ACCESS TO RECORDS

Please note – this will not affect patients who have previously requested, and been granted, access to their online record.

For all other patients, information on how to obtain access is available on our website:

About Our Surgery – Barwell & Hollycroft Medical Centres (barwellmedicalcentre.co.uk)

From the 31^st October 2023 all new patients will be given online access unless you OPT OUT during the registration process.

How will this work for young people (13 to 15 year olds) who have been given access

This change to records access will only apply to people aged 16 years or older. If a young person is Gillick competent they may already have access to their records so it is still necessary to screen information for these patients.

People with online accounts set up before their 16th birthday will receive access to records entered after their 16th birthday when they turn 16.

Proxy access will not change.

Why have I not been allowed access or there are parts missing?

It is our job to keep patients safe. If there are reasons to believe that some information may be harmful to patients, there is safeguarding information or we think that patient safety is at risk we may stop you from having access. Things like:

• severe mental health issues,
• domestic violence (we may withhold your access if you have discussed this with a GP and we think there is a risk the perpetrator may get access to your phone and see this information),
• if there have been concerns raised about abuse or safeguarding issues
• coercion in the past to control a patient.

We may hide certain parts of your online record, or very rarely block access completely, if we have concerns. We would be happy to explain this to you if you would like to discuss it.

If you have asked for access and this has been declined after preliminary assessment, we will write to you to inform you that your request is rejected. If you feel that this is incorrect and that there should be nothing harmful on your record then please inform us so that this can be looked into in more depth.

The Opt in approach is not what the government are saying is happening, why is this practice different?

We have sought advice from the BMC who believe that the risk to patient safety with a mass switch on, and release of data, is too high. We believe that there is not enough understanding of what information is held by us and not enough scrutiny into how it could endanger some of our most vulnerable patients. Below is our up to date Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA) that shows how we have come to the conclusion that patients should opt into receiving their data, rather than automatically being granted access.

DPIA-Access-to-Records-BMC-V1-1.pdf

Access to Interpreters and Translation Services
at Barwell & Hollycroft Medical Centres

(Website Version)

Creation and Implementation:

Review of Policy:

At Barwell & Hollycroft Medical Centres, we are committed to providing high-quality care to all our patients, regardless of their language or communication needs. This policy outlines the services available for patients who require assistance with language translation or interpretation during their appointments.

Availability of Translation or Interpretation Services

We understand that clear communication is essential for effective healthcare. Therefore, we offer access to professional interpreters and translation services to support patients who may not speak English as their first language or those who have hearing impairments.

How to Request an Interpreter for Appointments

If you need an interpreter for your appointment, we ask that you let us know in advance. You can request an interpreter by:

• Phone: Call us on 01455 849149 to inform us of your need for an interpreter.
• At Reception: When booking an appointment in person, please inform our reception team about your need for an interpreter.

We aim to arrange an interpreter for your appointment whenever possible. For language assistance, we provide telephone and face-to-face interpreters, depending on your needs and availability.

Available Languages and Access to Sign Language Services

We offer a wide range of interpretation services for many languages. If you require assistance in a language other than English, we will make every effort to arrange a qualified interpreter who speaks your preferred language. We also offer access to British Sign Language (BSL) interpreters for patients with hearing impairments but this does require at least 48 hours notice.

Patient Responsibilities to Request Services in Advance

To ensure that we can provide you with the best possible service, we ask that you request an interpreter or translation service as far in advance as possible. This allows us to secure the appropriate resources for your appointment. Ideally, please inform us at least 48 hours in advance of your appointment so we can arrange for an interpreter to be available.

If you have a more urgent appointment and need language assistance, please still contact us, and we will do our best to arrange support for you.

Contact Us
If you need an interpreter or translation services, or if you have any questions regarding these services, please contact us at 01455 849149 or by email at Barwell.MC@nhs.net. We are happy to assist and will work with you to ensure that communication during your appointment is clear and effective.

Thank you for choosing Barwell & Hollycroft Medical Centres. We are committed to making sure all our patients receive the best care, regardless of language or communication barriers.

Access to Interpreters and Translation Services

All patients registered with us have a right to have access to their medical records. Barwell and Hollycroft Medical Centre have offered this service for many years, however on the 31st of October 2023 NHS E have asked that all patients with the NHS app will have automatic access. With the support and advice from the BMA (British Medical Association), Barwell and Hollycroft Medical Centres have maintained an opt in process.

