Freedom of Information Rhyddid Gwybodaeth
Part one: Introduction, Cost, Availabilty, Feedback
Part two: Seven Classes of information
1) Who we are 2) Services 3) Financial and funding 4) Publications and information 5) Complaints 6) Policies and procedures 7) This scheme.
Part three: Resources and Copyright
PART ONE:
Introduction
This is a guide to the Publication scheme for Builth & Llanwrtyd Medical Practice in which each of the following practice as a partnership:
Dr. M Riley, Dr. R L Gibbins, Dr. R Walters, Dr. A Wallace, Dr. H Christley.
How much does it cost?
Some information is available free, but for others there may be a charge. The charges will vary according to how information is made available.
Charges are as follows:
a. Via the practice website – free of charge, although any charges for Internet Service Provider (ISP) and personal printing costs would have to be met by the individual.
For those without internet access, a single print-out as on the website would be available by post from Mrs Jane Stephens, Practice Manager or by personal application at The Surgery, Builth Wells or The Branch Surgery, Llanwrtyd Wells at a cost of 35p per A4 sheet. However, requests for multiple printouts or for archived copies of documents, which are no longer accessible or available on the web, may attract a charge for retrieval, photocopy, postage etc. We will let you know the cost and charges that will have to be paid in advance. We will not provide printouts of other organisations’ websites.
b. Leaflets and brochures – free of charge on, for example, services we offer to the public. A list is available from reception at The Surgery, Builth Wells or The Branch Surgery, Llanwrtyd Wells.
c. Email will be free of charge unless it says otherwise.
How is the information made available?
The information within each Class is downloadable from the practice website or available in hard copy from The Surgery, Glandwr Parc, Builth Wells or The Branch Surgery, Ffos Road, Llanwrtyd Wells, Powys.
Feedback
If you have any questions, comments or complaints about the operation of the Publication Scheme, or how we deal with your request for information from the Scheme, please write to:
Mrs Jane Stephens
Practice Manager
The Surgery
Glandwr Parc
BUILTH WELLS
Powys
LD2 3DZ
PART TWO:
Classes of Information
All information at the Builth & Llanwrtyd Medical Practice is held, retained and destroyed in accordance with NHS Wales’s guidelines. Our commitment to publish information excludes any information, which can be legitimately withheld under the exemptions set out in the Welsh Code of Practice on Openness in the NHS or the Freedom of Information Act 2000. Where individual Classes are subject to exemptions, the main reasons relate to the protection of commercial interests and personal information under the Data Protection Act 1998. This applies to all Classes within the Publication Scheme. The information on the scheme is grouped into the following Classes:
1. Who we are
Class Description: Details of the practice, organisation structure, key personnel and how we fit into the NHS Wales Structure.
There are five partners in the practice: Dr. M Riley (male), Dr. R Gibbins (male), Dr. R Walters (male), Dr A Wallace (female), Dr H Christley (male) all work “full time”. Two of the partners provide most of the services in the Branch Surgery at Llanwrtyd Wells and in conjunction with the other partners provide the services at Builth Wells.
The practice employs a full time manager Mrs Jane Stephens who manages the practice in conjunction with the partners, four part-time practice nurses, Sr. Gaynor Hooper, Sr. Pat Jones, Sr. S Bowen, Sr. Amanda Price. In addition to this there is a full range of support staff including, reception, office, administration and a healthcare assistant.
The Builth & Llanwrtyd Medical Practice provides General Medical Services for the following geographical area:
The Practice area includes:
Builth Wells & Llanwrtyd Wells
Newbridge On Wye
Howey
Hundred House
Cilmery
Builth Road
Beulah
Garth
Llangammarch Wells
Erwood
Aberedw
Boughrood
Painscastle
The Practice adheres to the National General Medical Services under contract to NHS Wales and operates within the Powys Teaching Local Health Board area. The NHS is a very large part of the public sector. A full list of local General Practices in Wales can be found on the following site: www.wales.nhs.uk
The practice aims to deliver services in line with National Institute for Clinical Excellence guidance and the National Service Frameworks for Wales.
Some information will be withheld, including personal, confidential information about individuals, which is protected by the Data Protection Act 1998.
2. Our Services
Class Description: The range of services we provide under contract to NHS Wales.
Doctors at the Practice provide essential medical services. This includes general management of ill patients, those with chronic disease and those who are terminally ill. In addition to this a range of additional services and clinics are also provided by the doctors and nursing staff: full details are available in the Practice leaflet or on the Practice website.
The Practice provides a confidential service to all our patients, including under 16s.
You can be sure that anything you discuss with any member of this practice – family doctor, nurse or receptionist – will stay confidential.
