The doctors and staff at Wellington Medical Centre in Somerset are proud to offer the highest standard of patient-centered healthcare. We run many clinics for the management of chronic diseases such as asthma and diabetes and offer a wide variety of other medical services including antenatal and postnatal care, minor surgery and childhood vaccinations.
A message from the Doctors at Wellington Medical Centre
May 14, 2021
You may be aware of NHS England’s press release today suggesting that GPs should return to seeing patients face to face.
To be clear, throughout the pandemic all of the clinical staff at Wellington Medical Centre have continued to see patients in person based on a clinically assessed need. During the pandemic we have had a duty to protect our patients and our staff. As such we have had to limit the number of patients coming into the building. In addition to face to face appointments, we have continued to have contact with patients by telephone, video call, or through our online consultation tool as well as home visiting when necessary. We have been incredibly busy providing the best clinical care we can under the circumstances and now face significant waiting times for patients due to the back log of work within the entire NHS.
Alongside providing primary care services to our patients we have also been co-ordinating the vaccination hub in Wellington with our local colleagues. The hub will soon have vaccinated the vast majority of over 50s in Wellington and the surrounding locality with both vaccines, as well as all those who reside in Residential and Nursing homes or are housebound. This is an amazing accomplishment and a massive benefit to the health of the local community. This has had a significant workload impact on ALL of our staff both clinical and non-clinical.
I would like to reassure you that as a patient here at Wellington Medical Centre you can expect the team to aim to provide the best care possible. However, for the foreseeable future this may NOT be in the same way as before the pandemic.
Dr Gailey
On behalf of the Doctors at WMC
COVID Vaccinations
March 2, 2021
We are receiving a high number of calls regarding COVID Vaccinations. To help answer some of your queries please read some frequently asked questions below.
I am over the age of 60 and would like to book my COVID Vaccination – Please visit www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19 or call 119 to book an appointment. We are not able to book these for you.
I have had my first vaccination and would like to book my second – You will be contacted within the timeframe set by current government guidelines. Our Patient Services team can’t arrange these. Please wait to be contacted.
For more information and additional frequently asked questions please visit covid-19-vaccinations.
If you have another query regarding COVID vaccinations please use our online consultation tool Engage Consult to contact us engage.gp/10199/#/portal or email us at . We want to ensure our phone lines can be accessed by patients that are unwell so if you are able to, please use the above methods to contact us if you have a COVID vaccination enquiry.
Thank you
Wellington Medical Centre
Practice Coronavirus Update
January 8, 2021
With the latest national lockdown announced earlier this week and COVID-19 cases high in this area, we would like to remind all of our patients that we are open and here to help you. If you have a medical need please contact us, preferably by telephone or through our online consultation tool Engage Consult.
We are reducing the number of face to face appointments we have in order to prioritise the protection of our staff, our patients and our community. To do so, some routine and chronic clinical services will be postponed or done over telephone or video call until we feel able to provide these services safely again. We will continue to review this regularly and will post updates regarding any further changes.
Once again please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any concerns.
Thank you for your continued understanding
Flu Update 08/12/20
We have now invited all of our eligible patients, including those aged 50-64.
If you are eligible for a flu vaccination but have not had the vaccination yet, please telephone the surgery to book an appointment as soon as possible. Our last scheduled clinic is this Saturday, the 12th December.
Thank you
Wellington Medical Centre
Flu Update 20/11/20
The government announced this morning that people aged 50-64yrs will be able to receive a flu vaccination from Dec 1st. We are still awaiting full guidance and details of when we will receive the vaccines.
Once we have the necessary information, we will start to arrange clinics and contact eligible patients.
Please keep an eye on Facebook or our website for further information. The surgery is extremely busy at present, so we would appreciate if you did not telephone us in regards to this issue.
Kind regards,
Wellington Medical Centre
COVID19 – Update for people identified as clinically vulnerable
November 9, 2020
People who have been identified as clinically extremely vulnerable do not have to shield, but are advised to stay at home as much as possible, except to go outdoors for exercise or to attend essential health appointments. Read the full government guidance here.
As part of the second lockdown, patients who have been identified as at high risk (clinically extremely vulnerable) from coronavirus (Covid-19), have been sent letters this week. The letters contain advice on how to take extra steps to protect yourself. There is no need to obtain a FIT note for your employer if you are unable to go to work, the letter you will have received from the Government will suffice.
The clinically vulnerable list has been increased to cover new conditions, so some patients will be receiving letters for the first time.
If you have a booked appointment or flu vaccination please attend as normal – if anything changes we will contact you directly. Please do not worry if you need medical help – please contact us, by phone or online as usual
More information and advice for people who are at high risk can be found on the NHS website.
We also offer extended hours appointments two evenings a week until 8:00pm. In allocating these appointments, priority is given to patients who are unable to access the medical centre during normal opening hours e.g. patients who work.
*We close the doors every Wednesday for 1 hour between 1.00 pm and 2.00 pm to allow for staff meetings and training. Between 8-8:30am and 6-6:30pm Monday-Friday we offer an emergency only service. Patients can still access us by telephone for medical emergencies during these times, by calling 01823 663551.
Doctor Availability
The normal days of work for each doctor are given below. From time to time there may be a need for a doctor to work at alternative times.
Although you will be given a named GP, you may see the doctor of your choice. However in order to maintain a continuity of service it is sensible for you to consult your usual doctor wherever possible.
When We Are Closed
When the medical centre is closed the out of hours service can be contacted by telephoning NHS 111 (Textphone 18001 111) or you can visit NHS Choices online at www.nhs.uk
The practice offers a mix of “same day” and “book in advance” appointments. This is for both telephone consultations and face to face consultations.
Appointment slots are for 10 minutes. If more than one family member needs to see the doctor, a separate appointment needs to be made for each person. If you have a genuine urgent medical problem, a doctor will always be available to see or speak to you the same day. This may however be the “emergency” doctor rather than your preferred doctor.
There are now three ways to make an appointment: online through Patient Access, by telephone or face to face at the reception desk.
For more information on the appointment system please click here to refer to the Patient Information Leaflet “Making An Appointment”.
New Evening and Weekend GP Services
This is a new initiative across Somerset whereby patients can make appointments at extended times (up until 8pm at night Monday-Friday and on Saturday mornings) at other practices across the local area. Practices working together to deliver extended access to appointments are listed on the poster below.
Appointment types will vary, some being face to face and some on the ‘phone and there will be a mixture of pre-bookable and same day appointments available across the week. They may be with a doctor but could also be with another healthcare professional such as a primary care practitioner or a nurse. We are keen to balance the importance of continuity of care with convenient access for patients whilst ensuring that the service is safe.
To book an evening or weekend appointment please contact your registered practice during normal opening times, this will help us to signpost you to the most appropriate option for your particular problem. By contacting us we can fully explain the process, ensure that the booking is appropriate (as we hope to be able to meet your needs by offering an appointment with your usual GP) and cover all the relevant information (and consent) that we need to before we book an appointment for you. Further information is shown below.
Telephone Call Recording
Following installation of a new telephone system please be aware that all incoming and outgoing calls are now recorded for training and quality monitoring.
Our New Appointment System
The Partners at Wellington Medical Centre would like to announce the initiation of a new appointment system due to go live on 06/02/2017. As you will be aware we have been operating a telephone triage system over the past few months in order to manage the huge increase in demand that we currently face particularly over the winter months but also as a result of changing demographics in the local area.
