We will keep you informed of important changes in our services through our monthly newsletter, notices in our waiting rooms, our website and when necessary, by letter.

Patients’ rights to General Medical Services:

Patients have the rights to:

· be registered with a General Practitioner

· change doctor if desired

· be offered a health check on joining the practice

· receive emergency care from the practice Monday to Friday 8:15am to 6:00pm

· receive appropriate drugs and medicines

· be referred for specialist or second opinion if they and the GP agrees

· have the right to view their medical records, subject to the Acts

· have the contents of their medical records kept confidential.

All members of our Primary Care Team are dedicated to provide quality health services which meet your medical requirements.

We will respect our patients’ privacy, dignity and confidentiality at all times.

We will offer same day appointments for all medically urgent problems, and will offer you an appointment within 2 days, if required, for all other requests.

We will do our best to run to time during surgeries, and to see patients within 20 minutes of their appointment time. If a longer delay is expected an explanation will be offered. If necessary another appointment will be offered.

We will visit you at home if you your medical condition makes it impossible to attend surgery.

We will deal with all referrals promptly. If your referral is urgent it will be processed within 24 hours, if it is routine it will be processed within 5 working days.

We will respond to any complaint you make within 2 weeks.

With these rights come responsibilities, and for patients this means:

· Courtesy to the staff at all times - remember they are working under doctors’ orders.

· To attend appointments on time or give the practice adequate notice that they wish to cancel.

· To remember that if you decline an offered appointment, that the appointment was in fact available.

· To make appointments for one person per appointment

· Patients should make every effort when consulting the surgery to make best use of nursing and medical time - home visits should be medically justifiable and not requested for social convenience.

· To give 48 hours notice for repeat prescriptions

· Out-of-hours calls (e.g. evenings; nights & weekends) should only be requested if they are felt to be truly necessary.