Practice

Practice Philosophy

It is the intention of everyone at Weavers Medical that we will do our best to offer a high quality medical service, which uses to the optimum all available resources and which remains sensitive to the needs of our patients and to the needs of the individuals in the practice team.

Medical Centre Opening Times

Opening Hours
Monday	8.00am  - 7.00pm
Tuesday	8.00am  - 7.00pm
Wednesday	8.00am  - 7.00pm
Thursday	8.00am  - 7.00pm
Friday	8.00am  - 1.00pm
	2.00pm  - 7.00pm

We now offer some extended opening times in the evening and on a Saturday morning

Extended Opening Hours

• Monday Wednesday Thursday and  Friday - 2 GPs offering appointments.
• Tuesday - 3 GPs offering appointments. 6.30pm - 7.00pm
• Saturday - 1 GP offers appointments. 8.30am - 11.00am

Most months the surgery may also close one afternoon per month for a training session. All other surgeries in the town are also closed on this afternoon.

The dates for 2010 are below.  We will always put up notices in the surgery well in advance of these dates to remind you - we  close at 1.00pm and re-open at 6.30pm on these dates.

• Wednesday 14th April
• Tuesday 11th May
• Wednesday 9th June
• Tuesday 6th July
• Wednesday 15th September
• Tuesday 12th October
• Wednesday 10th November
• Wednesday 8th December
  
  

Doctors Surgeries

Each Doctor has a half-day per week.  These are usually: 

Dr Aherne (male)	Thursday (off sick November 09 onwards)
Dr Balloch (male)	Tuesday
Dr Mistry (male)	Wednesday
Dr McManus (male)	Wednesday
Dr Sansome (male)	Thursday

Dr Graham (female) does not usually work on a Tuesday afternoon or on a Wednesday.

Dr Poggi (female) works every day except a Thursday.

Dr Dasari (female)  works 9 sessions per week and has a half day on a Friday afternoon.  

The appointments system to our 15,500 patients.

Check in and Translation Services

When you arrive for your appointment, please check in for your appointment using the automatic check in service on the first floor.  This is available in several different languages. Of course the receptionist will assist if you have problems.

Translation services are available for appointments if these are requested in advance. Please ask someone to let us know you need this service so that it can be booked in the language you need at the time you and your doctor need it.

A Training Practice - GP Registrars

Qualified Doctors spend periods of 4 months with the practice and take part in surgeries and home visits.  These GP registrars are fully qualified and work in the surgery to gain experience in General Practice before joining their own Practice.

Occasionally, these GPs may wish to video their consultations for training purposes only.  The recording will only be seen by the GP and their tutor Doctor at the surgery and once it has been viewed, it will be erased.  Your permission is needed in order for the Doctor to video your consultation.  You will have to sign to say you agree to the recording, but if you do not wish to be videoed, the camera will be turned off.

Student District Nurses/Health Visitors/Midwives

Occasionally, the District Nurses, Health Visitors and Midwife in the surgery will have student District Nurses, Health Visitors, and Midwives working with them.

Arriving Late Procedure

If you are more than half your appointment time late, you will not be able to be seen in that appointment slot.  All Health care professionals work to booked appointment times, and if that time has passed, they are not able to get it back.  This means if you are too late for your appointment, you will have to book another appointment to be seen either later that day, or on another day.

Disabled access

Our health centre has suitable access for disabled patients, and all the patient areas including waiting room, consulting rooms and toilets have wheelchair access. Portable hearing loops are available for use in consulting rooms – please ask at reception.

Designated disabled parking bays are located at the back of the building.  Patients who use these bays can ring the bell at the back door to gain access to the building.  This means patients do not have to walk round to the front of the building.

Access to patient medical records

Any patient has the right to view their medical records on request.  If you wish to view your medical records, the receptionist will explain what you need to do.  You will need to complete a form and bring along some form of identification.  Your appointment will be with a Health Care Professional who will go through your records with you.

If you wish to be provided with copies of your records, there may be a charge for this.  The receptionist will provide all details of charges and the procedure for obtaining copies of medical records when a patient makes the request.

Medical Records & Confidentiality

We are registered under the Data Protection Act 1998.  All our records are treated as strictly confidential.  No information will be given to anyone else (relatives included) unless you give us written permission.