We understand that this system has received mixed reviews. We hope that the new system will allow greater freedom for patients to access our services and hope that the developments we have made in expanding our practice team will allow for a more efficient meeting of your needs. We have welcomed to our practice two Primary Care Practitioners, Paramedic trained and two Pharmacists who will work alongside our existing team of Doctors and Nurses.
In order to make sure that our Reception team can guide you safely to the correct clinician we have asked them, under our supervision, to ask for some information about the problem you have. The reception staff signposting is essential to the smooth running of our new appointment system. All staff at Wellington Medical Centre are bound by a confidentiality agreement and your information will be treated in the strictest of confidence.
We are also developing a new website at present which will in the near future be equipped with eConsult, a tool to help patients to access advice about a range of simple health problems and to help decide whether it is necessary to see a Health Professional or whether their problem can be safely managed elsewhere e.g. Community Pharmacy or Self-help.
We thank you again for your support at this challenging yet exciting time.
Cancellations
Please let us know in good time if you are unable to keep an appointment so that it can be offered to another patient. If for any reason you think you may be late for your appointment, please let us know.
Home Visits
If possible, please try to come to the Medical Centre.
Home visits are time consuming but more importantly we have better facilities for examining and treating you at the medical centre. If you are too ill to attend the surgery, and require a home visit, please telephone before 10.30 am.
Please give the Receptionist an idea of the problem. This will enable the doctor to give priority to urgent issues.
Alternatives to an Appointment
The leaflet ‘Choose Well’ is available to signpost patients to the care options available locally. Click here to download a copy.
Choosing the right service will enable you to get the best treatment for your symptoms in a timely way.
Online Booking
Click here to read our online appointments guide. Please read this before booking an appointment online as this gives you information on the various appointments you are able to book. Please be aware a Patient Services Advisor may phone you after you have booked an appointment online as we may need more information about the reason for your appointment or if it would be more appropriate with another clinician.
To book an appointment online, you must first register for Patient Access (or another integrated online appointment booking system). To this, visit the practice with two forms of ID – one photographic one proof of address.
Repeat prescriptions can be ordered in the following ways:
Electronically via the internet, using your Patient Access account providing you have registered to use that service.
By email, by sending an email to with your name and request
By post, by ticking the right hand side of your last prescription.
By hand at Reception, filling out a repeat prescription slip.
Please note we do not accept orders for repeat prescriptions over the telephone.
Please allow 2 working days for the medical centre to process your prescription before collection.
Collecting Your Repeat Prescription
You can collect your prescription in person from reception, or arrange for it to be sent directly to a pharmacy of your choice.
The pharmacy will either collect your prescription from us directly or retrieve it electronically via the national Electronic Prescription Service (EPS) –please note that there are a small number of medications that cannot be processed electronically.
Please liaise with your chosen pharmacy regarding the number of days they require to issue you medication, which will be in addition to the two days we require to produce your prescription.
Prescriptions Charges and Exemptions
Extensive exemption and remission arrangements protect those likely to have difficulty in paying charges (NHS prescription and dental charges, optical and hospital travel costs).
The NHS prescription charge is a flat-rate amount which successive Governments have thought it reasonable to charge for those who can afford to pay for their medicines. Prescription prepayment certificates (PPCs) offer real savings for people who need extensive medication.
NHS charges
The current charges from April 2021 are:
£9.35 per prescription per item
Three month prepayment certificate £30.25 and will save you money if you need more than three prescription items in a three month period
Annual prepayment certificate £108.10 and will save you money if you need more than eleven prescription items over a twelve month period
Beat the phone queue with access to your GP’s services online 24 hours a day.
Patient Access allows you secure access to do the following:
Book appointments with a Doctor
Cancel appointments
Order repeat prescriptions
Message the practice
View parts of your medical record
You can sign up for Patient Access at the reception desk, but please bring photographic I.D. and proof of address with you.
Clinics and Services
It is difficult to list every service provided by the medical centre but some of the most frequently used services include the following:
New patient health checks
Chronic Disease Management. The practice nurses run clinics for long term conditions including asthma and COPD, diabetes, chronic heart disease
Family Planning advices and contraception including the contraceptive pill, coil, contraceptive injections and Nexplanon implant fitting and removal
Childhood Vaccination and Immunisation
Other vaccination and immunisation including Flu & Pneumococcal, Travel*, Tetanus
Minor Surgery which all of the doctors provide. Information regarding days and times of clinics is available from Reception.
Cervical Smears
Maternity Medical Services. Offered by all of the doctors in conjunction with the Community Midwife.
Chaperones
*We are currently offering a restricted service for travel advice and vaccinations. We are able to provide all NHS travel vaccination, but if any private vaccinations are required you will need to attend an external travel clinic.
Non NHS Service Charging Policy
Work that is not provided by the NHS, e.g. medicals, insurance claims & proposals, signing of certificates, can be provided on a private basis. A fee is payable to the practice for all private work. A list of charges for private services is displayed in reception. To download a copy, please click here.
Complimentary Medical Services
A variety of non NHS, independent health providers offer services at Wellington Medical Centre. Currently this includes a Chiropractor Podiatrist, and Physiotherapist.
Disclaimer of Liability Wellington Medical Centre has no responsibility for the availability of these services, nor does Wellington Medical Centre endorse, warrant, guarantee or assume any legal liability for any the services provided. Please look at the notice boards in Reception and the Health Promotion Room for further information.
To access any of these services please speak to a receptionist for further information.
New Evening and Weekend GP Services
This is a new initiative across Somerset whereby patients can make appointments at extended times (up until 8pm at night Monday-Friday and on Saturday mornings) at other practices across the local area. Practices working together to deliver extended access to appointments are listed on the poster below.
Appointment types will vary, some being face to face and some on the ‘phone and there will be a mixture of pre-bookable and same day appointments available across the week. They may be with a doctor but could also be with another healthcare professional such as a primary care practitioner or a nurse. We are keen to balance the importance of continuity of care with convenient access for patients whilst ensuring that the service is safe.
To book an evening or weekend appointment please contact your registered practice during normal opening times, this will help us to signpost you to the most appropriate option for your particular problem. By contacting us we can fully explain the process, ensure that the booking is appropriate (as we hope to be able to meet your needs by offering an appointment with your usual GP) and cover all the relevant information (and consent) that we need to before we book an appointment for you. Further information is shown below.
Emergencies
During Opening Hours
During opening hours emergencies will be dealt with at any time. Telephone 01823 663551 and follow the instructions.
When the medical centre is closed
In a life threatening emergency call 999
Otherwise telephone NHS 111
Be ready to supply:
the nature of the problem
the patient’s name and date of birth
the telephone number
the address
simple directions if necessary
Tests and Results
Whilst some test results are received fairly quickly others can take a week or more.
The practice will contact you if further action or advice is required as a result of your test.
Although we will normally contact you if you need to be seen following receipt of test results, if you have not heard from us it is your responsibility to check the result of your test.
In order to comply with patient confidentiality, we will only release test results to the patient themselves and may ask for additional forms of identification.
Please telephone after 2pm for your test results. You can also view your test results and other parts of your medical record online using Patient Access. Please see the Online Patient Access section for details.
