At Carrig Medical Centre, we endeavour to provide the highest standard of medical care for all our patients. Our procedures and policies are consistent with the Medical Council’s Guidelines on Ethical conduct and Behaviour, and General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) 2018
Patient Consent
We seek patient’s consent as being the key factor in dealing with their health information. The information below is about making consent meaningful, by advising you of our policies and practices on dealing with your medical information.
Managing your information
When you visit this practice, information about your health is collected in order to advise and treat you. All information is filed securely on computer, and is accessible to other persons in the practice on a need to know basis. Everyone employed within the practice is aware of the confidentiality that is attached to health information, and of the serious breach of trust represented by unauthorised access or disclosure to anyone outside of the practice.
Disclosing Information to persons Outside of the Practice
In some instances, your health condition may require that you go to hospital, or see another health specialists. In that case, the relevant part of your record will be released, so that you may be treated as required. Where this happens, the hospitals and other health professionals involved are bound legally and ethically to treat your information with the same duty of care and confidence as we do.
Disclosures Required or Permitted Under Law
The law provides that in certain instances personal information (including health information) can be disclosed, for example, in the case of infectious diseases.
Disclosures to Employers, Insurance Companies and Solicitors
In most instances, work related medical certificates will only provide a confirmation that you are unfit for work, together with an indication of when you may be able to return. When it is considered necessary to provide additional information, we will discuss this matter with you. In the case of disclosures to insurance companies, the insurance company will inform you that they are sending us out a medical form to be completed on yourself. In most cases you do not need to be present for this medical form to be completed. If you do need to attend the surgery for a full medical examination, your insurance company will let you know in advance of same, and you will be required to make an appointment to be seen.
In the case of disclosure of your full medical records, or in the case of an injuries claim, a written letter from your solicitor must be provided, as well as your signed consent. By receiving such a request we presume that you have fully understood the implications of such a disclosure.
Uses of information for Training, Teaching, Research and Quality Assurance purposes within the practice. It is usual for general practitioners to discuss patient histories as part of their continuing medical education or for the purpose of training young GP’s and/or medical students.In these situations the identity of the patient concerned will not be revealed.
In other situations, however, it may be beneficial for other doctors within the practice to be aware of patients with particular conditions, and in such cases this practice would only communicate the information necessary to provide the highest level of care to the patient.
The use of patient information for the purpose of quality assurance and research will only occur following removal of identifying information.
Most importantly, you have the right to opt out of this use of your medical records. To do so, simply let your GP or Catherine, the Practice Manager know. But we would ask you to remember that the quality of patient services provided by general practitioners can only be maintained and enhanced by training, teaching and research.
Transferring to another Practice
If you decide, at any time and for whatever reason, to transfer to another practice, this practice will facilitate that decision by making available to your new doctor a copy of your medical records. It is the policy of this practice to send your medical notes directly to your new doctor. All we need are your new doctors details, such as name and address, and the names of all the patients that are wishing to transfer. For medico-legal and other professional requirements, we will retain a copy also for an appropriate period which may exceed 8 years.
If you have any questions regarding any of the above, please contact Catherine, the Practice Manager, or you may speak directly to the doctor next time you visit.
