Confidentiality

The practice complies with Data Protection and Access to Medical Records legislation. Identifiable information about you will be shared with others in the following circumstances:

• To provide further medical treatment for you e.g. from district nurses and hospital services.
• To help you get other services e.g. from the social work department. This requires your consent.
• When we have a duty to others e.g. in child protection cases
• Anonymised patient information will also be used at local and national level to help the Health Board and Government plan services e.g. for diabetic care.

If you do not wish anonymous information about you to be used in such a way, please let us know.

Reception and administration staff require access to your medical records in order to do their jobs. These members of staff are bound by the same rules of confidentiality as the medical staff.

Freedom of Information

The ICO has published a new Model Publication Scheme that all public authorities are required to adopt.

Model Publication Scheme - further information

Comments & Complaints

Suggestion Box

Patients are encouraged to make any comments or suggestions. Please ask at reception for a form, fill it in and simply leave your suggestion in the box provided.

Complaints Procedure

Maghera Medical Centre aim to give a friendly and professional service to all our patients. However, if you have any concerns about any aspect of the service, please let us know.

The Practice has a written complaints procedure it must follow. If you wish to complain please issue the complaint in writing to the Practice Manager - Mrs Janice Walker.

The Northern Ireland Ombudsman

The website of the Northern Ireland Ombudsman explains the process of complaining about the NHS in NI.

HSC Complaints Procedure

The Patient and Client Council can also provide free and confidential advice on making a complaint.  You can find out more by visiting www.patientclientcouncil.hscni.net or by phoning freephone 0800 917 0222.

Patients’ Rights & Responsibilities

Under a user’s guide to Primary Health Care the Department of Health Charter states:

• We are committed to giving the best possible service. This will be achieved by working together. Help us help you
• You will be treated as an individual and will give courtesy and respect at all times, irrespective of your ethnic origin, religious belief, personal attitudes or health problems
• You have the right, subject to any limitations in the law, to see your health records, which will be kept confidential
• Every effort will be made to ensure that you receive the information, which directly affects your health and care being offered
• People involved in your care will give their names and ensure that you know how to contact them
• Please contact DUC only when you feel it necessary and home visits by the doctors only when patients are too ill to visit surgery
• Please do everything you can to keep appointments, tell the practice as soon as possible if cannot attend
• Be ready to give details of past illnesses, medication, hospitals admissions and any other relevant details