While some tests may take longer than others, please allow the following times:
Mr Paul Mackey qualified from Southampton Medical School in 1992 and undertook a variety of junior surgical training post in Wales, the South West and Queensland, Australia. He then went on to obtain an MD thesis looking at anal sphincter damage and faecal incontinence following childbirth. His higher surgical training was undertaken in Wales. He then went on to complete a Colorectal Fellowship in St George Hospital, Sydney, Australia. He completed his surgical training in 2006.
eXroid electrotherapy treatment for haemorrhoids.
Mr Mackey offers one of the UK’s latest innovations for the treatment of haemorrhoids – eXroid electroptherapy.
Haemorrhoid electrotherapy treatment is one of the most gentle and least invasive available today.
The majority of eXroid patients say that this straightforward procedure incurs minimal or no discomfort. A gentle current is applied to the base of each haemorrhoid for up to ten minutes. During treatment the piles shrink, and if not completely gone they can continue to shrink for a week or more following treatment.
Sedation and anaesthetic are not required – and there’s no mandatory recovery time (not even one day). Most patients who’ve shared their experience say they are able to walk straight out of the clinic and return immediately to their normal activities.
Mr Mackey says “I have now had the opportunity to treat over 100 patients suffering with haemorrhoids with the eXroid electrotherapy treatment. Admittedly I was somewhat sceptical as to what could realistically be achieved by such a relatively straightforward and practically painless treatment, but the feedback from patients has been absolutely amazing. We are not far from eXroid becoming universally the first-line treatment for haemorrhoids, and banishing such ineffective treatments such as banding to history”.
To book an appointment, more information or for a discreet chat to an eXroid advisor visit https://www.exroid.com
eXroid is an independent private treatment and is not endorsed by Wellington Medical Centre.
Travel Vaccinations
If you are planning to travel abroad it is advisable to have a travel risk assessment. We are able to provide free NHS travel vaccinations. If you have more complex travel health needs or require private vaccinations, you will be asked to attend an external private travel health clinic.
In order to have a travel risk assesment with one of our practice nurses, you must first complete this form. If you don’t have a printer, you can come into the surgery to pick up a paper copy.
Once you have completed the risk assesment form, please return this to reception. A member of the practice nursing team will contact you within two weeks to arrange an appointment if this is required.
During your travel appointment with a practice nurse, your travel health requirements will be discussed and required NHS travel vaccinations will be given. If you require private travel vaccinations, or have more complex travel needs, you will be directed to an external private travel health clinic.
Sickness Certificates
You do not require a doctor’s sickness certificate for any illness lasting seven days or less. Your employer may however require you to complete a self-certification form (SC2) which is available from your employer or on the HMRC website.
Evidence that you are sick
If you are sick for more than seven days, your employer can ask you to give them some form of medical evidence to support payment of SSP (statutory sick pay).
Your employer can ask you to confirm that you’ve been ill. You can do this by filling in a form yourself when you return to work. This is called self-certification.
If you’re sick and off work for more than seven days, your employer will probably ask for proof of your illness. Most employers ask for a fit note from your GP.
However, this will also depend on your employer’s company policy on sick leave (or sickness absence). This policy should tell you how many days you can be off sick before you need to provide proof of illness or a fit note.
You could also provide evidence from someone who is not a medical practitioner, e.g. a dentist. Your employer will decide whether or not this evidence is acceptable. If your employer has any doubts, they may still ask for a medical certificate from your GP.
Statement of Fitness for Work – ‘Fit Note’
The ‘fit note’ was introduced on 6 April 2010. With your employer’s support, the note will help you return to work sooner by providing more information about the effects of your illness or injury.
For more information see the DirectGov website (where this information was sourced).
Support for Carers
If you are a Carer, help and support is available to you. If you are a patient of the practice, please let us know, as we have a register of carers.
We have a carer support group that meet monthly at the practice, and there are a number of other dedicated agencies and support organisations who may be able to assist you.
Please ask for further details when you are next at the surgery, or telephone and ask for the carers champions, who are a small group of staff with responsibility for supporting carers.
Somerset Carers Service
Please see details of the Somerset Carers Service by clicking here.
Further patient information is available at NHS UK and Patient UK.
Useful Websites
NHS Webinars
NHS Dietitians in Somerset have developed useful webinars to provide accurate informaion to patients. To access these, visit https://patientwebinars.co.uk/
Useful Telephone Numbers
Wellington Medical Centre
Appointments, enquiries, cancellations, test results
01823 663551
Community Nurses
0300 124 5606
Public Health Nurses
01823 660667
Pharmacies in Wellington
Boots (Town Centre)
01823 662170
Lloyds
01823 662446
Superdrug
01823 662113
Boots (Medical Centre)
01823 665366
Hospitals
Musgrove Park Hospital (Taunton)
01823 333444
Sources of Advice and Support
Age UK (Taunton)
01823 259710
Care Direct
0800 444000
Citizens Advice Bureau (Taunton)
01823 282235
Dental Helpline
0300 123 7691
Podiatry (Chiropody) NHS appointments
0845 6384211
Registrar Births & Deaths (Taunton)
01823 282251
Relate (Taunton)
01823 275983
Red Cross (Taunton)
01823 273700
Samaritans
01823 288998
Turning Point (Taunton)
01823 328463
Out of Hours Service
111
NHS England
NHS England: Bristol, North Somerset Somerset and South Gloucestershire Wynford House Yeovil BA22 9HR
01935 384000
Somerset Clinical Commissioning Group Wynford House Yeovil BA22 9HR
People moving into the area are welcome to register at this surgery. Please note that we only receive patients who are entitled to receive NHS treatment and whose permanent address lies within our practice catchment area. Click here to check if your postcode is within our catchment area.
Registering as a patient
A “New Patient Registration Pack” is available from Reception which includes all you need to register with the Practice. You will need to live within our practice boundary to be eligible to join the practice and although this is not compulsory, we ask for two forms of proof of your identity to assist with reducing fraud within the NHS. A passport or driving licence with photo and a utility bill confirming your address are ideal.
You may request to be allocated to a particular named doctor and this is acceptable as long as that doctor is accepting new patients. If not, you will be allocated another doctor in the practice.
Doctors lists
Our patient services advisors will inform you which doctors’ lists are open and you may express a preference for registering with a particular doctor. We do our best to accommodate your wishes but please be aware that we cannot register you with a doctor whose list is closed. We do encourage families to use the same doctor where possible. We feel this to be in your best interest.
New patient health check
If you are a new patient, we would like to meet you. Please make an appointment with a Health Care Assistant to review your present health status.
If you require any medication prescribed by your previous GP, you will need to see your new doctor.
Named accountable GP for all patients
Practices are required to provide their patients with a named GP who will have overall responsibility for the care and support that the surgery provides to them.
As a patient, your named GP will also work with other relevant health and care professionals involved in your care, to ensure that your care package meets your individual needs. This does not prevent you from seeing any GP in the practice if you choose to.
If you would like to know who your named GP is, have any questions, or wish to discuss this further with us, please contact us on 01823 663 551 or email:
Catchment Map
Click here to check if your postcode is within our catchment area.
Access to the Medical Centre site is designed to be favourable for cyclists, pedestrians and those using public transport.
