Confidentiality is the cornerstone of health care and central to the work of everyone in general practice. All information about patients is confidential, from the most sensitive diagnosis, to the fact of having visited the surgery or being registered at the practice. Only where a patient or other person is at grave risk of serious harm will it be considered justifiable to breach confidentiality and then, only after due consultation and generally discussion with the patient. Any decision to disclose information to protect health, safety or well being will be based on the degree of current or potential harm, not the age of the patient.

The duty of confidentiality owed to a person under 16 is as great as the duty owed to any older person. If a “child” is deemed able to fully understand his/her health problems, we cannot automatically give information to parents without his/her consent. We do always try to encourage young people to discuss health issues with their parents.

All staff must sign the Practice Confidentiality Policy and any breach of this could lead to instant dismissal. A copy of the practice policy is displayed at reception. If you want us to give information to another person please let us know and be sure to tell us if this applies to everything or if it is for one specific thing e.g. if we can give your wife all test results or just one, or if we can let your mother know your appointment times or test results.

The Freedom of Information Act 2000 obliges the practice to produce a Publication Scheme. A Publication Scheme is a guide to the ‘classes’ of information the practice intends to routinely make available. This scheme is available from reception.