Practice Policies & Patient Information
Clinical Governance
Clinical Governance is a framework through which NHS organizations are accountable for continuously improving the quality of their services and safeguarding high standards of care by creating an environment in which excellence in clinical care will flourish.
At Oakwood Medical Centre we have:
- Clear lines of responsibility for the overall quality of clinical care.
- A comprehensive programme of quality improvement systems (including clinical audit, supporting and applying evidence-based practice, implementing clinical standards and guidelines, workforce planning and development).
- Education and training plans, including procedures for all professional groups to identify and remedy poor performance.
- Clear policies aimed at managing risk.
Professional Standards
We are committed to continuing professional and personal development of the entire practice team. We also aim to maintain effective communications with other agencies.
Our Mission
Purpose Statement
Our purpose is to provide a high standard of safe and effective care to our patients and their families by delivering Primary care medical services with prompt and equal access.
We aim to deliver this service incorporating our core values of Care, Compassion, Dignity and Respect to all.
Our practice forward vision is to help enable patients to live a healthier life through high-quality clinical care and patient education
All patients now have a named GP, ask at reception who your named GP is, if not known.
You can still consult with any GP.
Patient Responsibilities
- Only ask for a home visit if you are unable to attend the surgery. If possible, phone before 10am.
- Ensure that you arrive on time for appointments & report to reception first.
- Please ensure that, if you need a translator/interpreter in order to help you to communicate, that you book a double appointment, we will then arrange a telephone interpreter via Language Line.
- Cancel appointments you cannot keep, so they can be offered to other patients.
- If you are coming as a family, book separate appointments for each person.
- Please listen to the advice you are given. For many illnesses, you can help yourself. Self-help booklets are available. Alternatively, for health information and telephone advice please phone NHS 111.
- Only ask for an out-of-hours visit if it is truly necessary and cannot wait till the next surgery.
- Let us know if you change your name, phone number or address so that we may keep accurate up-to-date records and be able to contact you in an emergency.
- Please ask questions if you are unsure about anything.
- Please be ready to tell us details of your past illnesses, medication, hospital admissions and any other relevant information.
- Please treat our Practice Team with respect. Action will be taken where a patient is violent or abusive to the contractor, its staff, persons present on the premises or in the place where treatment is provided under the contract.
- Please help to keep the practice premises clean, tidy and safe.
- Patients are expected to treat and speak with Doctors and staff with respect, we are here to offer a service and to assist the best we can.
- We are a ZERO Tolerance Practice.
- No smoking is permitted in the surgery or outside the entrance if you feel the need to smoke please do so in the car park area only.
Privacy & Confidentiality
Privacy & Communication
We understand the importance of good communications between all members of our Practice Team and our patients. Patients who wish to speak privately to staff will be directed to an area allocated for this purpose. We also have e a clearly signposted private reception area.
Data Protection
To see Oakwood Medical Centre’s updated Privacy Notice in line with the Data protection changes May 2018 please see ‘Our Documents’ page where a version is available for download.
Oakwood Medical Centre is registered under the Data Protection Act 1998 on the Data Protection Register.
Patient Confidentiality
Please note we are not permitted to hand out patient information to anyone other than the patient; therefore if you wish for a friend or relative to collect your prescription or any other correspondence you will need to give them written consent signed and dated for us to keep on file. It will be your responsibility to inform us if this situation changes.
Statement of Intent is displayed in the Reception Area.
From 31/3/16 we are required by NHS England to allow patients online access to detailed coded information in their patient record. We are confident that we as a practice will be able to offer this service from 31/1/16, as our clinical software supplier is hoping to have this imported very soon( finally became available June 2016).
This is in addition to prescription, appointments and summary information which is already available online. All you need is an email address and show photo ID plus two forms of address.
Improving Access
We are currently trying to improve access. We promote online services and encourage patients to sign up so they can book their own routine appointments with the GP.
However, if you prefer to telephone or book face to face at reception we are happy to book you advance appointments up to 6 weeks ahead or within 48 hrs, all appointments are subject to availability. We have reserved book on the day appointments if you feel unwell and unable to wait for the next routine appointment.
Book on the day appointments are available from 8 am for the morning slots & from 12pm for the afternoon/early evening slots.
In the event that we are unable to provide you with an appointment, you will be directed to Walk in the centre/Urgent care centre depending on your needs. We are able to ask GP for clinical advice to assess and see if ok to wait until the next day.
All appointments are subject to availability.