Cycling There are secure bicycle hoops near the main entrance. A bicycle pump and puncture repair kit are available at Reception.
Public Transport There are bus stops near the medical centre on Mantle Street and regular bus service to these stops. Please contact the local bus station for more details or look for the “Moving Somerset Forward” notices at the medical centre which contain bus timetables, information on local taxi firms and any discount vouchers available.
Parking A car park is provided for patients to use at their own risk, while in the Medical Centre only. Space is limited, so please help by not parking there at any other time. Parking for the disabled is clearly marked near the front entrance. Alternative car parking facilities are available in Wellington town centre.
Disabled Access
The medical centre is fully accessible for wheelchairs and mobility scooters and accessible toilets are available for patient use.
We are an independent group of volunteers drawn from within the registered patient list of Wellington Medical Centre.
The object of the Patient Participation Group is to promote the relief of sickness and the preservation and protection of health for the public benefit by fostering the highest possible standard of primary medical care through the medium of patient participation.
The aims of the Patient Participation Group are:
Communication
Members of the group will act as a communication channel between the Wellington Medical Centre team and the local community in order to help patients use the facilities to the best advantage and the practice to implement policies influenced by representative patient view.
Fund Raising
The Group has the option to act as a focus for funding raising activities. This includes undertaking work to enable the Medical Centre to gain additional funding from the Clinical Commissioning Group and NHS England.
Health Education
The group will advise the Medical Centre of health education needs in the community in order for the Medical Centre to provide appropriate and useful health education meetings.
This ‘advice’ will be determined in the future by the group collating information gathered via the Patient Reference Group and patients using the surgery and where necessary targeting surveys on sections of the community to determine these requirements more accurately.
Clinical Commissioning Group
The group, or successor organisation, will be informed of the general practice policies relating to Somerset Clinical Commissioning Group to which the Medical Centre belongs. The Group will express opinions on these policies on behalf of the patients. The Practice will give appropriate consideration to these opinions within the Somerset Clinical Commissioning Group.
Elected Officers from the Patient Group will attend meetings / conferences with NHS Somerset and other service providers and will seek to represent the views of the Patients and Wellington Medical Centre. They will pass on information gathered to the wider patient community, and will when necessary seek to gather the community response.
Membership
Membership of the group shall be open and free to patients and staff subject to the following.
Members will be expected to sign and comply with the confidentiality agreement drawn up by the Medical Centre and Patient Participation Group.
The Medical Centre must be consulted with regard to all new applicants and they will have the final say with regard to membership.
No applicant for membership will be considered if the patient has a record of anti-social behaviour towards any employees or users of the Medical Centre.
If such anti-social behaviour is deems to have taken place whilst a member, then that person’s membership of the group would be immediately terminated.
Attendance at Meetings
Any patient registered with the practice can attend Patient Group meetings as a guest. However, guests will be asked to leave the meeting if any items on the agenda are subject to the confidentiality agreement.
Guests are not permitted to intervene or vote during meetings but can ask members to act as the representative.
Treatment Confidentiality
No discussion related to any patients actual medical treatment whilst a patient at the Medical Centre or subject to a referral from a Doctor at the Medical Centre will be entered into as it falls outside of the constitution of the group.
Any member or applicant to the group attempting to raise treatment as an issue will be warned by Chair of the group and continued attempts to do so will result in expulsion from group.
Volunteering
The more active members of the group may be asked to volunteer their time to assist the Medical Centre in undertaking its normal activities or activities that will then promote the patient/Medical Centre/NHS relationship.
If you are interested in contributing to the Patient Participation Group, Patient Reference Group, would like more information or would like to be a guest at a meeting, the group would like to hear from you.
Representation by, and the views of the younger age groups of our patients is particularly important.
Basic medical qualifications from different universities.
MRCP
Member of Royal College of Physicians.
MRCGP
Member of Royal College of General Practitioners.
DCH
Diploma of Child Health.
DFFP / FP (Cert)
Diploma of Faculty of Family Planning / Family Planning Certificate.
DRCOG / D(Obst) RCOG
Diploma of Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists.
Nursing Staff
We have an experienced and friendly team of practice nurses.
The practice nurses offer appointments for a range of services including asthma, diabetes and coronary heart disease reviews, cervical smears, referral for smoking cessation advice, wound dressings, removal of sutures, ear syringing, blood pressure checks, travel advice and vaccination* (including Yellow Fever), doppler tests, new patient checks, anti-coagulation monitoring and blood tests. Your doctor will let you know which tests and checks you require.
**We are currently offering a restricted service for travel advice and vaccinations. We are able to provide all NHS travel vaccination, but if any private vaccinations are required you will need to attend an external travel clinic.
Healthcare Team
Community Midwives
In conjunction with the doctors, the Community Midwifery Team provide a complete service of maternity and post-natal care for you and your baby. Messages can be left for the Midwife at the Medical Centre but for urgent advice from a Midwife telephone 01823 343 985. If you are in labour, the same telephone number can be used.
Community Nurses
The Community Nursing Team provide services to the house-bound, assessment of health needs, advice on any matters of health concern and continuing care after discharge from hospital. To contact the Community Nursing Team telephone 0300 323 0026.
There is an answerphone to leave a message if they are out of the office, and they will return your call.
Public Health Nurses
The Public Health Nurses provide advice on children under 5, developmental checks and hearing assessments. To contact the Public Health Nurse team telephone 01823 660667.
There is an answerphone to leave a message if they are out of the office, and they will return your call.
Dietician
The practice has an in house dietician who sees a limited number of patients each month. To access this service patients need to be referred by their GP.
Practice Pharmacists
Our Practice Pharmacists are trained experts in medicines and work as part of our multidisciplinary team. You will be signposted to a Practice Pharmacist when this is appropriate, for example medication queries.
Practice Team
The Practice Manager
The practice manager Lydia Daniel-Baker is responsible for the management of the Medical Centre. If you have any queries, problems or suggestions to improve our services, please ask to speak to her. Alternatively you can write to her.
Practice Patient Services & Administration Teams
We have an excellent team of Patient Services and Administration staff who work either in reception or in one of the general offices but all are trained to help you. They may ask you questions in order to decide how to help you best, but all information you give is treated in the strictest confidence.
Primary Care Practitioners
Our Primary Care Practitioners (PCPs) are paramedic trained and work as part of our multidisciplinary team dealing with acute conditions. You will be signposted to a PCP by the patient services advisor when this is appropriate.
GP Training Practice
Wellington Medical Centre is a designated training practice. Dr Gailey is a trainer. We are hoping to increase this number in due course. Dr Wynne oversees medical students here at the practice at times during the year.
GP Registrars are qualified doctors training to be General Practitioners (GPs). Medical Students are undergraduates training to be doctors.
All the partners are enthusiastic about training so doctors are supported by the whole practice. At times some consultations are recorded on video for training purposes. We usually have two registrars in post. Past trainees have enjoyed having another registrar in the practice to share clinical problems with.
Teaching from the registrar’s own trainer concentrates on consultation skills and problems, while joint tutorials with both registrars (and sometimes registrars from other practices) concentrate more on specific clinical areas.
GP registrar workload is carefully controlled to be at a level consistent with the registrar’s abilities and experience. In practice this means seeing patients alone only after an induction period, initially with 20-minute appointments (the standard for the practice is 10).