Our aim is to protect patients who do not want to have their medical record on their phone without asking for it first. This could be for a number of reasons such as; domestic violence, safeguarding, coercion and other patient vulnerabilities.

From the 31st October, when you register at the practice you will now be given access to  your medical record unless you “OPT OUT” . If you already have access to your record at the surgery nothing will change on the 31st October 2023.

Once registered getting access to your medical record is simple and there are many ways that this can be requested:-

NHS APP

AccuRx request 

In Practice (ID required)

At Barwell and Hollycroft Medical Centre our appointment system is always under review to try and meet demand and to keep patients happy.

In order to try and keep up with demand, which has gone up dramatically since the beginning of the pandemic, we run a triage on the day system.

Routinely we are offering over 500 GP appointments a week for our population of over 14,400 patients with over 400 nursing appointments weekly.

On top of these appointments we have our PCN (Primary Care Network) staff working alongside us. These consist of

Paramedics

Pharmacists & Pharmacist technicians

Mental Health Facilitators

Nurse Associates

Social Prescribers

Health Coach

Physio therapists

All of which offer appointments in practice.

We have also teamed up with our local practices as a collective to be able to offer “Extended Access” which provides appointments outside of the usual GP opening hours.

How to get an appointment & what appointment do I need?

Do I need a GP appointment? For many minor illness and ailments the answer is generally no, we ask that patients seek advice from their local pharmacists who will be able to provide over the counter medications initially. They can often help with;

Coughs & Colds

Hayfever

Rashes & stings

Our team of Receptionists may ask to make a referral into this service on your behalf where appropriate, they have been trained on what the local pharmacists can see, and if they are a prescribing chemist they may ask that they refer you for things such as UTIs or Chest Infections as the pharmacist will be able to give antibiotics if needed.

The pharmacist couldn’t help and asked me to call the GP:-

No problem, the Reception staff will ask you a series of questions. This is not to be nosey, this is so that they can get you to the most appropriate person in the practice.

For example if you have back pain then the Physio will be able to see you usually within 2 weeks, they will be able to order tests where needed such as xrays etc, and they will be able to get you to secondary care physio therapy quicker then the GP as they will have done the initial assessment.

Once the Receptionist has a understanding of the issue they will sign post you to the most appropriate appointment. Either a Physio, Nurse, Paramedic or GP etc. They may ask that you send in a photo of the issue for the clinician to review prior to your appointment.

Our on the day appointments open at 8am. GPs will take the medical history over the phone and if a face to face is needed they will arrange a time that suits you to be seen that day.

We offer pre-bookable appointments (the wait can be up to 3 weeks for these depending on which GP you wish to speak to).

Extended access appointments may be offered where available, these are at Centre Surgery in Hinckley or Newbold Verdon.

Nurse appointments can be booked online or via the practice – Please be aware that blood tests must be requested by a clinician or the hospital prior to booking. Any inappropriate bookings will be cancelled.

Urgent appointments when all of our routine appointments are taken the practice has an on call or duty doctor. The reception has a template that they must fill out when a patient requests an urgent appointment. This allows the duty doctor to easily triage which appointments they need to speak to and which can be asked to wait. Please be as open and detailed as possible with the staff trying to take your information. This duty GP deals with all urgent requests from EMAS, patients, hospitals etc, all medication requests from the day and urgent letters and results. If your appointment is not urgent for that day you may be offered an alternative appointment.

Home Visits : We request all home visits to be requested by 10am. Only those who are clinically housebound are able to have a house visit. The duty GP allocates home visits to clinicians that are in that day or where appropriate to the Acute Visiting Service. Please call the surgery in the morning and speak to one of the reception staff who will help you.

To Cancel your appointment please call the practice and listen to the options there is a facility to leave a message with the admin team, alternatively send a AccuRx message or speak to one of our team. If you have online access you can cancel this appointment online. To change the appointment please speak to one of the team.

If you have a query anything that you does not need an appointment, request a sick note, enquire about a result or referral, or any other admin query please use the online services and AccuRx form and this will be dealt with.

We do understand that patients can get frustrated, we are here to help and do our best in very difficult times. Please be kind to all of our staff. Any violence or aggression towards them may end up in your removal from the practice list.

The Care Quality Commission make sure hospitals, care homes, dental and GP surgeries in England provide people with safe, effective, compassionate and high-quality care, and encourage them to make improvements. Further information is available from their website http://www.cqc.org.uk/ .

