General Data Protection Regulation and Data Protection Act 2018

The management of all personal information we hold about our patients is a priority for all members of the Brig Royd team. In order to meet our obligations under the General Data Protection Regulation 2018 and Data Protection Act 2018 we have published two Privacy Notices - one for patients aged under 13 and the other for patients aged 13 and over. These can be found via the links below. We have made amendments to our standard privacy notices in the light of the Covid-19 pandemic. These are enclosed in the document below and apply to all ages.

In addition we have reviewed all policies which relate to the management of personal information and updated these to ensure they meet the 2018 legal framework. If you have any questions about the 2018 regulation and law please contact the practice.

Privacy Notice update, Covid-19

Covid 19 specific Privacy Notice

Summary Care Record - Covid-19

Privacy Notice

Childrens Privacy Notice

National Data Opt Out Programme

From 25th May 2018 patients who wish to opt out of sharing their medical information for reasons other than direct care should do so via the national programme. This can no longer be done via your surgery. Please see the information below.

National Data Opt Out Information

Confidentiality

All aspects of consultations and treatments at the surgery are confidential. Patients can be assured that all staff have a legal duty of confidence and are fully trained in this aspect. This applies whether you are over or under 16. If you are under 16 you may attend an appointment with the doctor or nurse without your parent or guardian if you wish. You may be reassured that your consultation will “go no further”. If you are under 16 there may be times when the doctor or nurse will encourage you to discuss your visit to the surgery with your parent or guardian.

Patients are reminded that on registration at BRS as a baby the mobile number of their parent/carer will be on their medical record. Young patients may wish to change the mobile contact number to their own at an age at which they are seen to be competent.

Freedom of Information

The ICO published the Model Publication Scheme which the practice adopted by the required deadline of 1st January 2009.

Model Publication Scheme - further information

Comments & Complaints

Our aim is to provide high quality care and a friendly, efficient service. Claire Cox, our Practice Manager is available if you wish to make any enquiries about administrative or non-medical aspects of your health and treatment.

A box is provided in our waiting room for any suggestions you may wish to make and a comments book is available at reception.

We run a practice based complaints procedure in accordance with national guidelines and we provide care in a environment of openness, transparency and candour. Should you wish to make a complaint please contact Sue Rosborough.

The Health Service Ombudsman

The Health Service Ombudsman has published a booklet that describes the ‘six principles for remedy’ in relation to complaints handling and involves:

1. Getting it right
2. Being customer focused
3. Being open and accountable
4. Acting fairly and proportionately
5. Putting things right
6. Seeking continuous improvements

If you remain unhappy after everything has been done to try to resolve your concern or complaint you have the right to approach the Ombudsman.
Tel: 0345 015 4033
Email: phso.enquiries@ombudsman.org.uk
Write: Millbank Tower, Millbank, London SW1P 4QP.

Care Quality Commission

They inspect GP practices and other primary medical services in England to check that they are meeting the national standards of quality and safety.

Click on the Care Quality Commission tab on the right hand menu to read their reports on the inspections undertaken in 2015 and 2019.

Consent

Before carrying out an examination or procedure the Doctor, Nurse or Health Care Assistant will seek consent or agreement.

Consent may be implied eg proffering an arm for a blood pressure reading implies consent or informed written consent may be taken for more complicated procedures eg minor surgery or joint injection.

Patients may decline to give consent.

When a patient is unable to give consent the Practice will apply the principles of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 to ensure that patients do not miss out on treatments.

VISIONS AND VALUES

Our aims are to provide high quality care and a friendly, efficient service.

We aim to treat all patients as individuals and to recognise their privacy and dignity, and their values, diversity and human rights. We acknowledge that these may influence the care agreed between our GPs and nursing team and our patients.

We welcome feedback from patients. A Compliments and Comments book is provided in our waiting room as is a Suggestion Box.

Sue Rosborough, Practice Manager, is available to speak with patients, providing an opportunity for patients to raise issues relating to our practice. We provide care within an environment of openness, transparency and candour.

Our Patient Reference Group meets twice annually and feedback from the wider practice population is encouraged on an ongoing basis.

For more information please speak with the GP Partners or Sue Rosborough.