Registrars are encouraged to arrange study outside the practice where this will aim towards MRCGP, or other qualifications.
We endeavour to inform patients in advance of the presence of trainees during consultations. Whilst we hope that patients will co-operate with us to assist their learning, if they do not want trainees present during the consultation, their wishes will be respected.
Staff Vacancies
Wellington Medical Centre Vacancy – Patient Services Advisor
Wellington Medical Centre is a busy, vibrant GP Practice and we are seeking an enthusiastic, well-motivated individual to join our friendly, innovative team.
As a Patient Services Advisor you will provide the first point of contact for patients and other visitors either in person or via the telephone and will need to project a positive and friendly image. You will assist and direct patients in accessing the appropriate service or healthcare professional in a courteous, efficient and effective way and you will undertake a range of other administrative tasks.
If you are reliable, punctual, an excellent communicator, well organised, have a positive “can do” approach to work, and thrive on being busy this post may suit you.
Hours: Full time, 37 per week, Monday to Friday
Salary: From £9.03 per hour
Annual leave: 6.6 weeks including bank holidays
Pension scheme: The post is eligible for the NHS pension scheme
How To Apply
For an informal discussion please contact Jayne Grant (Patient Services Manager) on 01823 663551 or email to .
Further information and applications are via the NHS Jobs website (Job Reference A1748-21-6059). If you are unable to apply via this method please let us know.
Closing Date: Tuesday 1st June 2021
Interviews Will Be Held On: Tuesday 8th or Wednesday 9th June 2021
GP Net Earnings
All GP practices are required to declare the mean net earnings (eg. Average pay) for GPs working to deliver NHS services to patients at each practice. This is required in the interests of the greater public accountability recognising GP pay is ultimately funded from tax paid by the public.
The average pay for GPs working at Wellington Medical Centre in the last financial year was £50,714 before tax and national insurance. This is for 1 full time GP and 11 part time GPs.
Friends and Family Test
The NHS Friends and Family Test (FFT) was created to help service providers and commissioners understand whether their patients are happy with the service provided, or where improvements are needed. It is a quick and anonymous way to give your views after receiving care or treatment across the NHS.
Since its launch in 2013, more than 25 million pieces of patient feedback have been submitted. The FFT has been rolled out across most NHS services, including community care, hospitals, mental health services, maternity services, GP and dental practices, emergency care, patient transport and more.
Since November 2014, we have been anonymously collecting responses to the FFT survey. Please see our latest results below:
If you would like to complete your own survey (anonymous), please click here and fill out the online form
Care Quality Commission
Summary Care Records
A summary care record contains information from the medical record held at the practice, namely details of medications prescribed, allergies and any adverse reactions you have previously had to medications.
Your summary care record also includes your name, address, date of birth and your unique NHS number to help identify you correctly.
Your summary care record is available nationally to other health professionals, allowing authorised healthcare staff to have access to this information when patients are being cared for in an emergency situation or when their GP practice is closed.
Please note that by default, all patients are automatically included in the summary care record unless they are specifically opt out. If you wish to opt out, please speak to a receptionist.
Following installation of a new telephone system please be aware that all incoming and outgoing calls are now recorded for training and quality monitoring.
Accessible Information Standard
Communication
We are committed to communicating well with our patients and we want to make sure that you can read and understand our information.
If you find it hard to read our letters or if you need someone to support you, please let us know. We can help if you need information in large print or easy read or if you need help communicating with us using British Sign Language.
We have a hearing loop at the premises and can give you information about setting up text relay telephone support.
For help and support pleasecontact us.
TheAccessible Information Standardaims to ensure that disabled people have access to information they can understand and the communication support they may need. The Standard applies to service providers across the NHS and adult social care system. As organisations that provide NHS services, GP practices are required by law to follow the Standard under Section 250 of the Health and Social Care Act.
There are five key requirements of the Standard:
Ask patients and carers if they have any information or communication needs, and find out how to meet their needs
Record those needs in a set way
Highlight a patient’s file, so it is clear that they have information or communication needs, and clearly explain how those needs should be met
Share information about a person’s needs with other NHS and adult social care providers, when they have consent or permission to do so
Make sure that people get information in an accessible way and communication support if they need it
Chaperones
For some consultations involving examinations or tests, you may prefer to have a chaperone present. If you would like a chaperone, you may bring a relative or friend with you for this purpose.
Alternatively, if you would like us to provide a chaperone, please make this known at reception.
Comments and Complaints
The practice operates a formal complaints procedure that complies with current NHS regulations.
Minor complaints can usually be readily resolved by our staff.
If you wish to make a formal complaint, a copy of our complaints procedure leaflet is available from reception, orclick here to download a copy.
If you wish to make a comment or compliment us on our services, please write to the Practice Manager.
Equal Opportunities
The practice believes in equality and recognises diversity, as a provider of health services and as an employer.
The practice is committed to eliminating discrimination on the grounds of:
Age
Sex
Being or becoming a transsexual person
Being married or in a civil partnership
Being pregnant or having a child
Disability
Race – including colour, nationality, ethnicity or national origin
Religion and belief or lack of religion/belief
Sexual orientation
We aim to provide fair access and to deliver services that respect the needs of each individual patient.
How We Handle Your Personal Information
Your information
When you visit the surgery we want you to feel able to discuss anything with your doctor that might relate to your health. This may include sexual matters, your relationships, drugs, drinking, your mental health, your job etc. You need to feel that anything you inform us of will remain absolutely confidential.
The General Medical Council, whose rules on confidentiality apply to all doctors in the UK, enforces our duty of confidentiality to all patients. The practice is also registered under the Data Protection Act 1998.
We take great care to ensure that no information you give us is passed on either inadvertently or through the deception of others. This would include other family members unless we have your written consent.
Why we collect information about you?
In the National Health Service we aim to provide you with the highest quality of health care. To do this we must keep records about you, your health and the care we have provided or plan to provide to you.
The NHS in England uses patient information for different purposes and the main two are:
a: To provide direct care –To provide patients with the personal care and treatment they need.
b: For purposes beyond direct care –Where patients’ information is used alongside other patients’ information in statistics and research and analysis. This information is typically used to check that health and social care services are doing a good job; to provide the right services at the right time; and to support researchers in the development of new medicines and treatments.
Fair Processing Notices
Please see below to read our Fair Processing Notices.
How your information might be used
Sharing information for your direct care
Practice Staff
Doctors do not discuss their patients with patient services advisors, but staff may type letters, file incoming hospital post and results and carry out a host of other administrative tasks on behalf of your doctor. They are not allowed to access your notes for any other purpose. All our staff are highly trustworthy and professional in their attitude to the responsibility that patient confidentiality places on them. The practice can audit access to records to ensure records are not accessed inappropriately.
Summary Care Record
Summary Care Record (SCR) is an electronic record that gives healthcare staff faster, easier access to essential information about you anywhere in the country, so that you can be given safe treatment during an emergency or when your GP surgery is closed.
You can opt out if you do not want your information to be used in this way. Read more about SCRhere.
Sharing information for purposes beyond your direct care
Risk stratification
Risk stratification is an example of where your information may be used for your direct care or for purposes beyond your direct care.
Risk stratification is a process of identifying patients or groups of patients that are most likely to get a certain disease so that the right services can be provided to an individual or a population in general.