Our CQC rating 

Patient Complaints and Feedback Policy
at Barwell & Hollycroft Medical Centres

(Website Version)

Creation and Implementation:

Review of Policy:

At Barwell & Hollycroft Medical Centres, we are committed to providing high-quality care to all of our patients. We value your feedback and believe that any complaints you have about our services can help us to improve. This policy outlines the procedure for submitting complaints or feedback and how we will handle them in a fair and transparent manner.

How to File a Complaint

We encourage patients to share their concerns with us directly so we can address them promptly. Most complaints can be managed in person, and we would therefore encourage you to speak to a member of our practice in the first instance.

You can file a complaint or provide feedback through the following methods:

• In Person: You can speak directly with a member of our reception team, who will be happy to assist you in filing your complaint or feedback.
• By Phone: Call us at 01455 849149 to speak with a member of the team. We are available to discuss any concerns you may have.
• In writing: If you prefer, you can write in to us with your complaint.

We will make sure that your complaint is handled in a confidential and respectful manner, and we will aim to resolve the issue as quickly as possible.

Expected Response Times for Complaints and Feedback

We aim to acknowledge all complaints and feedback within 3 working days of receiving them. Depending on the nature and complexity of the issue, we will keep you informed about the progress of the investigation. We aim to resolve all complaints within 10 working days, but in some cases, more time may be required to fully investigate and resolve the issue. If there is a delay, we will inform you and explain the reason.

How Complaints Will Be Handled

Once we have received your complaint or feedback, we will:

1. Acknowledge Receipt: We will acknowledge your complaint within 3 working days, confirming that we have received it and are looking into the matter.
2. Investigation: We will thoroughly investigate your complaint, gathering all necessary information to understand the situation fully. This may include speaking to relevant staff members, reviewing records, or conducting further enquiries.
3. Resolution: Once the investigation is complete, we will provide you with a clear response, including the outcome and any actions we plan to take to resolve the issue. If applicable, we will explain any changes that will be made to prevent similar issues in the future.
4. Ongoing Communication: If the issue is complex or takes longer to resolve, we will keep you informed of the progress.

We aim to resolve complaints in a way that is satisfactory to you, but we also understand that in some cases, you may wish to escalate your concerns.

Escalating Complaints: Regulatory Bodies and Health Commissioners

If, after following our complaints process, you feel that your concerns have not been resolved to your satisfaction, you have the right to escalate the matter to the relevant regulatory bodies:

• NHS England: If your complaint relates to NHS services or you are unhappy with the resolution provided by the practice, you may contact NHS England for further advice or to escalate your concern.
  • Website: www.england.nhs.uk/contact-us/
  • Phone: 0300 311 22 33
  • Email: england.contactus@nhs.net

We value your feedback and are committed to resolving issues promptly and fairly. Your experience helps us to continually improve the services we provide to all our patients.

Contact Us

If you have any questions about our complaints or feedback process, or if you would like to discuss a concern, please do not hesitate to contact us at 01455 849149. Our team is here to help and will be happy to support you through the process.

Thank you for helping us improve our services. Your satisfaction is important to us, and we are committed to resolving any concerns in a professional and timely manner.

Complaints leaflet(4) to download our complaints Procedure.

Confidentiality Policy
at Barwell & Hollycroft Medical Centres

(Website Version)

Creation and Implementation:

Review of Policy:

At Barwell & Hollycroft Medical Centres, we understand the importance of protecting your personal health information. We are fully committed to ensuring that all your personal and medical details are kept confidential, secure, and handled with the utmost care. This policy explains how we manage your data and the circumstances in which we may share your information.

Commitment to Patient Confidentiality

We are dedicated to maintaining the privacy and confidentiality of your health information. All staff at Barwell & Hollycroft Medical Centres are trained to uphold strict confidentiality standards and are required to adhere to legal and ethical guidelines regarding patient privacy. Your trust in us is vital, and we take every measure to protect your personal information.

Circumstances Under Which Information Might Be Shared

In some cases, we may need to share your personal health information, but we will always ensure that it is done in accordance with data protection laws. These are the key situations in which information may be shared:

• With Other Healthcare Providers: If you are referred to a specialist or require treatment from another healthcare provider, we may share relevant medical information to ensure your care is coordinated and that all professionals involved in your treatment have the necessary information.
• For Legal or Safety Reasons: In certain situations, we may be required by law to share your information. This could include instances where there is a risk of harm to you or others, or if required by regulatory bodies or law enforcement.
• For Administrative Purposes: Your data may be shared within the practice to help with administrative functions like appointment scheduling or managing your healthcare records.