Patients' Charter Our Responsibilities

• The services we provided are detailed on this website and the practice complies with all GMC guidance in the provision of these services.
• The practice accepts the principles which guide the NHS, the NHS values and patient rights as defined in the NHS Constitution. www.nhs.uk/choiceintheNHS/rightsandpledges/NHSConstitution.
• The practice does not discriminate on the grounds of age, disability, gender (including reassignment), pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, nor sex or sexual orientation.
• An appointment will be available the same day if your need is urgent (excluding weekends and Bank Holidays.)
• When the need arises, a home visit will be provided. Emergency visits will be provided the same day.
• We will treat patients in a pleasant manner.
• If your appointment is delayed by more than 30 minutes, an explanation will be offered.
• Suggestions/complaints can be directed to our Practice Manager (Sue Rosborough) or to any of the partners.
• Staff have access to medical records but will only do so when medically necessary. Medical information is only disclosed to eg insurance companies on written authority given by the patient.
• Patients have a right to confidentiality and we have a duty to respect this at all times.
• Personal health information will only be used in accordance with the relevant Acts of Parliament, GMC guidance and local policy.

  Note: GMC guidance (2009) states that patients’ personal information may be disclosed within the healthcare team for the sake of their health or for local clinical audit.

Your Responsibilities

• The practice expects patients to accept their responsibilities as detailed in the NHS Constitution. www.nhs.uk/choiceintheNHS/rightsandpledges/NHSConstitution.
• Please attend the surgery if possible, as this gives the best opportunity for diagnosis and treatment
• Please request home visits before 10.00am
• Please treat practice staff and other staff in a pleasant manner.
• The practice reserves the right to remove from its list any patient who is violent or abusive against any staff or other patients
• Please use an appointment for ONE person only. If you wish to have an appointment for more than one person, please make this clear when making the appointment
• Please attend for your appointment or give adequate notice of cancellation. Another patient could have used your appointment.
• Please keep details of your address and phone numbers up-to-date. It is important for your care and well-being that we have up-to-date contact details.

THE ACCESSIBLE INFORMATION STANDARD

The Accessible Information Standard – known officially as SCCI1605 Accessible Information – is a new ‘information standard’ for implementation by all organisations which provide NHS or adult social care.

Compliance with information standards of this type is a mandatory requirement, including for NHS Trusts and GP practices. This is set out in section 250 of the Health and Social Care Act.

The Accessible Information Standard aims to ensure that people who have a disability or sensory loss receive information that they can access and understand, for example in large print, braille or via email, and professional communication support if they need it, for example from a British Sign Language interpreter.

The Standard requires organisations which provide NHS or adult social care to:

1. Ask people if they have any information or communication needs, and find out how to meet their needs

2. Record those needs clearly and in a set way

3. Highlight or flag the person’s file or notes so it is clear that they have information or communication needs and how to meet those needs

4. Share people’s information and communication needs with other providers of NHS and adult social care, when they have consent or permission to do so

5. Take steps to ensure that people receive information which they can access and understand, and receive communication support if they need it

Please do confirm your information or communication needs with the doctor or member of our team - if we have not confirmed these with you - so that we can meet these. Please also confirm any information or communication needs for a member of your family who is a patient here as appropriate.

The practice is committed to the prevention and control of infection at all times. As part of this commitment the practice publishes an annual statement as shown below.

Infection Control Annual Statement 2020-2021

PURPOSE

Our Annual Statement is produced to summarise:

• Any infection transmission incidents and action taken (these will have been reported in accordance with our Significant Event procedure).
• Details of infection control audits undertaken and actions taken as a result.
• Details of infection control risk assessments undertaken and actions taken as a result.
• Reviews and updates of policies, procedures and guidelines.

INFECTION CONTROL LEADS

Dr Emma Gayle is the Practice lead for infection control supported by Practice nurse Sue Wade.

Annual risk assessments and audits are carried out by the Nurse team, led by Nurse Wade with support from the Practice Manager.

SIGNIFICANT EVENTS

No significant IPC events have been reported in the last 12 months.

AUDITS

The annual infection control audit was carried out in May 2021 by Nurse Wade and Sue Rosborough.  The findings of the audit showed that all infection control policies and protocols were being adhered to. The COSHH Audit was undertaken in May 2021 by the housekeeper and the PM.

It was agreed that an appropriate cleaning schedule was in place. The housekeeper works to a high standard, is aware of COSHH requirements and the colour coded system for housekeeping. Patient feedback refers to a “clean, light and airy building”. Carpet cleaning in both patient and staff areas is to be undertaken after the winter.

In addition the IPC measures identified in the Gold Standard Infection Prevention Society audit from 2019 were found to continue to be in place. Our management of the closure and positioning of sharps bins has been maintained as has the documentation of the cleaning required and undertaken for equipment used in the surgery and loaned to patients (no equipment has been loaned out during the Covid-19 pandemic).