Even if you are under 16 nothing will be said to anyone – including parents, other family members, care workers or tutors – without your permission.
The only reason why we might have to consider passing on confidential information without your permission, would be to protect you, or someone else from serious harm. We would always try to discuss this with you first.
If you are being treated elsewhere – for example at a hospital or clinic – it is best if you allow the doctor or nurse there to inform the practice of any treatment you are receiving.
In order to provide you with high quality health care, your doctor may need to share information about you with other health care professionals, and, on occasion, with lay people.
If you have any concerns about this please contact our Practice Manager
The practice opening times for both surgeries are published on the Practice Leaflet and on the Practice website.
The Practice is a member of the Shropshire Doctors Co-operative Ltd., which provides out of hours cover for the patients.
The medical interests of particular doctors are:
Dr. M Riley Cardiovascular
Dr. R L Gibbins Diabetes and Information Technology
Dr. R Walters Student training
Dr. A Wallace Women’s Health and Integrated Medicine
Dr. H Christley Asthma and Chest disease
Details are provided on the Practice leaflet or on the Practice website, free of charge.
3. Financial and funding information
Class Description: Funding details and charging policies.
The Builth and Llanwrtyd Medical Practice receive money from Powys Teaching Local Health Board according to its contract (as per Class 1 above) in exchange for services provided for patients.
The total income received from the NHS before expenses in 2006 was £1,083,436
The sum spent on drugs prescribed by the practice in 2006 was £42,272
There may be circumstances where material cannot be released because it is confidential or commercial information or the appropriate office designated for these purposes under the Act has taken the view that it may be prejudicial to the conduct of the Practice’s affairs.
4. Regular publications and information for the public
Class description: Guidance and information leaflets.
Guidance and information leaflets are readily available at the surgery proided as computer printouts by the software programs Mentor Plus or DXS.
The practice leaflet and website inform patients of services provided by the practice and are available to all patients. The Practice website has a news page informing people of new or amended services. This is available as a hard copy from reception free of charge.
5. Complaints
Class description: Policies, procedures and contacts for complaints
The Practice operates a formal internal complaints procedure. If you have a complaint, please write to:
The Practice Manager
The Surgery
Glandwr Park
Builth Wells
Powys
LD2 3DZ
What we will do:
We will acknowledge your complaint within two working days from the date we receive it. We will investigate it and contact you with an initial written response usually within 14 days. This letter will also offer you the option of a meeting with the GP responsible for dealing with matters of this kind and any other people involved.
- Find out what happened and what went wrong
- Make it possible for you to discuss the problem with those concerned if you would like this
- Make sure you receive an apology if this is appropriate
- Identify what we can do to make sure the problem doesn’t happen again.
The same system allows doctors and staff to record complaints against patients.
Full details of our complaints proceedures are available free of charge from reception or the Practice website.
6. Our policies and procedures
Class description: General policies and procedures in use within the Practice. These include but are not restricted to , data protection, prescribing and prescription, management of violent patients and health and safety.
General policies and procedures in use within the practice are available in hard copy from the Practice Manager on written request and from the Practice Website.
These are available free of charge on the website or by post , the cost of this will be 35p per A4 sheet.
7. This Publication Scheme
Class Description: In this class we will publish any changes we make to this Publication Scheme, the criteria on which our information management policies are made and a referral point for all enquiries regarding information management in the General Practice. We will also publish any proposed changes or additions to publications already available and information relating to the cost of any information supplied through this Publication Scheme.
Information within the Practice is managed in accordance with the NHS Code of Practice (2006) and reviewed on a regular basis.
The Publication sheme was reviewed July 2008 following the introduction of The Model Publication Scheme for General Practioners.
The cost of request for postal information is based on stationery costs and also current postal rates.
In situations where multiple printouts or copies of archived material are requested additional costs will apply, in this instance the Practice will inform you of the charges that will need to be paid in advance.
We will not provide print-outs of other organisation’s websites.
If you need to make an enquiry regarding the publication scheme please write to:
The Practice Manager
The Surgery
Glandwr Park
Builth Wells
Powys
LD2 3DZ
PART THREE
Useful Resources
Websites:
Builth & Llanwrtyd Medical Practice
Infromation Commissionerr
NHS Wales, Freedom of Information
Copyright
Material available through this Publication Scheme is subject to the General Practice’s copyright unless otherwise indicated. Unless expressly indicated to the contrary, it may be reproduced free of charge in any format or medium provided it is done so accurately in a manner which will not mislead. Where items are re-published or copied to others, you must identify the source and acknowledge copyright status. This permit does not extend to third part material, accessed through the scheme.
For HMSO Guidance Notes contact:
HMSO Licensing Division, St. Clements House, 2-16 Colegate, Norwich NR3 1BQ