Practice Chaperone Policy
IT IS THE POLICY OF THIS PRACTICE TO RESPECT THE PRIVACY, DIGNITY, RELIGIOUS AND CULTURAL BELIEFS OF OUR PATIENTS.
IF YOU FEEL YOU WOULD LIKE A CHAPERONE TO BE PRESENT DURING A PHYSICAL EXAMINATION BY A DOCTOR OR ANY OTHER HEALTH PROFESSIONAL YOU MAY BE CONSULTING AT THE SURGERY (OR IF YOU WOULD PREFER TO BE EXAMINED BY A DOCTOR OR HEALTH PROFESSIONAL OF THE SAME SEX AS YOURSELF) PLEASE LET US KNOW AND WE WILL DO OUR BEST TO COMPLY WITH YOUR WISHES.
All patients are entitled to have a chaperone present for any consultation, examination or procedure where they feel one is required.
Wherever possible we would ask you to make this request at the time of booking 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 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.
If you would like to see a copy of our Chaperone Policy or have any questions or comments regarding this please contact the practice manager.
Confidentiality/Data Protection
We operate a strict code of confidentiality at all times in accordance with the principles of the NHS Information Governance Policy.
Both your paper and computer records are confidential. We comply with the Data Protection Act, 1998, which lays down legal requirements for computer users such as ourselves. The Caldecott Protocol and the Data Protection Act provide the basis of the policy. The aim is to safeguard patient identifiable information. Where information is used and shared between various bodies this must be justified and limited to essential information only.
You can be sure that anything you discuss with any member of this practice (doctor, nurse or receptionist) the information will stay confidential.
All patient information is considered to be confidential and we comply fully with the Data Protection Act.
All employees have access to this information in relation to their role and have signed a confidentiality agreement. Information may be shared, in confidence, with other NHS organisations in the interests of patient care.
The only reason why we might have to consider passing on confidential information without your permission, would be to protect you or someone else from serious harm. We would always try to discuss this with you first.
Our Practice policy is designed to ensure that there is no disclosure of patient information outside the guidelines and that every use of patient identifiable data is lawful.
We only ever use or pass on information about you if people have a genuine need for it e.g. in making clinical referrals. Anyone who receives information from us is also under a legal duty to keep it confidential.
Sometimes the law requires us to pass on information e.g. to notify a birth or when we encounter infectious diseases that may endanger the safety of others. Data may be gathered for Audit purposes and in development of medical care or other NHS services.
Everyone working for the NHS has a legal duty to keep information about you confidential. We have a nominated lead person responsible for the operation of the policy and compliance with legal requirements. All Staff, both clinical and non-clinical are aware of their responsibilities and obligations under the policy.
Zero Tolerance Policy
The Zero Tolerance Campaign is a nationwide initiative to tackle violence, abuse and illegal acts against staff working in the NHS. The campaign has been initiated by the Secretary of State for Health and has the full support of the Home Secretary, the Lord Chancellor and the Attorney General.
Applewood Surgery is committed to the NHS Zero Tolerance Policy and we have adopted the following statement:
“Any form of violence against our staff from any person will not be tolerated. No form of violence or abuse is acceptable whether it be towards the staff or any other person on practice premises.
You should expect that our staff treat you with courtesy at all times. The staff work very hard on behalf of our patients and therefore we expect that they have the right to work in a safe environment.
If a patient commits an act of violence against any doctor, member of staff, patient, or any other person present either in the surgery or on another premises where he/she is being treated, or behaves in such a way that any of these fear for their safety, it will result in him/her being removed from Applewood Surgery's list and the incident being reported to the police.