How Confidential Information is Stored and Handled by Staff

We take stringent measures to ensure that your personal health information is stored and handled securely:

• Electronic Systems: Your health records are stored electronically in a secure system, protected by password controls and encryption to prevent unauthorised access.
• Paper Records: Any paper records containing personal information are securely stored either in locked cabinets or stored off-site with a company fully compliant with the handling and storage of data within the NHS. Your records can only be accessed only by authorised personnel.
• Access Control: Only those staff members who require access to your information to provide care will be permitted to view your records. All staff are regularly trained in confidentiality practices and data protection.

Patient Consent for Sharing Information

In most cases, we will seek your consent before sharing your health information with others, such as when referring you to a specialist or another healthcare provider. We will explain why your information needs to be shared, what information will be shared, and how it will be used.

• Referrals and Specialist Consultations: If your GP or healthcare provider refers you to a specialist, your relevant medical information will be shared with them to ensure you receive appropriate care.
• Withdrawal of Consent: You have the right to withdraw your consent for sharing information at any time, although this may affect the treatment and care we are able to provide.

Your Rights

You have the right to access your personal health information. If you would like to view the records we hold about you or if you have any concerns about how your information is being used, please contact us. You also have the right to request corrections to your data if it is inaccurate or incomplete.

For more information and ways to let us know your choices please visit

Choose if data from your health records is shared for research and planning – NHS

Contact Us

If you have any questions or concerns about how we handle your confidential information, please do not hesitate to contact us at 01455 849149. We are here to help and will be happy to discuss any aspects of our confidentiality policy with you.

We are committed to providing you with the best possible care while safeguarding your privacy. Thank you for trusting Barwell & Hollycroft Medical Centres with your personal health information.

Confidentiality Policy

First Contact Information

First contact can get you the right information & support so that you remain living safely & independently in your own home.

First Contact Plus

Click on  the link above to access the website and see what services there are to help you.

Help available on:

• Improving Health
• Falls
• Feeling Safe
• Living independently
• Money, Debt and Benefits
• Work, Learning and Volunteering
• Families and Relationships
• Your Home

The average pay for GPs working in Barwell & Hollycroft Medical Centre in the last financial year before Tax and National Insurance was £61,855. This is for 7 part-time GPs and 4 Locums who have worked in the practice for more than 6 months.

Introducing Heidi AI at Barwell and Hollycroft Medical Centre 

At Barwell and Hollycroft Medical Centre, we are committed to delivering the best possible care to our patients. To enhance the quality and efficiency of our consultations, clinicians may use Heidi Health AI Scribe during your appointment. Below, we explain what this is, how it works, and how your consent is managed.

What is Heidi AI?

Heidi is an AI-powered medical scribe that listens to consultations in real time and converts them into structured medical notes. This allows your doctor or nurse to give you their full attention without needing to type extensive notes during your appointment.

How does Heidi AI work?

• Live transcription: Heidi listens and transcribes your consultation as it happens.
• No recordings stored: The tool does not keep any audio recordings—only the notes the clinician chooses to save.
• Integrated into medical records: Saved notes are securely added to your electronic health record within the NHS system.

Your Privacy and Security

Your privacy and comfort are our top priorities. Heidi AI only processes information discussed during your appointment and operates within strict privacy and data protection regulations.

• Your consent is required: Before using Heidi, your clinician will explain its role and seek your verbal consent. You have the right to decline or withdraw consent at any time.
• Data security: Heidi complies with UK data protection laws, including GDPR, ensuring your information is handled securely and confidentially.
• No external storage: All data is securely stored within the UK, and no recordings are kept.
• Data protection review: The Data Protection Impact Assessment has been conducted by Dr Darren Jackson, who is the Data Controller and Responsible Authority for the practice, and has been approved by Umar Sabat our Data Protection Officer at IGHealth.

Your Control

• If you prefer not to have Heidi AI involved in your consultation, simply let your clinician know.
• Choosing not to use Heidi will not affect the quality of your care in any way.

Why are we using Heidi AI?

• To allow clinicians to focus fully on patient care.
• To ensure accurate and efficient documentation of consultations.
• To reduce administrative workload, meaning more time for patient interaction.

