Practice Policies & Patient Information
‘General Practice Extraction Service (GPES) Data for Pandemic Planning and Research (COVID-19)
This practice is supporting vital coronavirus (COVID-19) planning and research by sharing your data with NHS Digital.
Click here for a General Practice Transparency Notice which supplements our main practice privacy notice
Children’s Privacy Notice
Click here to download our Childrens Privacy Notice
Confidentiality
We ask you for personal information so that you can receive appropriate care and treatment. This information is recorded on computer and we are registered under the Data Protection Act. The practice will ensure that patient confidentiality is maintained at all times by all members of the practice team. However, for the effective functioning of a multi-disciplinary team it is sometimes necessary that medical information about you is shared between members of the team. Prescriptions and some of the consultation records are held purely on computer. This enables us to analyse various aspects of health care and to produce an annual practice report.
Data Extraction
We are making you aware that NHS Digital are working with the DWP (Department of Work and Pensions) to extract data on a weekly basis relating to fit notes dating back to December 2014. The information they will extract is totally anonymous and purely for research purposes. However you have the right to opt out of your data being extracted and your anonymised data will not be included.
To opt out, please leave your details with a member of Reception.
Freedom Of Information
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.
Click here to download our Freedom of Information leaflet
NHS Data Opt-Out
Click here for our NHS Data Opt-out notice
If you do not wish NHS digital to share any of your identifiable patient data with anyone else for purposes beyond your own care then please follow the link below for a National Data opt-out, please do not contact the surgery regarding the National data opt-out.
Privacy Notice
Click here to download for Privacy Notice
Privacy Notice – update COVID 19
Maryport Health Services is committed to protecting your personal information. In the fight against this global pandemic we are currently working with all of our partners in Health and Social Care to ensure information is shared with the right people at the right time to ensure you receive the best possible care.
Data Protection rules will not hinder the sharing of personal information during these unprecedented times and we will continue to process information in accordance with national law and GDPR.
The processing of personal information relating to this is necessary for reasons of planning and providing health and social care to both individual data subjects and is in the substantial public interest in the area of public health and specifically to support the control of an epidemic. For more detailed information regarding the lawful basis to undertake these activities please see the links below:
- Public Task Art 6 (1e)
- Provision of Health and Social Care/Management of Health Care Systems Art 9(2h)
- Public Interest/Public Health Art 9(2i)
- Vital Interests of a Data Subject Art 9(2c)
- Monitoring Epidemics Recital 46
Social Media Patient Policy
There are many social media platforms that are widely used by both staff and patients; these include Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn. At MHS we have a facebook page, which provides a range of useful information for our patient population.
Maryport Health Sergvices has a duty to maintain patient confidentiality and to safeguard vulnerable patients. You can help us achieve this by adhering to the code of conduct outlined in this policy.
Patients at MHS are expected to adhere to the following code of conduct at all times:
- The practice requires all users of portable devices to use them in a courteous and considerate manner, respecting their fellow patients. Portable devices are not to be used during consultations.
- Patients are not permitted to disclose any patient-identifiable information about other patients, unless they have the express consent of that patient.
- Patients must not post any material that is inaccurate, fraudulent, harassing, embarrassing, obscene, defamatory or unlawful. Any such posts on the practice Facebook page will be deleted by the practice manager and the post reported.
- Patients are not permitted to take photographs in the waiting room or areas where other patients are present, nor are photographs of staff permitted.
- Patients must not post comments on social media that identify staff who work at the practice.
- Patients are to use NHS Choices should they wish to leave a review about MHS. This will enable the practice manager to respond appropriately.
Defamatory comments about our team are not to be shared on any social media platform. Legal advice will be sought and the appropriate action taken against any patient who posts defamatory comments.
Patient complaints on social media
We have a separate complaints policy which patients are to use should they wish to make a complaint. We will only respond to complaints made to the practice in accordance with the practice policy. If a complaint is made on the practice Facebook page, it will be deleted.
Staff Protection
A zero tolerance policy towards violent, threatening and abusive behaviour is now in place throughout the National Health Service.
The staff in this practice have the right to do their work in an environment free from violent, threatening and abusive behaviour and everything will be done to protect that right.
At no time will any such behaviour be tolerated in this practice. If you do not respect the rights of our staff we may choose to inform the police and make arrangements for you to be removed from our medical list.