Occasionally visiting assessor doctors check our records to ensure good standards.  They are also bound by the same confidentiality rules. The Primary Care Trust occasionally check GP claims for payment.  This may involve access to medical records.  If you have any objections, please inform the Practice Manager.

Zero Tolerance

The surgery has a policy of zero tolerance to violent or abusive patients.  This means verbal or physical abusive behaviour.  If such an incident occurs, the surgery has the right to remove a patient from the practice list.

• If the surgery takes the decision to remove a patient from the practice list, a letter will be sent informing them of this.
  
• A letter will also be sent to the local Primary Care Trust requesting this removal.
  
• The Primary Care Trust will then send a letter to the patient informing them of their removal from the practice list and also give advice about how to register with another GP in the area.

Patient Forum

This group meets regularly.  It gives patients the opportunity to discuss ideas and information on the services the surgery provides.  It also provides a direct means of communication to patients and provides a sounding board for us to share information about planned changes to our service provision.  If you would like more information about this group, you can contact a member via Reception.

Non NHS Services

Our first responsibility is for the health of our patients within the NHS.  Certain other services are offered where a fee is chargeable.  The following are examples only, there are others:

• Private Sickness Insurance Claims
• Various Medical Examinations e.g. Employment, Insurance.
• Vaccinations for travel.

Full details are available at reception and you will be advised of the charge and asked to sign an agreement to this effect when leaving any forms or making any special appointments.

Complaints & Comments

Leaflets are available which explain how to complain.  You can speak to the Practice Manager in the first instance.  If you remain dissatisfied details on how to formally complain will be provided.

If a patient decides to formally complain, there is a short form available to complete.  This will then be passed to the Practice Manager who will acknowledge the complaint within two working days and aim to have investigated the complaint within ten working days.

A Patients Rights & Responsibilities

Rights

• Every patient registered with the practice has the right to be seen by a Doctor within 48 hours, or a healthcare professional within 24 hours.
• Patient’s wishing to see a particular Doctor may have to wait longer
• When appointments are full and the patient feels it is medically necessary to see a Doctor that day, an emergency appointment will be provided on the same day.
• A patient has the right to request a home visit, but it is the Doctor who decides what course of action is most appropriate.

Responsibilities

• It is the patient’s responsibility to notify the surgery of any change of details i.e. name, address and/or telephone number.  If we are unaware of these changes and either The Primary Care Trust or the surgery are unable to contact you, this may result in de-registration.
• It is a patient’s responsibility to register a new baby.  This will not be done automatically.  A new mother needs to bring into the surgery or post to us, the FP58 form they were given when they registered the birth.  Without this form, a new baby will not be registered at the Practice.
• It is the patients’ responsibility to order on-going repeat medication in plenty of time.
• It is the patients’ responsibility to keep appointments they have booked.
• It is the patients’ responsibility to book in at the desk or book in using the self-check in, in time for their appointment.
• It is the patients’ responsibility to be polite and courteous to all staff members at the surgery.
• It is the patients’ responsibility to treat all practice property with respect and be considerate of other patients when visiting the surgery.
• It is the patients’ responsibility to pay for all Non-NHS services requested for and subsequently provided by the Practice.
• It is the patients’ responsibility to cancel unwanted appointments.  Failure to do so means the loss of the appointment for another patient and you will receive a letter concerning this.  Persistent non-attendance of appointments may be investigated and result in de-registration.

Publication Scheme

Information covered by this scheme is only about the primary, general or personal medical services we provide under contract to the National Health Service, and does not include any information that is not held, is held for other purposes or would be exempt from release.

For more information Publication Scheme for Weavers Medical.

You can also download the Freedom of Information practice leaflet  

 

Child Protection

At Weavers Medical we have a Child Protection policy and everyone is familiar with this policy, knows what it says and how to use it.      All staff are aware of the current guidance on accountability, confidentiality and good medical record keeping.

Everyone including new staff are aware that Child Protection is everyone’s responsibility.    We have a lead GP for Child Protection in the practice and any member of staff can discuss any concerns they have in complete confidence  with their immediate supervisor and this GP directly. 

All practice staff at the recruitment stage will have – references – and identity checks. All nursing staff will have full CRB checks.