RISK ASSESSMENTS

A full Covid-19 Risk Assessment was undertaken and updated regularly from March 2020. This provides information regarding the highest standards of IPC for the practice when operating as the “hot site” and on return to practice-only working. An inspection was undertaken by a specialist IPC staff member from Calderdale MBC in April 2020 and all recommendations were adopted.

A Health and Safety Risk Assessment (including infection control) was carried out in June 2012 and updated in August 2013, October 2014, October 2015 and February 2017, February 2019 and will be repeated in May 2022. The 2021 general risk assessment was superceded by the specialist Covid-19 risk assessment.

Disposable curtains and disposable pillow covers are in use in clinical rooms. Disposable PPE is available in all clinical / treatment rooms from DaniCentres.

The practice’s Legionella Risk Assessment identified minimal risk and monthly checks of water temperatures are undertaken in-house. All mechanical and electrical systems are serviced twice annually by Pro-Active Maintenance.

STAFF TRAINING AND LEARNING

Training is undertaken on a bi-annual basis in accordance with guidelines from the then NHS Calderdale. In addition, as required, training and updates are undertaken by the nurse team. The Practice has signed up to the IPC Champions strategy led by Calderdale MBC and also receives IPC information from Harrogate and District NHSFT which is shared across the team as required by subject of the update and staff roles.

All staff are briefed on COSHH and IPC requirements on arrival and provided with the Method Statement and Cleaning Schedule (by day) for the time they provide cover. IPC forms part of the induction of any new staff.

Staff training was undertaken for Covid working including cleaning, mask wearing, PPE and sanitising.

Staff training will be undertaken in May 2022 in conjunction with a review of the Risk Assessment.

POLICIES, PROTOCOLS AND GUIDELINES

The practice reviews all policies, protocols and guidelines relating to Infection Prevention and Control at least bi-annually or as required.

The practice ensures compliance with The Health and Social Care Act 2008 Code of practice on the prevention and control of infections and uses NICE guidance, QS61 and the policies of CHFT as sources of IPC information and good practice.

FURTHER INFORMATION is available from the Practice Manager, to whom any patient feedback regarding any matters regarding infection control and prevention should be addressed.

11 May 2021

Have a look at the excellent website from the Citizen's Advice Bureau (click) which provides detailed information for people from abroad. For instance, you may be British but live abroad and may not be eligible for NHS care.

CLICK THE LINK BELOWTO CHECK IF YOUR ADDRESS IS IN OUR PRACTICE AREA

Postcode checker for Brig Royd practice area

QUESTIONS & ANSWERS FOR PATIENTS MOVING OUT OF BRIG ROYD SURGERY PRACTICE AREA

BRS REGISTRATION POLICY WITH EFFECT FROM MARCH 2015

Brig Royd Surgery provides its service to patients resident in a defined area which is contractually agreed with NHS England (NHSE).

Patients sometimes ask to register outside this area, either as new patients or existing patients who moved to an address outside the area.

We have tried to be liberal with these requests in the past but we have now reached our capacity to provide a good quality service to our patients within our area. Unfortunately, we now feel unable to accept any further registrations outside our practice area. This will apply to new patients and existing patients who move to any address outside the practice area.

We will continue to care for patients with existing registered addresses outside the practice area but patients may wish to discuss this with us in the longer term.

Patients may have heard about government policy to allow registrations outside the area.  Brig Royd Surgery is not participating in this service as we do not feel that we have the capacity to extend our activity in this way (see above) without affecting our care for our existing patients within the practice area.

This policy has been shared with and agreed by the Brig Royd Surgery patient group in March 2015.

What is the Brig Royd Surgery practice area?     

Please ask if your new address lies within our practice area. We can show you a map if necessary. You may also use the postcode checker at the top of this page.

What about students?                 

Students away from home should register for routine care with a local practice. We will be happy to see students for urgent care as Temporary Residents when they are home.

I’m moving away temporarily and intend to move back to Ripponden, surely I can stay registered?

In order to be fair and equitable to other patients, you must register with a local practice while you are not resident in the Brig Royd Surgery area. You will be welcome to re-register when you return to Ripponden.

I have moved outside the area and now I am pregnant and wish to continue my antenatal care with the Brig Royd Surgery midwife, must I reregister?

Yes, you must register with a local practice. You may, however, be able to continue your antenatal care with the BRS midwife if the midwife team agrees to this. When your baby is born you must register him/her with the local practice.

How do I find a new practices:                 

The NHS website is a good starting point to find local practices and links to their websites - follow this link - click here

Ask your new neighbours about their practice.

Isn’t it difficult to register at another practice?

Registration at another practice is very easy. You don’t need to tell us, just attend the practice and ask to register. There are some forms to complete and most practices will publish these forms and other information about registration online.