Data Protection

We need to hold personal information about you on our computer systems and in paper records to help us to look after your health needs, and your doctor is responsible for their accuracy and safe-keeping. Please help to keep your record up to date by informing us of any changes to your circumstances.

Doctors and staff in the practice have access to your medical records to enable them to do their jobs. From time to time information may be shared with others involved in your care if it is necessary. Anyone with access to your record is properly trained in confidentiality issues and is governed by both legal and contractual duty to keep your details private.

All information about you is held securely and appropriate safeguards are in place to prevent accidental loss.

In some circumstances we may be required by law to release your details to statutory or other official bodies, for example if a court order is presented, or in the case of public health issues. In other circumstance you may be required to give written consent before information is released – such as for medical reports for insurance, solicitors etc.

To ensure your privacy, we will not disclose information over the telephone unless we are sure that we are talking to you. Information will not be disclosed to family, friends or spouses unless we have prior written consent, and we do not leave messages with others.

You have a right to see your records if you wish. Please ask at reception if you would like further details about our patient information leaflet. An appointment may be required. In some circumstances a fee may be payable.

Personal Data

The following IT systems are in use at the practice:

  • Referral Management (using NHS numbers in referrals)
  • Electronic Appointment Booking (the facility to book routine appointments online and, similarly, to cancel appointments
  • Online booking of repeat prescriptions
  • Summary Care Record (uploading details of your current medication and allergies to the national “spine” so that these are available for doctors involved in your care elsewhere)
  • GP to GP transfers (the electronic transfer of records from practice to practice when you re-register
  • Patient Access to records (the facility to view your medical records online).

If you are not already registered for online access and would like to be please complete our online form.

If you would like access to your medical records enabled or would like to opt out of the local or national summary care record, please contact reception.

Confidentiality

You can be assured that anything you discuss with any member of the surgery staff, whether doctor, nurse or receptionist, will remain confidential. Even if you are under 16, nothing will be said to anyone, including parents, other family members, care workers or teachers, without your permission. The only reason why we might want to consider passing confidential information without your permission would be to protect either you or someone else from serious harm. In this situation, we would always try to discuss this with you first.

If you have any worries or queries about confidentiality, please feel free to ask a member of staff.

if you would like to discuss matters of a confidential nature, either with our receptionists or a member of the dispensary team, we have a side room available in reception for this purpose.

Rights & Responsibilities

Westlands aims to provide a high standard of care and service to all our patients.

We hope you will use our services thoughtfully, respect our premises and take overall responsibility for your own health and that of your children.

Your rights

  • Confidentiality and courtesy from all Westlands staff
  • Access to your medical records (This may incur a fee. Requests in writing to the Practice)
  • Telephone calls answered promptly by a receptionist
  • An appointment the same day if you are acutely ill
  • Repeat prescriptions available within THREE working days
  • A detailed leaflet explaining our services
  • Prompt investigation of any complaint

Your responsibilities

  • To treat our staff with courtesy
  • To be considerate to other patients in the building
  • Turn off mobile phones while in the health centre
  • To respect our home visiting
  • Be punctual for appointments and to cancel appointments if you cannot attend
  • To respect our premises. In our building please do not smoke, attend in muddy boots or dirty overalls, or bring bicycles inside
  • To learn how to treat your own minor illnesses and to keep some basic household medicines in a safe place

 

Subject Access Requests

There may be times when you need to see part or all of your medical records.

Click on the link below for a copy of the our policy for handling such requests

Completing the form will make it easier for us to process your request; you will need to bring in photographic identification with your application.

Subject Access Requests Policy & Application Form

GP Earnings

The average pay for GPs working in Westlands Medical Centre in the last financial year was £131,395 before tax and National Insurance. This is for 2 full time GPs and 4 part time GPs who worked in the practice for six months or more.

 

“NHS England require that the net earnings of doctors engaged in the practice is publicised by 31 March 2025 at the latest.  However, it should be noted that the prescribed method of calculating earnings is potentially misleading because it takes no account of how much time doctors spend working in the practice and should not be used for any judgement about GP earnings, nor to make any comparisons with other practices.”