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.

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 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

PLEASE NOTE, THE BELOW APPOINTMENT GUIDELINES MAY VARY SLIGHTLY DUE TO COVID-19. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS, PLEASE SPEAK TO ONE OF OUR PATIENT SERVICES STAFF.

COVID-19 Face Coverings

Please ensure you wear an appropriate face covering before entering the surgery (in accordance with Government Guidelines) e.g. a medical mask (no material masks) or a visor if you are unable to wear a mask.

Making an Appointment

• Appointments can be made by telephone, face to face at the reception desk or online through Patient Access, Please note that due to changes in processes as a result of COVID online booking of appointments is currently not fully available.
• All consultations are by appointment.
• Please book well in advance whenever possible.
• You will have a 'usual' doctor allocated to you, with whom you should book your routine appointments, to benefit from continuity of care.
• Appointments with a clinician are allocated on the basis of clinical need.
• The practice offers routine appointments to book in advance which are usually within 4 to 6 weeks.
• Appointments for clinical matters that are more urgent are usually within 2 weeks
• Same day appointments are available for patients who are acutely unwell and their clinical issue cannot wait.
• We thank patients for their co-operation in accepting a routine pre bookable appointment where appropriate as this allows us to offer urgent and on the day patients to those who clinically need these.
• We use various consultation methods which include telephone call, video and face to face. He method offered will be appropriate for the medical issue
• Appointment slots are for 10 minutes. If more than one family member needs to speck to or see a doctor, a separate appointment needs to be made or each person.
• If you have a medical problem that needs to be dealt with the same day a doctor will always be available to speak to you. 

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.

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.

There is also a wealth of information on our Health Information pages or the NHS Choices website.

Choosing the right service will enable you to get the best treatment for your symptoms in a timely way.

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

You can order your repeat prescription online using Patient Access.

To search for local NHS Services, click here

Below is a list of useful medicines and dressings. It's important to follow the manufacturer's instructions so you know how much medicine to take or to give to children, and how often to give it. If you're not sure, get advice from your pharmacist, GP or Health Visitor.

Never give the medicine more often than recommended, and don't give any more than the stated dose.

Keep all medicines locked-up and out of the reach of children.

Paracetamol: Good for headaches, colds, sore throats and painful bruises.

Paracetamol Mixture: For relief of pain or fever in young children.

Sedative Cough Linctus: For dry or painful coughs - but not coughs caused by common colds.

Menthol Crystals: Add to hot water to make steam inhalations for treating catarrh and dry or painful coughs.

Vapour Rub: Again, for steam inhalations. Also useful for children with stuffy noses or dry coughs. Rub on the chest and nose.

Antiseptic Solution: One teaspoon diluted in warm water for cleaning cuts and grazes.

Antiseptic Cream: For treating septic spots, sores in the nose and grazes.

Calamine Lotion: For dabbing (not rubbing) on insect bites and stings and sunburn.

Dressing Strips: For minor cuts.

3" Wide Crepe Bandage: To keep dressings in place. To support sprained or bruised joints.

Gauze Squares: For cleaning cuts and grazes.

Thermometer: For fevers.

From August 2021, we are pleased to be able to offer a Community Pharmacist Service for minor illnesses. This will help to reduce waiting times for our patients and enable our nurses and GPs to focus on more critical illnesses. To be referred to a Community Pharmacist, please speak with one of our Reception team.

Maternity services are provided by Somerset NHS Foundation Trust in Taunton in a number of locations. This including the main Musgrove Park maternity unit, Mary Stanley midwifery led birth unit at Bridgwater Community Hospital and in your own home throughout the local community. The maternity services provides care for over 3,200 births per year.

If you are pregnant you can refer yourself to maternity services by filling out the Somerset NHS Foundation Trust online form here.

Once you have completed their online form, your referral will be processed by the maternity admin team and may take up to 5 days to be processed. Your details will then be passed onto one of the midwives who will look after you. For further information, please see the Self Referral Frequently Asked Questions. 

You can consult with your doctor online.

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.

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.

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.

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

1. In a life threatening emergency call 999
2. 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

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:

• Blood – 5 working days
• Urine – 5 working days
• X-ray – 7-10 working days
• Smear – 2-3 weeks
• Stool – 1-2 weeks
• Sputum – 1-2 weeks

Forms for download:

Application for online access to my medical record

Online forms (available here soon):

• Asthma Control test ACT for children 4 to 11 years
• Asthma Control test ACT for people 12 years and older
• Blood Pressure Recording
• How is your COPD? Take the COPD Assessment Test™ (CAT)
• Medical Research Council (MRC) breathlessness scale
• Smoking Status

Blood pressure pack letter

Blood Pressure Information Leaflet

Alcohol screening sheet

Home Blood Pressure Reading Sheet

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.

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).

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. 

For self-help advice, please visit our Health Information pages.

Further patient information is available at NHS UK and Patient UK.

NHS Webinars

NHS Dietitians in Somerset have developed useful webinars to provide accurate informaion to patients. To access these, visit https://patientwebinars.co.uk/

People moving to the area

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: 

Click here to check if your postcode is within our catchment area. 

GMS1 family doctor services registration form

New Patient Registration Form - Adults and Children 15 and Over

New Patient Registration Form - Children 14 and Under

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.

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.

Links

Patient Reference Group Sign Up

Patient Participation Group Annual General Meeting 2017 

Wellington Medical Centre is a Partnership comprising the following GP Partners.

Glossary of Doctors’ Qualifications

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 

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.

You can telephone the NHS Digital information line on 0300 303 5678 or visit their website, https://digital.nhs.uk/summary-care-records for more information.

Following installation of a new telephone system please be aware that all incoming and outgoing calls are now recorded for training and quality monitoring.

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 please contact us.

The Accessible Information Standard aims 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:

1. Ask patients and carers if they have any information or communication needs, and find out how to meet their needs
2. Record those needs in a set way
3. 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
4. Share information about a person’s needs with other NHS and adult social care providers, when they have consent or permission to do so
5. Make sure that people get information in an accessible way and communication support if they need it

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.

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, or click here to download a copy.

If you wish to make a comment or compliment us on our services, please write to the Practice Manager.

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.

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 SCR here.

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. Please click here for more information.

You can also view parts of your medical record online using Patient Access. Please see the Online Patient Services section 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 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

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 click here. 

Further Information

If you any questions about how the information on your medical record is used please contact us (see the Contact Us section).

• 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.

The medical centre building and site, including the car park and access road is a designated no smoking area.

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.

Please click here to download a copy of our printed practice brochure.

GP COVID-19 Privacy Notice

Referral Information Leaflet

Practice Fair Processing and Privacy Notice

Please note, we will no longer use our fax machine after 24th October
Tel: 01823 663551
Email: 

Address:
Wellington Medical Centre
Mantle Street
Wellington
Somerset
TA21 8BD

Catchment Area 

Please see Catchment Area below

Click here to view in PCN Locations