For example, “these patients are most likely to get diabetes in my GP practice, so I’m going to provide this care plan to those individuals” or “this number of patients is at risk of diabetes in this CCG, so I’m going to commission this service”.
Information to the Health Authority and other health organisations
Some information is sent electronically to the other parts of the NHS for administration and payment purposes. This can be statistical information that does not identify individuals or may include some personal details such as changes of address etc. in order to keep the practice list up to date. All NHS staff are bound by the same rules on data protection and confidentiality.
The practice is also requested by the NHS and Medical Research Council (MRC) to provide data for the clinical audit or research of certain diseases and conditions. This information will either be anonymous, so individuals cannot be identified or you will be asked for consent. You may be contacted to ask if you’re happy for your information to be used in this way. Your identifiable information will only be shared in this way where you have given your explicit consent.
Prescribing information is also requested to help compile statistics on how diseases are treated and the costs involved in treating some illnesses. All such information is anonymous; individual patients will not be recognisable from this information.
Patient access to records
Request for access to health records
You have the right to see your own medical record, both hand written and entered onto the computer. Pleaseclick herefor more information.
You can also view parts of your medical record online usingPatient Access. Please see theOnline Patient Servicessection for details.
Reports for other people
Sometimes you may need a report prepared by your doctor for someone else who is not involved in your care. This may be your employer, an insurance company or your solicitor. We will never release any information to any other party without your written consent. You have the right to see these reports before they are sent off. If you have any worries we recommend you ask to check them at the time.
Patient online
What is Patient Online?
Patient Accessallows you secure access to do the following:
Book appointments with a Doctor
Cancel appointments
Order repeat prescriptions
Message the practice
View parts of your medical record
How will Patient Online help me?
Online services will allow you to book and cancel appointments or request repeat prescriptions at a time that is convenient to you – day or night. It will help you to take greater control of your health and wellbeing by increasing online access to services. Evidence shows that patients who are informed and involved in their own care have better health outcomes and are less likely to be admitted to hospital.
How can I get access to my GP Record?
You can sign up for Patient Access at the reception desk, but please bring photographic I.D. and proof of address with you.
At Wellington Medical Centre we currently offer the online services below:
Book appointments with a Doctor
Cancel appointments
Order repeat prescriptions
Message the practice
View parts of your medical record
Computer Security
All persons who can access your record on computer are given a unique password. Different grades of staff have different levels of access. Staff should only have access to those parts of the computer record that they need to do their job. An audit trail of who has used the computer is kept within the computer system with every login recorded and identified by the user’s password. All computers have anti-virus software loaded, which is regularly updated to protect your medical record.
Make your choice
For more information and to choose if data from your health records is shared for research and planning clickhere.
Further Information
If you any questions about how the information on your medical record is used please contact us (see the Contact Us section).
Fair Processing Notices
General Practice – Fair processing notice (layered approach) Layer 1 – general informing
Wellington Medical Centre – Your information, what you need to know
(If you want to speak to us about your data, please see our ‘contact’ page)
This notice describes why we collect information about you, how your information will be used and your rights in respect of your data.
Why we collect information about you
Your records are used to ensure you get the best possible care. Your information helps them to make the best decisions about your care and helps provide you with proactive advice and guidance. Important information is also collected to help us to remind you about specific treatment which you might need, such as health checks, immunisations for children and reminders for screening appointments. We work with other NHS services to co-ordinate these.
Information held about you may be used to help protect the health of the public and to help us to improve NHS services. Information may be used within the GP practice to monitor the quality of the service provided (known as ‘clinical audit’).
What data do we collect and receive about you?
Records are stored electronically and on paper and include personal details about you such as your address, carers, legal representatives, emergency contact details, as well as:
Any appointments, visits, emergency appointments
Notes and reports about your health
Details about your diagnosis, treatment and care
Details about any medication you are taking
Results of investigations such as laboratory tests, x-rays
Relevant information from health and care professionals, relatives or carers
We also receive information from other organisations that are caring for you that we hold in your record. This will include letters and test results.
How we use your information: For providing your care
Prescriptions
Where you have agreed we will send information on your prescriptions to pharmacies, either by electronic systems or by paper.
Test requests and results
Where we undertake tests on you, such as blood tests, we will send the sample and details of the tests we are requesting to the most appropriate pathology laboratory. The data shared with the laboratory will include your NHS number, name, the type of test requested and any health information relevant to doing the test and producing the result or report. We will receive the test results back from the laboratory electronically and these will be stored in your patient record.
Extended services and out of hours
We work closely with neighbouring practices and ‘out of hours’ providers including NHS 111 to ensure that if you need care from a doctor outside of normal hours that they have access to your records when needed to give you the best possible care. This may be delivered over the phone or via video consultation as appropriate. Services may be run by ‘GP Federations’ and ‘Primary Care Networks’.
Patient referrals
With your agreement, your GP or Nurse may refer you to other services not provided by the practice, or they may work with other services to provide your care in the practice. Information will be shared by letters, emails and shared record systems.
Once you have been seen, the other care agency will tell us about the treatment they have provided for you and any support which your GP needs to provide. This information is then included in your record. Referrals can be to lots of different services, such as smoking cessation services, social prescribers, voluntary services and other health and care agencies, as appropriate, for your care.
Hospital, Community or Social Care Services
Sometimes the staff caring for you need to share some of your information with others who are also supporting you. This could include hospital or community based specialists, nurses, health visitors, therapists or social care services. Information will be shared to organisations where you receive care, whether that is local or further away, if you need specialist care or emergency care in another.
Shared computer systems
Health and Social care services are developing shared systems to share data efficiently and quickly. It is important for anyone treating you to be able to access your shared record so that they have all the information they need to care for you. This will be during your routine appointments and also in urgent situations such as going to A&E, calling 111 or going to an Out of hours appointment. It is also quicker for staff to access a shared record than to try to contact other staff by phone or email.
Only authorised staff can access the systems and the information they see is carefully checked so that it relates to their job. Systems do not share all your data, just data which services have agreed is necessary to include.
If we have significant concerns or hear about an individual child or vulnerable adult being at risk of harm, we may share relevant information with other organisations, such as local authorities and the Police, involved in ensuring their safety.
Ensuring medicines work well
We work with the local Medicines Management team of the Clinical Commissioning Group to help get the best out of medicines for patients and ensure they are effective in managing conditions. This generally uses anonymous data, but occasionally they will assist in reviews of medication for patients with complex needs. Doctors may also seek advice and guidance on prescribing queries.
Identifying health risks
Systems known as ‘risk stratification tools’ are used to help determine a person’s risk of suffering particular conditions and enable us to focus on preventing ill health before it develops. Information in these systems comes from a number of sources, such as hospitals and the practice. This can help us identify and offer you additional services to improve your health.
Multi-disciplinary team meetings
For some long term conditions, such as diabetes, the practice participates in meetings with staff from other agencies involved in providing care, to help plan the best way to provide care to patients with these conditions.
National Services (including screening programmes)
There are some national services like National Diabetes Audit and the National Cancer Screening Programmes that collect and keep information from across the NHS. This is how the NHS knows when to contact you about services like cervical, breast or bowel cancer screening.
Data may also be shared on anyone who contracts a ‘communicable disease’, such as Covid 19, in order to manage public health and safety.
