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.

 

Health information at your fingertips - patient.co.uk

 

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:

  • Videos – details of both internal and external online videos
  • Diagrams – a list of body part diagrams

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

bullet Alcoholics Anonymous

Asthma

bullet Asthma and Allergy Research Association
bullet National Asthma Campaign
bullet Action Asthma

Bone & Joint Problems

bullet Arthritis Research Campaign
bullet National Osteoporosis Society
bullet Osteoporosis Patient Information Leaflet

Cancer Information

bullet Cancer Backup
bullet Macmillan
bullet The Cancer Research Campaign
bullet Marie Curie Cancer Care
bullet Imperial Cancer Research Fund
bullet Breast Cancer Campaign UK

Changing Practice

bullet NHS Choices
bullet Changing Practice 
bullet Quality and Outcomes Framework

Children’s & Teen’s Health

bullet Children’s Immunisations
bullet Teenage Health
bullet Bullying Online

Debt

bullet National Debt Line
bullet Consumer credit Counselling Service

Diabetes

bullet Diabetes UK
bullet Diabetes Risk Calculator

Foreign Travel Health

bullet Department of Health Travel Advice
bullet Fit for Travel

Heart Problems

bullet The British Heart Foundation
bullet Cardiovascular Disease Risk Calculator

Mental Health and Counselling

bullet Mental Health Organisation
bullet Mind – The Mental Health Charity
bullet Royal College of Psychiatrists
bullet MoodGym

Nutrition

bullet British Nutrition Foundation
bullet Eat Well

Patient Information

bullet Patient UK
bullet Citizens Advice Bureau
bullet Netdoctor
bullet Patient Information Leaflets
bullet www.ukselfhelp.info (Self Help resource)
bullet GP Notebook
bullet GP Contract
bullet Wikipaedia
bullet Test Your Broadband Speed
bullet BBC Health
bullet Surgery Door
bullet Lab Tests Online UK
bullet Samaritans
bullet NICE Guidelines
bullet Clinical Knowledge Summaries
bullet Diseases

Sexual Health and Family Planning

bullet Marie Stopes International
bullet The Family Planning Association
bullet Brook Advisory Service

Sleep

bullet Good Sleep Guide

Stop Smoking

bullet Giving Up Smoking
bullet Ash
bullet Quitsmokinguk

Travel Health

bullet Fit for Travel
bullet 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