Practice Policies & Patient Information
Access to Records
We have been asked provide you with access to your full medical record from 1st November 2023 via the NHS app and/or the NHS website if you have a suitable NHS login.
We are supportive of providing you with access to your record, but we wish to do this safely. We have an obligation under GDPR to safeguard the information we hold about you and have carried out a Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA) to make sure we are able to legally honour our data safeguarding obligations
We believe, and are supported by the BMA, that there are insufficient safeguards in place so we will not be automatically allowing patients access to their records after 1st November 2023.
Everyone will have access to their medication history and allergies and will be able to order their repeat prescriptions (subject to you having NHS login).
If you should require access to your full record where you will be able to see everything, including the notes which have been written by doctors, nurses and others involved in your care at the GP surgery and elsewhere, we ask you to complete the application form below so your request can be assessed by your GP. Remember, you will only see your records from the date of your application, access will not typically be available for historic patient records.
If you already had access to your medical records before the 1st November 2023 you will still have this – your records have already been reviewed. However, you may see a message on your record 1364731000000104 “Enhanced review indicated before granting access to own health record”– please ignore this as your review has already been undertaken and access allowed.
Access to Records
Complaints
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.
Confidentiality & Medical Records
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.
Freedom of Information
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.
GDPR Guidance
Please see below our practice guidance on the lawful basis for Data Collection and processing Patient Information under GDPR 2018 and Data Protection Act 2018, including individuals information rights.
Littlewick Medical Centre GDPR Privacy Notice v2.8 May 2023
Littlewick Medical Centre COVID19 Privacy Notice v5 May 2023
GPDPR Extract
The current NHS Digital (NHSD) extract of GP data for Research purposes (known as the GPDPR) has been delayed due to NHSD wishing to review the way in which this data will be collected, to conduct more public involvement and information about the plans and change the way in which patients can opt out of the extract of their GP data.
Currently the only way to opt out is to complete a Type 1 opt out form and return this to the practice by the 1st September (this can be found further down on this webpage). However, this extract will not be taken until the NHSD have changed the way it will take the data and respect the patient’s choice for using their data. NHSD are introducing the following changes to the opt out process which will mean that patients will be able to change their opt-out status at any time:-
- Patients do not need to register a Type 1 opt-out by 1st September to ensure their GP data will not be uploaded.
- NHS Digital will create the technical means to allow GP data that has previously been uploaded to the system via the GPDPR collection to be deleted when someone registers a Type 1 opt-out.
- The plan to retire Type 1 opt-outs will be deferred for at least 12 months while we get the new arrangements up and running and will not be implemented without consultation with the RCGP, the BMA and the National Data Guardian.
This means that you can opt out at any time in the future and NHSD will delete data that they already have taken for research purposes, the deadline of the 01/09/2020 has been delayed until a new system of opt out is developed. Hopefully, this will be a simple centralised approach via the NHS app or NHS website to avoid paper form and administration work for your GP.
We will update you when we know more about the NHSD plans to change how you can control who has access to your data.
Click here to download our Type One Opt-Out-Form
GP Net Earnings
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 Littlewick Medical Centre in the last financial year was £67,348 before tax and national insurance. This is for 14 part time GPs who worked in the practice for longer than six months.
Littlewick Information
Did you know that Advanced Nurse Practitioners (ANP’s) can deal with same day illnesses such as; chest infections, sore throats, rashes and earache?
Did you know that by booking appointments with ANP’s it will allow more GP appointments for complex and long term conditions? This means providing greater continuity of care.
Did you know that continuity of care is just as important to Littlewick staff as it is to patients? They have campaigned tirelessly for additional funding to try and achieve this.
Did you know that appointments can be cancelled by phone, text, email and SystmOnline?
Did you know that you can book a limited number of appointments via SystmOnline? Please ask for more details or visit the Online Services page of the website. You can also order repeat prescriptions and view your medical records
Did you know that you can register for text reminders?
Travel Information
Did you know that you can catch the Medilink bus from QMC to Nottingham City Hospital? This runs every few minutes between 8am – 6pm weekdays and is free to use.
Self-Referral
Did you know that there is a wellbeing health worker who can help you to lose weight and look at your whole lifestyle?
Did you know that you can self-refer for a hearing test? Visit the self-referral section of the website. There are also appointments available at Littlewick – please book at reception.
Did you know that if you are under 55 and your hearing test shows that you require hearing aids, you can ask reception to arrange for a GP referral?
Did you know that patients can self-refer to podiatry at Ilkeston Community Hospital for certain conditions? Visit the self-referral section of the website for more information.
Did you know that if you are not eligible for podiatry services on the NHS, Tootsies run a service from Littlewick at a reduced cost?
