctor decides to care for you, for example which medicines they choose to prescribe for you.

Who can see it?

Only healthcare staff involved in your care can see your Summary Care Record.

How do I know if I have one?

Over half of the population of England now have a Summary Care Record. You can find out whether Summary Care Records have come to your area by looking at our interactive map or by asking your GP

Do I have to have one?

No, it is not compulsory. If you choose to opt out of the scheme, then you will need to complete a form and bring it along to the surgery. You can use the form at the foot of this page.

More Information

For further information visit the NHS Care records website

Download the opt out form >>>>

Training

Trent Vale Medical Practice is an approved training practice for General Practitioners. GP registrars will be undertaking surgeries and developing their skills within the practice. These doctors have spent 3 or more years in hospitals prior to entering primary care and are a valuable addition to the practice team.

The practice also supports medical students from Keele University who attend to apply the theory they have learned in a practical setting.

Both the trainee and the trainer benefit from this process by ensuring that we keep up to date with the very latest medical knowledge and techniques.

We thank you in advance for your help and co-operation in this but if you do not wish to be seen with a student present please inform the reception staff when you book in.

Research

The practice is fully computerised which means that your medical records are held on computer. We provide anonymised medical information to Keele University for vital research.

We also share information with the Health Authority, Hospitals and other NHS bodies.

We feel that this is essential for the care of our patients and to help improve NHS services.

Occasionally Keele University may send out a patient questionnaire about a condition they are particularly interested in studying. If you have this condition you may be contacted. Although you are not required to reply we would be extremely grateful if you would do so: this will help the advancement of medical knowledge in the future.

The NHS operate a zero tolerance policy with regard to violence and abuse and the practice has the right to remove violent patients from the list with immediate effect in order to safeguard practice staff, patients and other persons. Violence in this context includes actual or threatened physical violence or verbal abuse which leads to fear for a person’s safety. In this situation we will notify the patient in writing of their removal from the list and record in the patient’s medical records the fact of the removal and the circumstances leading to it.