Care Data

Information about you and the care you receive is shared, in a secure system, by healthcare staff to support your treatment and care.

It is important that we, the NHS, can use this information to plan and improve services for all patients.

We would like to link information from all the different places where you receive care, such as your GP, hospital and community service, to help us provide a full picture.

This will allow us to compare the care you received in one area against the care you received in another, so we can see what has worked best.

Information such as your postcode and NHS number, but not your name, will be used to link your records in a secure system, so your identity is protected. Information which does not reveal your identity can then be used by others, such as researchers and those planning health services, to make sure we provide the best care possible for everyone.

You have a choice, if you are happy for your information to be used in this way you do not have to do anything.

If you have any concerns or wish to prevent this from happening, please speak to practice staff or download the opt out form below, complete it and return it to the practice

We need to make sure that you know this is happening and the choices you have.

How information about you helps us to provide better care

Care Data – Frequently Asked Questions

Opt Out Form – Download, complete and return to the practice

You can find out more on the NHS England Care Data website

Summary Cafe Record

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 or the HSCIC Website.

Download the opt out form >>>

The Paddock Surgery is committed to providing a safe, comfortable environment where patients and staff can be confident that best practice is being followed at all times and the safety of everyone is of paramount importance. All of our staff have undertaken formal Chaperone training and have been accredited to carry out these duties.

All patients are entitled to have a ‘chaperone’ present for any consultation, examination or procedure where they feel one is required. The chaperone may be a family member or friend. On occasions you may prefer a formal chaperone to be present, i.e. a trained member of staff.

Wherever possible we would ask you to make this request at the time of booking the appointment so that arrangements can be made and your appointment is not delayed in any way. Where this is not possible we will endeavour to provide a formal chaperone at the time of your request. However occasionally it may be necessary to reschedule your appointment.

Your healthcare professional may also require a chaperone to be present for certain consultations in accordance with our chaperone policy. The Clinicians record in your record when a ‘chaperone’ has been offered, declined, requested etc and our chaperones also make a separate entry in your medical record.

If you have any constructive suggestions to improve our service, we would be most pleased to receive them.

We are always looking for new ideas.

Our suggestion box is based in the waiting room.

If you feel that there has been a major problem with any of our services, please do say so – ideally to the person involved at the time, or failing that to Karen Frank.

You can do this either in person, by telephone or in writing.

We do try to seek an amicable solution to all such problems in the spirit of compromise, trying to put right what has gone wrong.

If you would like a copy of our leaflet detailing the complaints procedure then please ask at reception.

Our patient information leaflet can be downloaded using the link below:

Comment, suggestion, complaint leaflet

Our home visiting policy is based on RCGP guidelines.

You cannot insist that a GP visits you at home.

A GP will only visit you at home if they think that your medical condition requires it.

A GP can also decide how urgently a visit is needed.

Due to increasing demand GPs can no longer automatically visit any patient who requests a home visit.

All visits must now be triaged and dealt with according to clinical need.

GPs are better able to assess patients in the surgery where they have access to specialist equipment, good lighting and examination facilities and therefore it is always the preferable site for any consultation.

GPs having to visit inappropriate house call patients are delayed from visiting those patients who are in genuine need of a visit and therefore this poses an unacceptable clinical risk.

GPs are not responsible for ensuring that a patient has financial means to attend the surgery nor that the patient chooses to register with a practice that is difficult for them to get to in bad weather or without a car.

GPs are not obliged to visit a patient if they have assessed the patient’s clinical need on the telephone and found them to be suitable for an alternative method of healthcare.

As long as the GP has provided a plan for a patient (which may be an appointment the same day, a future day, telephone advice or attendance at other healthcare site such as A&E, a message communicated via reception) then the partners of The Paddock Surgery will support any such decision made.

PALS (Patient Advice and Liaison Service)

The NHS employs over a million staff in thousands of locations.

It is a large and complex organisation providing a broad range of services.

It is not surprising that sometimes you or a loved one may feel bewildered or concerned when using the NHS.

And this can be at times when you are feeling at your most vulnerable and anxious.

So, what should you do if you want on the spot help when using the health service?

The NHS expects all members of staff to listen and respond to you to the best of their ability.

But sometimes, you may wish to talk to someone employed especially to help you.

The Patient Advice and Liaison Service, known as PALS, has been introduced to ensure that the NHS listens to patients, their relatives, carers and friends, and answers their questions and resolves their concerns as quickly as possible.

PALS also helps the NHS to improve services by listening to what matters to patients and their loved ones and making changes, when appropriate.

What does PALS do?

In particular, PALS will:

• Provide you with information about the NHS and help you with any other health-related enquiry
• Help resolve concerns or problems when you are using the NHS
• Provide information about the NHS complaints procedure and how to get independent help if you decide you may want to make a complaint
• Provide you with information and help introduce you to agencies and support groups outside the NHS
• Inform you about how you can get more involved in your own healthcare and the NHS locally
• Improve the NHS by listening to your concerns, suggestions and experiences and ensuring that people who design and manage services are aware of the issues you raise
• Provide an early warning system for NHS Trusts and monitoring bodies by identifying problems or gaps in services and reporting them.

Find out more

If you need advice or have a concern you can contact the PALS Team at Douglas Mill, Bradford.

The service is open from 8.30am to 4.30pm Monday to Friday and can be contacted on 0800 0525 270 or by email:  [email protected]

Please see below for our privacy notices:

Privacy Notice during Coronavirus

General Privacy Notice for patients

Privacy Notice for employees, workers and contractors

Privacy Notice for children

We aim to treat our patients courteously at all times and expect our patients to treat our staff in a similarly respectful way.

We take seriously any threatening, abusive or violent behaviour against any of our staff or patients.

If a patient is violent or abusive, they will be warned to stop their behaviour.

If they persist, we may exercise our right to take action to have them removed, immediately if necessary, from our list of patients.