How we use your information: beyond providing your care
The information collected about you when you use our services can also be used and provided to other organisations for purposes beyond your individual care, for instance to help with:
improving the quality and standards of care
research into the development of new treatments
preventing illness and diseases
monitoring safety
planning new services
public health screening
assisting the Care Quality Commission with any investigations
investigating fraud
Wherever possible data used for these purposes is anonymised so that you cannot be identified. If information cannot be completely anonymous, then this may only take place when the law allows the information to be used. All these uses help to provide better health and care for you, your family and future generations.
Statutory disclosures
Sometimes we are duty bound by laws to disclose information to organisations such as the Care Quality Commission, the Driver and Vehicle Licencing Agency, the General Medical Council, Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs and Counter Fraud services. In these circumstances we will always try to inform you before we are required to disclose and we only disclose the minimum information that the law requires us to do so.
Objecting to the of use of data for purposes beyond your care
The NHS Constitution states ‘You have a right to request that your personal and confidential information is not used beyond your own care and treatment and to have your objections considered’. For further information please visit: The NHS Constitution
National data opt-out
The national data opt-out enables patients to opt-out from the use of their personal confidential data for research or planning purposes. To find out more or to register to opt out, please visit www.nhs.uk/your-nhs-data-matters.
If you have any concerns about use of your data not covered by the National Data Opt out, please contact the practice.
How long do we hold information for?
Records are kept for the lifetime of the patient. If you move to a new practice, your record will be transferred. If the practice you have left need to access your record, for example to deal with a historic complaint, they will let you know. When information has been identified for destruction or deletion it will be disposed of using approved confidential disposal procedures.
Your rights:
Data Protection laws give you a number of rights, including access to your data, correction, erasure, objection and restriction of use of your data. Details on how to request access to your data are set out below. If you have any concerns about the accuracy and use of your records, please contact us.
Right of Access to your information (Subject Access Request)
You have the right to have a copy of the information we hold about you. There are some safeguards regarding what you will have access to and you may find information has been removed for the following reasons.
Where your doctor has decided that some information may cause significant harm to you or someone else
Where the information is about someone else (third party) and is confidential to them
You can make a request by asking or writing to the practice. We may ask you to complete a form so that we have a record of your request. You will need to provide proof of identity.
The use of personal data for providing care is supported under the following Article 6 and 9 conditions of the GDPR:
Article 6(1)(e) ‘…necessary for the performance of a task carried out in the public interest or in the exercise of official authority…’; and
Article 9(2)(h) ‘necessary for the purposes of preventative or occupational medicine for the assessment of the working capacity of the employee, medical diagnosis, the provision of health or social care or treatment or the management of health or social care systems and services…”
Change of Details
It is important that you tell us as soon as you can if any of your details such as your name or address, email address or mobile number have changed. This is to make sure no information about you is sent to an old address.
Mobile telephone number
If you provide us with your mobile phone number, we may use this to send you text reminders about your appointments or other health screening information. Please let us know if you do not wish to receive text reminders on your mobile.
Email address
Where you have provided us with your email address we will use this to send you information relating to your health and the services we provide. If you do not wish to receive communications by email, please let us know.
Any changes to this notice will be published on our website and in a prominent area at the Practice.
Data Protection Officer
Should you have any questions or concerns about your data, please contact our Data Protection Officer: Kevin Caldwell, GP Data Protection Officer, Somerset Clinical Commissioning Group, Wynford House, Lufton Way, Yeovil, Somerset, BA22 8HR
Telephone: 01935 384000
Email:
Right to complain
If you have concerns or are unhappy about any of our services, please contact the Practice Manager.
For independent advice about data protection, privacy and data-sharing issues, you can contact:
General Practice – Fair processing notice – Layer 2 – Detailed
The following table builds upon the information in our Fair Processing notice and is published to ensure transparency. This list is not exhaustive. Where the offering of a service to a patient will inform them about the sharing of their data, e.g. support from smoking cessation services, it is not necessarily included here. This list does not set out uses of anonymous data where identity has been completely removed (such as anonymised data to the Department for Work and Pensions on provision of ‘fit notes’).
Organisation/Activity
Rationale
Shared Care Records – Somerset Integrated Digital electronic Record (SIDeR)
Purpose To ensure you receive effective, safe care, we will, through digital means enable your record to be available to those providing your care in whichever care setting you are seen, such as an A&E attendance, a physiotherapy appointment, a social care needs assessment. In order to achieve this, the aim of Shared Care Records is to enable health and care staff to view your information, to save valuable time in getting you the right treatment. Your information will only be available to the staff involved in your direct care, and not at any other time, or for any other reason. Further information can be found here https://www.somersetccg.nhs.uk/about-us/digital-projects/sider/Legal Basis – Article 6(1)e ‘exercise of official authority’ and article 9(2)h ‘Provision of health and care’ Processor – Black Pear
Summary Care Record
Purpose – The NHS in England uses a national electronic record called the Summary Care Record (SCR) to support patient care. It contains key information from your GP record. Your SCR provides authorised healthcare staff with faster, secure access to essential information about you in an emergency or when you need unplanned care, where such information would otherwise be unavailable. Legal Basis – Article 6(1)e ‘exercise of official authority’ and article 9(2)h ‘Provision of health and care’ Further information can be found https://digital.nhs.uk/services/summary-care-records-scrController of summary care record data – NHS Digital
Test requests and results
Purpose – Some basic identifying details, the type of test requested and if required any relevant health information is shared with Pathology Laboratories when tests such as blood or urine tests need to be undertaken. The laboratory will also hold the details of the request and the result. The result/report will be sent electronically to the practice who will hold it in the patient’s record. Legal Basis – Article 6(1)e ‘exercise of official authority’ and article 9(2)h ‘Provision of health and care’ Controller of test data – The laboratory that process the request and result are a controller of the data generated by the test process.
Research
Purpose – We may share personal confidential or anonymous information with research companies. Where you have opted out of having your identifiable information shared for this purpose then it will not be used. Details on how to opt out are https://www.nhs.uk/your-nhs-data-matters/Legal Basis – consent is required to share confidential patient information for research, unless there is have support under the Health Service (Control of Patient Information Regulations) 2002 (‘section 251 support’) applying via the Confidentiality Advisory Group in England and Wales The organisation leading the research will be the controller of data disclosed to them.
Individual Funding Requests
Purpose – We may need to process your personal information where we are required to apply for funding for a specific treatment for you for a particular condition that is not routinely available. Legal Basis – The clinical professional who first identifies that you may need the treatment will explain to you the information that is needed to be collected and processed in order to assess your needs and commission your care; they will gain your explicit consent to share this. You have the right to withdraw your consent at any time. If you are happy for the request to be made, the basis for processing your data is: Article 6(1)e ‘exercise of official authority’ and article 9(2)h ‘Provision of health and care’ Your data will be disclosed to the Clinical Commissioning Group who manages the individual funding request process.