If you have any questions, please speak to a member of our team.

Provision of Information to Third Parties

The practice may share your personal information with other NHS organisations where this is appropriate for your healthcare.

In other circumstances we may approach you for specific consent to release personal information to third parties.

In some circumstances there are statutory or ethical obligations to disclose information to others (such as public health issues) which may not require your consent. However you will be consulted about these in advance unless there is an over-riding public interest in not doing so.

We ask you for information so that you can receive proper care and treatment.

We keep this information, together with details of your care, because it may be needed if we see you again.

We may use some of this information for other reasons: for example to help us protect the health of the public generally and to see that the NHS runs efficiently, plans for the future, trains its staff, pays its bills and can account for its actions. Information may also be needed to help educate tomorrow’s clinical staff and to carry out medical and other health research for the benefit of everyone.

Sometimes the law requires us to pass on information: for example, to notify a birth.

You have a right of access to your health records. All requests for access must be in writing using the form provided by the practice.

Our lead nurse and nursing team are in charge of our infection control here at Barwell and Hollycroft Medical Centres.

We strive to deliver up to date evidenced based practice, complying with national guidelines (NICE, CQC, Epic 3, and Public Health).

We have recently updated our IPC policy and this can be provided on request, please speak to our nursing team who can support you with your query

Infection Control Annual Statement 2022-2023

Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy

Social Media and Online Communication Policy

Staff Equality and Diversity Policy

Children and Young People’s Policy

Confidentiality Policy

Patient Complaints and Feedback Policy

Access to Interpreters and Translation Services Policy

Staff Training and Professional Development Policy

Vaccination PolicyVisitor and Patient Behaviour Policy

Access to Medical Records Policy

Accessibility PolicyAppointment and BookingPolicy

Chaperone PolicyChronic Disease Management Policy

Clinical Governance and Quality Assurance Policy

Emergency Services and Out-of-Hours Care Policy

Fee and Charges Policy

Health Promotion and Preventative Care Policy

Infection Control Policy

Infection Prevention and Control Policy

Management of patient information and records in foreign languagesMental Health and Wellbeing Policy

Patient Rights and Responsibilities Policy

Prescriptions and Medication Policy

Privacy and Data Protection Policy (GDPR Compliance)

Non-attendance Policy

01 Privacy Notice Care Quality Commission

02 Privacy Notice for staff

03 Privacy Notice Emergencies

04 Privacy Notice for Direct Care inc referral

05 Privacy Notice NHS Digital 

06 Privacy Notice Public Health 

07 Privacy Notice Risk Stratification 

08 Privacy Notice Safeguarding 

09 Telephone Recording

Easy Read Privacy Policy

Children Privacy Policy

You can now register to receive information by text message on your phone regarding appointments and health care.

If you wish to register for this messaging service please fill out the consent form.

We try to do our best for all our patients at the Practice but sometimes things do go wrong for whatever reason. If you feel like you need to make a suggestion/complaint then please contact our Reception via telephone in the first instance.

A Proud GP Training Practice 

We are proud to be an accredited GP training practice, committed to shaping the next generation of family doctors. As part of our mission to provide high-quality healthcare, we actively support and mentor doctors who are training to become fully qualified General Practitioners.

What Is a Training Practice?

A GP training practice is specially selected and approved to provide real-world experience to doctors undergoing postgraduate training in general practice. These doctors, known as GP registrars, work under the supervision of experienced GPs while gaining valuable hands-on experience with patients.

Why It Matters

Being a training practice means we stay at the forefront of medical education and clinical best practices. It also encourages a culture of learning and reflection among our team—benefiting not only our trainees but also our patients.

What Patients Can Expect

• High-Quality Care: GP registrars are fully qualified doctors with several years of hospital experience. They work closely with our senior GPs to ensure the care you receive is safe, effective, and up-to-date.

• Team-Based Approach: You may sometimes be seen by a trainee doctor, but rest assured they are supported by a highly experienced clinical team.

• Teaching Environment: Our patients play a vital role in helping train future GPs. You may be asked if a trainee can be present during your appointment, or if your consultation can be recorded for training purposes. This is always optional and your comfort and privacy remain a top priority.

Supporting the Future of General Practice

We believe that training the next generation of GPs is not only a responsibility but a privilege. By fostering a culture of learning and mentorship, we help ensure the future of general practice is in safe hands.