Did you know that Citizens Advice Bureau come to Littlewick on a Monday? Appointments can be booked at reception.
Did you know that patients can self-refer to Talking Mental Health for Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and Counselling?
Did you know that patients can self-refer to Treetops for bereavement counselling and other services?
Did you know that if you register for Pharmacy First, certain over the counter medication can be obtained for free? This also applies if you have an exemption certificate or prepaid prescription card for adults
Out of Area Patients
We are unable to accept patients who live outside of our practice boundary. This is due to the following considerations:
- Sometimes urgent treatment is needed, and the patient doesn’t have the ability to travel to the GP surgery at that time. This can be particularly relevant in the instances when a patient has become suddenly unwell or had an accident.
- We cannot provide home visits to out of area patients due to the distances and time involved in travelling
- There can be fragmentation and impact on availability of community and social services to out of area patients, for example; health visiting, school nursing and district nursing services
- There can be issues with referrals to hospitals and other secondary care services when a patient lives outside of the practice boundary
- There can be gaps in care due to the differences in enhanced services depending on the area the patient lives in which can have an impact on holistic care
To find a GP in your area, please follow the link – https://www.nhs.uk/service-search/find-a-gp
Patient Participant Group (PPG)
We work very closely with our Patient Participation Group (PPG) to help improve the quality of service that we provide. Please take the time to look at their notice board in reception to find out how you could get involved or alternatively email littlewickppg@hotmail.co.uk
Practice Leaflet
Please find our most recent practice leaflet from the link below:
Click here to view the Littlewick Medical Centre practice leaflet
Practice Privacy Notice
Our privacy notice lets you know what happens to any personal data that you give to us, or any that we may collect from or about it.
Click here to view our Practice Privacy Notice
Training Practice
Medical Students / Nursing Students / GP Registrars
We have a particular interest in training the doctors and nurses for the future. Some of the GP Registrar and student consultations may be videoed or recorded, with the patient’s consent, for training purposes only.
If you do not wish to be seen by a registrar or medical student, please inform a member of the reception team. This will not affect your treatment in any way.
Violence Policy
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.
Your Data Matters
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.
Please read the document below to find out how your data can and cannot be used from May 2018.
Click here to view Your Data Matters leaflet
Zero Tolerance
The Practice takes it very seriously if any member of team is treated in an abusive, aggressive, intimidating or violent way.
The Practice supports the government’s ‘Zero Tolerance’ campaign for Health Service Staff. This states that GPs and their staff have a right to care for others without fear of being attacked or abused. To successfully provide these services a mutual respect between all the practice team and patients has to be in place. All our team aim to be polite, helpful, and sensitive to all patients’ individual needs and circumstances. They would respectfully remind patients that very often the team could be confronted with a multitude of varying and sometimes difficult tasks and situations, all at the same time. The team understand that ill patients do not always act in a reasonable manner and will take this into consideration when trying to deal with a misunderstanding or complaint.
However, aggressive and/or intimidating behaviour, will not be tolerated in any way and may result in you being removed from the Practice list and, in extreme cases, the Police being contacted.
In order for the practice to maintain good relations with their patients the practice would like to ask all its patients to read and take note of the occasional types of behaviour that would be found unacceptable:
- Using bad language or swearing at practice staff
- Any threats or acts of physical violence towards any member of the Primary Health Care Team or other patients
- Verbal abuse towards the staff in any form
- Racial abuse and sexual harassment will not be tolerated within this practice
- Persistent or unrealistic demands that cause stress to staff will not be accepted. Requests will be met wherever possible and explanations given when they cannot
- Causing damage/stealing from the Practice’s premises, staff or patients
- Obtaining drugs and/or medical services fraudulently
We ask you to treat the practice team with courteously at all times.
Removal from the practice list
A good patient clinician relationship, based on mutual respect and trust, is the cornerstone of good patient care. The removal of patients from our list is an exceptional and rare event and is a last resort in an impaired patient-practice relationship. When trust has irretrievably broken down, it is in the patient’s interest, just as much as that of the practice, that they should find a new practice. An exception to this is on immediate removal on the grounds of violence e.g. when the Police are involved, or those behaviours mentioned above
Removing other members of the household
In rare cases, however, because of the possible need to visit patients at home it may be necessary to terminate responsibility for other members of the family or the entire household. The prospect of visiting patients where a relative who is no longer a patient of the practice by virtue of their unacceptable behaviour resides, or being regularly confronted by the removed patient, may make it too difficult for the practice to continue to look after the whole family. This is particularly likely where the patient has been removed because of violence or threatening behaviour and keeping the other family members could put the practice team at risk.