Child Health Information Service
Purpose – We wish to make sure that your child has the opportunity to have immunisations and health checks when they are due. We share information about childhood immunisations, the 6-8 week new baby check and breast-feeding status with health visitors and school nurses. Legal Basis – Article 6(1)e ‘exercise of official authority’ and article 9(2)h ‘Provision of health and care’ Controller to which data is disclosed: Health Intelligence Ltd
Risk Stratification – Preventative Care
Purpose – ‘Risk stratification for case finding’ is a process for identifying and managing patients who have or may be at-risk of health conditions (such as diabetes) or who are most likely to need healthcare services (such as people with frailty). Risk stratification tools used in the NHS help determine a person’s risk of suffering a particular condition and enable us to focus on preventing ill health before it develops. Information about you is collected from a number of sources including NHS Trusts and your GP Practice. A risk score is then arrived at to help us identify and offer you additional services to improve your health. In addition data with your identity removed is used to inform the development and delivery of services across the local area. If you do not wish information about you to be included in any risk stratification programmes, please let us know. We can add a code to your records that will stop your information from being used for this purpose. Please be aware that this may limit the ability of healthcare professionals to identify if you have or are at risk of developing certain serious health conditions. Legal Basis Article 6(1)e ‘exercise of official authority’ and article 9(2)h ‘Provision of health and care’. Risk stratification has been approved by the Secretary of State, through the Confidentiality Advisory Group of the Health Research Authority (approval reference (CAG 7-04)(a)/2013)) and this approval has been extended to the end of September (https://www.england.nhs.uk/ig/risk-stratification/ which gives us a statutory legal basis under Section 251 of the NHS Act 2006 to process data for risk stratification purposes which sets aside the duty of confidentiality. We are committed to conducting risk stratification effectively, in ways that are consistent with the laws that protect your confidentiality. Controller to which data is disclosed: Somerset CCG (NB identifiable data is not disclosed to other controllers)
Public Health Screening programmes (identifiable) Notifiable disease information (identifiable) Smoking cessation (anonymous) Sexual health (anonymous)
Purpose – The NHS provides national screening programmes so that certain diseases can be detected at an early stage. These currently apply to bowel cancer, breast cancer, aortic aneurysms and diabetic retinal screening service. The law allows us to share your contact information with Public Health England so that you can be invited to the relevant screening programme. Personal identifiable and anonymous data is shared. More information can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/nhs-population-screening-explained [Or insert relevant link] or speak to the practice Legal Basis Article 6(1)e ‘exercise of official authority’ and article 9(2)h ‘Provision of health and care’. Controller to which data is disclosed: Public Health Services England, & Somerset County Council Public Health Services
NHS Trusts
Purpose – Personal information is shared with Hospitals, Community Services, Mental Health Services and others in order to provide you with care services. This could be for a range of services, including treatment, operations, physio, and community nursing, ambulance service. Legal Basis Article 6(1)e ‘exercise of official authority’ and article 9(2)h ‘Provision of health and care’. Controller to which data is disclosed: Somerset NHS Foundation Trust
Care Quality Commission
Purpose – The CQC is the regulator for the English Health and Social Care services to ensure that safe care is provided. They will inspect and produce reports back to the GP practice on a regular basis. The Law allows the CQC to access identifiable data but only where it is needed to conduct their services. More detail on how they ensure compliance with data protection law (including GDPR) and their privacy statement is available on CQC website: https://www.cqc.org.uk/about-us/our-policies/privacy-statementLegal Basis – Article 6(1)c “processing is necessary for compliance with a legal obligation to which the controller is subject.” And Article 9(2)h ‘management of health and care services’ Controller data is disclosed to – Care Quality Commission
Payments
Purpose – Payments to the practice come in many different forms. Some payments are based on the number of patients that receive specific services, such as diabetic reviews and immunisation programmes. In order to make patient based payments basic and relevant necessary data about you needs to be sent to the various payment services, this data contains limited identity if needed, such as your NHS number. The release of this data is required by English laws. Legal Basis – Article 6(1)(c) “processing is necessary for compliance with a legal obligation to which the controller is subject.” And Article 9(2)(h) ‘as stated below Controllers that data is disclosed to – NHS England, CCG, Public Health
Patient Record data base support
Purpose – The practice uses electronic patient records. Our supplier of the electronic patient record system is EMIS Ltd Our supplier does not access identifiable records without permission of the practice and this is only given where it is necessary to investigate issues on a particular record Legal Basis Article 6(1)e ‘exercise of official authority’ and article 9(2)h ‘management of health and care services’.
Medicines optimisation
Purpose – We use software packages linked to our patient record system to aid when prescribing drugs. These ensure that prescribing is effective. We do not share your identifiable data with the companies that provide these packages Legal Basis Article 6(1)e ‘exercise of official authority’ and article 9(2)h ‘Provision of health and care’.
Multi-Disciplinary Teams
Purpose – We work closely with a range of other care providers to deliver the best care possible for you. Multi-disciplinary teams are our way of bringing together care providers for conversations in a confidential environment about care arrangements for you where this is appropriate. For example, if you have a number of long term conditions and would benefit from additional support. Where possible, we will inform you that your care will be discussed in this type of forum. However, if this may not always be possible and in these circumstances, we will consider your best interests and will share information on this basis. Legal Basis Article 6(1)e ‘exercise of official authority’ and article 9(2)h ‘Provision of health and care’.
Clinical Audit
Purpose – Information will be used by the CCG for clinical audit to monitor the quality of the service provided to patients with long term conditions. When required, information will be held centrally and used for statistical purposes (e.g. the National Diabetes Audit). When this happens, strict measures are taken to ensure that individual patients cannot be identified from the data. Legal Basis Article 6(1)e ‘exercise of official authority’ and article 9(2)h ‘management of health and care services’. Controller – Somerset Clinical Commissioning Group
National Fraud Initiative – Cabinet Office
Purpose – The use of data by the Cabinet Office for data matching is carried out with statutory authority. It does not require the consent of the individuals concerned under Data Protection legislation. Data matching by the Cabinet Office is subject to a Code of Practice. For further information see: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/code-of-data-matching-practice-for-national-fraud-initiative NFI activities vary each year, so data would only be disclosed if required by the focus of their activities Legal Basis – Part 6 of the Local Audit and Accountability Act 2014 Controller – Cabinet Office
National Registries
Purpose – National Registries (such as the Learning Disabilities Register) have statutory permission under Section 251 of the NHS Act 2006, to collect and hold service user identifiable information without the need to seek informed consent from each individual service user. Legal Basis – Section 251 of the NHS Act 2006
Police
Purpose – The police may request information in relation to on-going enquiries, all requests are reviewed and only appropriate information will be shared under legislation. Legal Basis – Article 6(1)e – task carried out in the public interest Article 9(2)c – Vital Interests Article 9(2)f – Legal claims or judicial acts Article 9(2)g – Reasons of substantial public interest Controller disclosed to – Police
Reviews of and Changes to our Privacy Notice
We will keep our Privacy Notice under regular review. This notice was last reviewed October 2020.
Patient Responsibilities
Please let us know if you change your name, address or telephone number.
Please make every effort to keep appointments. Tell us as soon as possible if you are unable to attend an appointment
Please only ask for a home visit if you are too ill to visit the surgery.
Smoking
The medical centre building and site, including the car park and access road is a designated no smoking area.
Zero Tolerance
We strongly support the NHS policy on zero tolerance. Anyone attending the surgery who abuses the GPs, staff or other patients be it verbally, physically or in any threatening manner whatsoever, will risk removal from the Practice list. In extreme cases we may summon the police to remove offenders from the practice premises.
Practice Brochure
Please click here to download a copy of our printed practice brochure.
