The practice complies with the Data Protection Act. 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. All patients can expect that their personal information will not be disclosed for reasons other than for the provision of direct care without their permission except in the most exceptional of circumstances, when somebody is at grave risk of serious harm.
All members of our surgery team (from reception to doctors) in the course of their duties will have access to your medical records. They all adhere to the highest standards of maintaining confidentiality. As our reception area is a little public, if you wish to discuss something of a confidential nature please mention it to one of the receptionists who will make arrangements for you to have the necessary privacy.
Under 16s
The duty of confidentiality owed to a person under 16 is as great as the duty owed to any other person. Young people aged under 16 years can choose to see health professionals, without informing their parents or carers. If a GP considers that the young person is mature enough to make their own decisions about their health and understand the implications of those decisions, this is referred to as Gillick competency and the GP can give advice, prescribe and treat the young person without seeking further consent.
However, all health professionals at our practice will encourage young people to involve their parents in any decisions relating to their health and wellbeing.
As with older people, sometimes the law requires us to report information to appropriate authorities in order to protect young people or members of the public.