All information about patients is confidential, from the most sensitive diagnosis to the simple fact of having visited, or being registered at, a surgery. All patients can expect that their personal information will not be disclosed to anybody without their express permission. The exception to this is in extreme circumstances when somebody is in grave risk of serious harm, and disclosure will protect their health, safety or wellbeing. It may be that in the course of their duty practice staff and attached healthcare professionals will need to access a patient’s records but they are all bound by contracts of employment to maintain confidentiality. All healthcare professionals are individually accountable for their actions.

Only healthcare professionals within the practice are able to access patient information. Any information requested by a third party will only be processed with a signed statement from the patient involved.A computer is used to retain records and to facilitate some aspects of patient care including recall for screening procedures and printing prescriptions. If you receive a letter from the practice please do not ignore it, we are committed to improving patient care. This practice is registered under the Data Protection Act and you may be sure that all records whether written or computerised are strictly confidential.

Wollaton Park Medical Centre is open and honest with patients when something that goes wrong with their treatment or care causes, or has the potential to cause, harm or distress. This means that we will:

– tell the patient (or, where appropriate, the patient’s advocate, carer or family) when something has gone wrong
– apologise to the patient (or, where appropriate, the patient’s advocate, carer or family)
– offer an appropriate remedy or support to put matters right (if possible)
– explain fully to the patient (or, where appropriate, the patient’s advocate, carer or family) the short and long term effects of what has happened.