If you have any questions about our training program or would like more information, please don’t hesitate to ask one of our team members.

GP Registrar

GP registrars are doctors who have qualified from medical school, they have done their Foundation year 1 & 2 working often in hospitals, they are then asked to pick a speciality. Our Registrar Doctors have picked GP as their speciality which is then a further 3 years training before they can qualify as a GP. Their time with us can be from 4 months to over 12 months if working less than full time, depending on where they are in their training. Whilst here they are learning more about family medicine under our supervision. Each trainee has a supervising GP daily who is there to support and to go through cases at the end of each session.

We are a dedicated training practice who have an experienced team of GPs willing to help support our registrars. Dr D Jackson and Dr McGreal are programme directors at different medical schools in the area, so the practice is a popular choice for trainees to attend.

Video Surgeries

We may sometimes ask whether patients mind having their consultation with the doctor or medical student recorded.  This is so that it can be watched back with a more senior doctor to observe and teach consultation skills.  This is a very important part of a student’s and doctor’s training as the willingness of patients to allow this is much appreciated.  We will never record any consultation without your permission.

Joint Surgeries

We may occasionally ask whether patients mind having their GP registrar consultation observed by another GP.  This enables the GP registrar to get feedback on their consultations and sometimes involve the patients in this process.

Other types of trainees

We have recently been asked to help with other forms of training. These include Pharmacy Students, Medical Students and nursing students. These students are often short term and sit in with experiences clinicians to gain experience of General Practice. This experience we hope will attract more young professionals to pick General Practice as a career after they have completed their training. If there is a student sitting with a clinician at the time of your consultation you will be asked if you are happy for them to be there.

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 competent to make decisions about their health, then the GP can give advice, prescribe and treat the young person without seeking further consent.

However, in terms of good practice, health professionals will encourage young people to discuss issues with a parent or carer. 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.

GUIDE TO ACCESSING SERVICES for YOUNG PEOPLE
(13 to 16 years old)

When you are young, your parents are usually involved in your health care. They may make decisions for you, and speak to health workers on your behalf. But as you get older you have more rights. You can decide if you want your parents to be involved or not.

This leaflet explains your rights once you are thought to be old enough to make your own decisions about your health care information.
Patients under the age of 16 should normally be accompanied by an adult when seeing a doctor or collecting medicines. However, under certain circumstances, patients below this age may be seen by a doctor, for example, if parents know that the child is at the surgery. Young people may also see a Doctor without parental knowledge to discuss sexual health matters, including contraception.

Who is this leaflet for and what’s it about?
This leaflet is for you if you’re under 16. It explains that anyone who looks after your health has to keep information about you private. This may be doctors, nurses, pharmacists or other health workers.

The leaflet tells you only about how things work in the health service, not other organisations such as your school or social services. If you want to talk to a health worker about something personal, they must keep this information confidential, even if you are under 16. This may be information about:
 Sex
 relationships
 pregnancy
 contraception
 drugs and alcohol, or
 feeling down.
Sometimes health workers do need to share information about you to give you good care. They may share information about you with other health workers who are looking after you – for example, health workers at another hospital or clinic if you have agreed to go there. This is to make your care safer, easier and faster.

They will only share information that is needed to give you the best care. If there are particular things that you don’t want to be shared, tell your health worker. If they think you are at risk of serious harm or you are in danger, they may have to tell
another adult about it to be able to help you. But even then, they should tell you they are going to do this and explain who they will tell and why.

Sometimes the law allows the health service to share information about you without you agreeing to it. This would only happen in very serious situations – for example, if you have an illness that puts other people at risk, such as meningitis.

How do I get a doctor?
If you’re over the age of 16, you can register with a GP by yourself. You can find a list of local GP’s in your area on the NHS website. If they are accepting new patients, they will ask you to fill in a registration form. Some GP’s also ask to see a proof of identity like a passport or proof of address like a mobile phone bill.

If you’re under the age of 16, your parents or carers should register you at a doctor’s surgery, but it doesn’t have to be same one as them or the rest of your family. If you don’t want your parents to know, you can still register by yourself but you might be asked some questions to make sure you’re okay.

How do I make an appointment?
You can make an appointment by calling your GP surgery and speaking to the receptionist or going there in person. The receptionist will probably ask you who the appointment is for and why. This is to make sure that you see the right person at the right time.
If it’s something personal then you don’t have to tell them why – just say it’s for something personal. You can also ask to see a male or female doctor if this would make you feel more comfortable.

