Computers & Confidentiality

In each consulting room there is a computer and a printer.  Any information held on the computer is confidential between yourself and the Practice.  It is designed to improve the running of the practice, to help patient care and it also provides fast retrieval of important details. The Practice is registered under the Data Protection Act of 1984.  All of the Practice team are strictly bound by the rules of confidentiality and privacy. This means that we are unable to give out any information about a patient without his/her consent.  Please respect this code when enquiring about relatives.

You have the right to view your medical records or have a copy of them, and we would be happy to arrange this if you apply in writing to the practice manager.  Ask about the current fee for this service. Please look at the Access to Records page for more details. Certain anonomised data is used for clinical audit. Members of the Primary Care Trust (PCT) may occasionally wish to inspect your records to check the quality of our services. They are NHS workers and bound by the same rules of confidentiality.

We are working with the NHS in “Connecting for Health”. This is a huge IT project and the ultimate aim is for all your records from hospitals and GP practices to be held on one central computer data base. The advantages of this include the immediate availability of your records for a doctor in casualty, for instance, should you be taken ill away from home or in a hospital. More information will come available and we will display notices and posters on each step of this exciting development.

We also take part in the Choose and Book NHS initiative. This is in its early stages and there are some teething problems, but it means you now have the choice of more than just your local hospital to go to, should you require a referral to the hospital, and you and your doctor can compare some details like waiting lists, cancelled operations, MRSA infection, hospital cleanliness and more. Once you have chosen and been referred by your GP you ring up the telephone number supplied to you and you can then discuss where and when you want to be seen within the appointments offered. The reception staff can help anyone who is unable to do this for themselves or have no friend or relative to help them.

Our Bailrigg premises have just installed a new computerised check in service which our patients have found to be quick and simple to use. This means the receptionists are free to deal with enquiries and booking next appointments.