PATIENT RESOURCES
Clarendon Medical Centre has assembled some useful resources for patients. These are inclusive of medical information, medicine and drugs, website directory with useful links to medically relevant websites, travel health and choices for health in the NHS.
BMA FEES
There are certain services that patients request which are not covered by the National Health Service, e.g. fitness to drive medicals and completion of private health insurance claim forms, for which we must charge. When charges are made we use the British Medical Association scale of recommended fees. The scale of fees is displayed in the waiting room.
CHAPERONES
We appreciate that some patients may feel more comfortable having a chaperone present during an examination by a doctor or nurse. If you would like to have someone else with you during an examination, please tell the Receptionist when you arrange the appointment.
CONFIDENTIALITY
All information you give to anyone in this practice is considered confidential. Where personal data is stored electronically we comply with the Data Protection Act. In the course of everyday patient care and administration your data may be shared (in confidence) with specific NHS organisations. All employees have access to patient data in relation to their role, and are bound by rules of confidentiality.
ACCESSIBILITY
Car parking; we do have a surgery car park but at busy times this may be full. We are able to use the community car park located next to the surgery.
Wheel Chair Access; Wheelchair access to all rooms and suitable toilet facilities. If you have any special requirements please let us know and we will do our best to make suitable arrangements.
FREEDOM OF INFORMATION
The Freedom of Information Act 2000 obliges the practice to produce a Publication Scheme. A Publication Scheme is a guide to the classes of information the practice intends to routinely make available. This scheme is available on request.
SICKNESS CERTIFICATES
Under current legislation a patient ‘self certificate’ is used for the first seven working days. The self certificate (form SC1) is available from your employer or the Post Office. After the first week, certificates may be obtained at consultation with your doctor. Some employers insist on sickness certificates lasting less than seven days. As this is not a statutory requirement, a charge will be made for issuing a certificate under seven days.
COMPLAINTS
Our aim is to give you the highest possible standard of care. We sincerely hope that patients will not be given cause for complaint. Sometimes we can alleviate your concerns with an informal conversation and explanation. However, for a patient wishing to make a more formal complaint about any aspect of our service, this should be put in writing to the Practice Manager or, alternatively, the reception staff will provide a ‘complaints procedure and form’. Once completed this should be handed in to the Practice Manager.
The Practice Manager will acknowledge receipt of your complaint within 2 working days and will aim to give you a full written response within 10 days. If the investigation is likely to take longer than 10 days you will be notified of this.
Each year, we review the complaints, comments and suggestions we have received and make changes and improvement where necessary.
VIOLENCE AND ABUSE
A zero tolerance policy towards violence, threatening and abusive behaviour is now in place throughout the National Health Service. The staff at the surgery have a right to carry out their work in an environment free from such behaviour and accordingly we take this right seriously. If you do not respect this right we may choose to inform the police and make arrangements for your removal from our medical list.
Information Leaflets
www.patient.co.uk have currently 906 information leaflets on health and disease. These can be viewed by clicking on http://www.patient.co.uk/pils.asp
See latest update information.
We also have the following:
Patient experience contributions on medical conditions can be viewed here.
Medicines & Drugs
We currently have 751 information leaflets on specific medicines and drugs. http://www.patient.co.uk/dils.asp
Website Directory ~ links to health-related websites
An extensive directory of 889 pages of UK websites on health, disease and related topics. Each site listed has been selected and reviewed by one of our GP editors.
http://www.patient.co.uk/topics.asp
Alcohol Problems
 | Alcoholics Anonymous |
Asthma
| Asthma and Allergy Research Association |
| National Asthma Campaign |
| Action Asthma |
Bone & Joint Problems
| Arthritis Research Campaign |
| National Osteoporosis Society |
| Osteoporosis Patient Information Leaflet |
Cancer Information
| Cancer Backup |
| Macmillan |
| The Cancer Research Campaign |
 | Marie Curie Cancer Care |
| Imperial Cancer Research Fund |
| Breast Cancer Campaign UK |
Changing Practice
| NHS Choices |
| Changing Practice |
| Quality and Outcomes Framework |
Children’s & Teen’s Health
| Children’s Immunisations |
| Teenage Health |
| Bullying Online |
Debt
| National Debt Line |
| Consumer credit Counselling Service |
Diabetes
| Diabetes UK |
| Diabetes Risk Calculator |
Foreign Travel Health
| Department of Health Travel Advice |
| Fit for Travel |
Heart Problems
| The British Heart Foundation |
| Cardiovascular Disease Risk Calculator |
Mental Health and Counselling
| Mental Health Organisation |
| Mind – The Mental Health Charity |
| Royal College of Psychiatrists |
| MoodGym |
Nutrition
| British Nutrition Foundation |
| Eat Well |
Patient Information
Sexual Health and Family Planning
| Marie Stopes International |
| The Family Planning Association |
| Brook Advisory Service |
Sleep
| Good Sleep Guide |
Stop Smoking
| Giving Up Smoking |
| Ash |
| Quitsmokinguk |
Travel Health
| Fit for Travel |
| Department of Health/health advice for travellers |
Choices When Referred to a Specialist
When you have decided with your GP that you are to be referred to see a specialist, you can usually choose which hospital you would like to go to. The following are resources that may help you to understand about choice in the NHS, and may help you to to make your choice.
http://www.patient.co.uk/showdoc/1286