Can I make appointments without speaking to someone?
If you’re struggling with anxiety or feeling worried, try explaining this when you make the appointment to see if they can help in any way. Also, perhaps try to take a trusted friend or family member with you for support. It can take a while to build yourself up to seeing someone, but it’s so important because then you’ll be able to get help to feel better.

Check out the DocReady website which has great tips on preparing yourself for a
GP appointment. http://www.docready.org/#/home

Can I see a doctor by myself?
Yes. There is no reason why you can’t ask to see the doctor by yourself. They might want to find out why and might encourage you to tell your parent or carer. But they should try to understand how you feel if you don’t want to.

What happens if I don’t like my doctor?
Most doctors are great at their job and care about their patients a lot. But, there are times when people either don’t get on with or feel uncomfortable with their doctor. You can always ask to see someone else. You may not be able to do this straight away and might have to wait for another appointment, so it’s better to say as early as possible.

CONFIDENTIALITY
What does confidentiality mean?
It means keeping information safe and private.
The health service keeps all your health information confidential. This includes:
• anything you say
• information someone writes about you, and
• details of any treatment you have had
You can talk to health workers about anything to do with your health.

Will my parents be given information about me?
Usually, health workers are not allowed to tell your parents anything you have talked to them about, unless you have agreed to this. But the health worker may suggest that you speak to your parents or an adult you trust. A health worker may want to send out information to you.

If you don’t want your parents to see this, you can:
 ask them to post it to a friend’s address
 say you’ll pick it up, or
 ask them not to send anything.
If you’re feeling nervous or stressed, take a look at our anxiety and stress page for ways to cope. Or visit https://www.myselfreferral-llr.nhs.uk/

What if my parents want to look at my health records?

Your health records include information about your health and any treatment you have had. Your records can be written on paper, held on computer or both. Usually your parents can’t see your health records, unless you agree to this. If there something in your health records that you don’t want your parents to see, tell a health worker.

If your doctor doesn’t think you can make decisions about your health care, your parents may be allowed to see your health records without you agreeing to it. But this would only happen if the doctor thought it was best for you.

Can I see my own health records?
Yes. You should be able to see your records in a way that you can understand. Any codes or words you don’t understand should be explained to you. You may want to know about treatment you’ve had, or check that information about you is correct.
It’s your choice whether to look at your health records. You may have to pay to see them. But you will be told about this first. To find out more about seeing your health records, ask to speak to the Practice Manager Sarah Gibson.

Who else can see my records?
Sometimes, people who inspect child protection services may ask to look at the records of young people who have been involved with these services. This is to make sure that children are protected from harm. These inspectors must keep your personal information safe and private, unless they think you are in danger.

What if I’m unhappy about how my information has been kept or used?
If you think that what you’ve told a health worker hasn’t been kept private or that something in your health records is wrong, please tell one of the health workers who has been involved in your care, or ask your parent or another adult you trust to do this for you.

If you’re still unhappy, it’s okay to make a complaint. Please ask to speak to either Sarah or Luci, who will listen to your complaint and guide you through the process.

CONTRACEPTION
Most methods of contraception won’t protect you against catching or passing on a sexually transmitted infection (STI). Condoms are the only method that protects against both STIs and pregnancy. Protect your own and your partner’s health by using condoms as well as your chosen method of contraception.

Where to get free contraception?
You can get free contraception and condoms from:
•most GP surgeries – talk to your GP or practice nurse
•community contraceptive clinics
•some genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinics
•sexual health clinics – these offer contraceptive and STI testing services
•some young people’s services

Find your nearest sexual health service, including contraceptive clinics. Many of these places offer information, testing and treatment for STIs, including chlamydia. If you’ve been exposed to the risk of pregnancy, you may also be at risk of catching an STI. https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/sexual-health-services/find-a-sexual-health-clinic/

There are lots of contraceptive methods to choose from. You should use a method that suits you, not just because your friends are using it. Don’t be put off if the first method you use isn’t quite right for you – you can try another.

Will they tell my parents?
Contraception services are free and confidential, including for people under 16 years old. This means the doctor or nurse won’t tell your parents or anyone else, as long as they believe you’re mature enough to understand the information and decisions involved.
There are strict guidelines for healthcare professionals who work with people under 16. If they believe there’s a risk to your safety and welfare, they may decide to tell your parents.