Practice Policies

The practice operates CCTV within the premises to offer additional security for patients, staff and visitors.  Our data controller is Dr Cowan.

The practice complies with Data Protection legislation and we make every effort to preserve patient confidentiality. We ask you for personal information to ensure that you receive appropriate care and treatment. For the practice to function effectively it is sometimes necessary for medical information about you to be shared between members of the practice team. It will be shared with others only to provide further medical treatment for you, e.g. from hospital services, or to enable you to access other services, e.g. from the social work department.

We will provide care, now and in the future, to all our patients without discrimination and irrespective of patient’s age, sex, race, beliefs or special needs.  We expect that patients will show no discrimination towards other surgery users, members of the practice team or our colleagues in the NHS.

The practice produces a complete guide to the information routinely made available to the public by our GPs. A copy of this guide is available from reception.

How Mansfield Medical Centre uses your information to provide you with healthcare

This practice keeps medical records confidential and complies with the General Data Protection Regulation.

We hold your medical record so that we can provide you with safe care and treatment.

We will also use your information so that this practice can check and review the quality of the care we provide. This helps us to improve our services to you.

• We will share relevant information from your medical record with other health or social care staff or organisations when they provide you with care. For example, your GP will share information when they refer you to a specialist in a hospital. Or your GP will send details about your prescription to your chosen pharmacy.
• Healthcare staff working in A&E and out of hours care will also have access to your information. For example, it is important that staff who are treating you in an emergency know if you have any allergic reactions. This will involve the use of your Summary Care Record.
• You have the right to object to information being shared for your own care. Please speak to the practice if you wish to object. You also have the right to have any mistakes or errors corrected.
• We will use the data that we hold on your medical records to contact you directly in relation to your medical care. This may include, text, phone or written  communication.

GDPR Privacy Policy

Introduction

At Mansfield Medical Centre, we strive to provide high-quality care to all our patients. Attending scheduled appointments is crucial to ensure that we can deliver timely and efficient healthcare services. Missed appointments, also known as “Did Not Attend” (DNA), have significant consequences not only for the patient who misses the appointment but also for other patients, the practice, and the NHS as a whole.

Importance of Attending Appointments

1. Limited Appointment Availability: The availability of appointments is a limited resource. When an appointment is missed, it cannot be used by another patient and this has a major impact on provision of healthcare by the practice.
2. Cost to the NHS: Missed GP appointments cost the NHS around £216 million annually. Approximately 15 million GP appointments are missed every year across the UK.
3. Impact on Other Patients: By missing an appointment, a patient denies another person the opportunity to be seen by a healthcare professional, potentially delaying necessary care.

How to cancel or rearrange my appointment:

If you are unable to attend an appointment please let us know as soon as possible prior to the appointment.

1. If you have received an appointment reminder message you can cancel using the link on the text.
2. alternatively please call and speak to reception on 024 76 457551 (please do not leave a message with the patchs telephone assistant for this purpose).
3. You can cancel your appointment using a patchs request (or patchs telephone assistant), however only if this is more than 2 hours prior to the appointment start time.

Missed Appointment Protocol

1. First Missed Appointment:
   • Notification: Patients who miss their first appointment will be sent a text message advising them of the missed appointment and inform them of the practice DNA policy.
2. Second Missed Appointment (Within 6 Months):
   • Notification: If a second appointment is missed within a 6-month period, the patient will be sent a second text message. This message will reiterate the importance of attending appointments, note that this is the second missed appointment, and warn that a further missed appointment within the next 6 months may result in the patient being asked to find another GP surgery.
3. Third Missed Appointment (Within 6 Months of the Second):
   • Notification: If a third appointment is missed within 6 months of the second, the patient will be sent a final text message and a letter. The communication will inform the patient that due to repeated missed appointments, they will be removed from the practice list. They will have 28 days to find an alternative GP surgery. The letter will also provide details on how to register with a new GP practice.

Clinical Judgement and Exceptional circumstances

We understand that there may be valid reasons for missing appointments, such as hospitalisation or as a consequence certain medical conditions like dementia. In such cases, clinical judgement will be applied before any decision is made to remove a patient from the practice list. We are committed to ensuring that vulnerable patients are not unfairly penalised under this policy.

Patients are encouraged to communicate with the practice if there are any circumstances that might affect their ability to attend scheduled appointments so that appropriate support and accommodations can be made.

Summary

Mansfield Medical Centre is dedicated to providing the best possible care for all our patients. We ask for your cooperation in attending scheduled appointments or cancelling in advance if you are unable to attend. This will help us manage our resources effectively and ensure that all patients have access to the care they need.

Thank you for your understanding and support in this matter.

We are committed to providing a safe, respectful, and private environment for all patients, visitors, and staff.

Photography, Audio, and Video Recording Policy

We are committed to providing a safe, respectful, and private environment for all patients, visitors, and staff.

Although the law does not automatically stop someone from taking photos or videos, our GP surgery is private property. This means we have the right to set our own rules about recording.

To protect everyone’s privacy, dignity, and confidentiality, we have a strict policy:

• Photography, audio recording, and video recording are not permitted anywhere on our premises (including the waiting area, consultation rooms, and corridors) unless you have prior permission from the Practice.
• If a recording captures other patients or staff without their consent, it may breach the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) or the Data Protection Act 2018, as it could involve personal data.

We may allow a recording if it can be done without affecting the privacy of others, but you must speak to a member of the team first.

If you record without permission, we may ask you to stop, delete the recording, and in some cases, you may be asked to leave the premises.

Recording and Photography – Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can I record my GP consultation?
   Yes, but you must tell us first. We will ensure that recording is carried out in a way that protects the privacy and dignity of other patients and staff.
2. Can I take photos or videos in the waiting room?
   No. Our waiting room is a shared space, and filming or taking photographs could capture other patients without their consent, which is not allowed.
3. Why is there a no-recording rule in the waiting room?
   This rule protects patient confidentiality, complies with data protection law, and helps keep the practice a safe and respectful space for everyone.
4. What if I only want to record myself?
   Please still speak to a member of the team first. We need to make sure that no one else is accidentally captured in the recording.
5. What happens if someone records without permission?
   If you record without permission, we may ask you to stop and delete any unauthorised images or videos. If you refuse, you may be asked to leave the premises.