All patients registered at Dr Curran and Partners have a named doctor who has overall responsibility for your care and support. Your registered GP is also your named accountable and your allocated GP. Your allocated GP will be responsible for the provision of your healthcare.

Patients have a right to see any GP at the practice, it does not have to be your accountable GP. Please let reception know when booking your appointment.

New patients are allocated a Doctor on Registration. If you are unsure of who is your named Doctor please ask at reception.

Please tell us if you are looking after someone who is ill or disabled, so that we can support you when necessary. We have a page dedicated to Carers where you can also register with us as a carer so we can provide you with additional support.

We also run a Carers Support Group, ask the District Nurse for details.

The practice is committed to providing a safe and comfortable environment where patients and staff are confident that best practice is being followed.

Patients are entitled to ask for a chaperone for any consultation, examination or procedure where they feel they prefer to have a chaperone.

The Practice will endeavour to provide a chaperone on request, but patients would help us by requesting a chaperone when booking an appointment where a chaperone is required.  This may mean rescheduling appointments in order to meet this need.

A doctor, nurse or other health care professional may also require a chaperone to be present for certain consultations.

This practice has an educational remit. As a result of this, London Deanery Tutors (GPs themselves) will visit the practice from time to time and inspect patient records.

Any patient who does not want their records to be inspected should tell the practice manager for future reference.

Under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, we have to produce a publication scheme. A publication scheme is a guide to the ‘classes’ of information that we intend to routinely make available.

You can obtain a copy of this scheme from reception.

Here are some tips on how to get the best from us:

• See your one usual doctor wherever possible to maximise continuity in your care
• Be aware that appointments are limited by time. For multiple problems, it may take more than one appointment to get to grips with them all.
• Emergency appointments are for medical problems that cannot wait until the next routine appointment – please do not be disappointed if routine matters are not dealt with in these appointments.
• Be aware of the pressure on the telephone lines at peak times and use them in accordance with the principles set out above.
• Let us know of any change of name, address or telephone number immediately

In addition see how to get the most out of a consultation. Information is also available at the NHS website and NHS 111.

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

Infection Control Annual Statement 2022-23

The annual statement will be generated annually in March. It will summarise:

• Any infection transmission incidents and any action taken (These will be reported in accordance with our Significant Events Procedure,
• Details of any infection control audits undertaken and actions undertaken
• Details of any control risk assessments undertaken
• Details of staff training

• Any review and update policies and procedures and guidelines

Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) Lead

The Infection prevention and control Lead is Carol Dark – practice nurse

Dr Marc Duffield – GP Partner, supports the IPC Lead,

Significant events

Infection transmission incidents (Significant Events)

Significant events (which may involve examples of good practice as well as challenging events) are investigated in detail to see what can be learnt and to indicate changes that might lead to future improvements. All significant events are reviewed in the monthly staff meetings and learning is cascaded to all relevant staff.

In the past year there have been no significant events relating to infection control.

Audits 

The annual IPC audit was carried out on 17^th November 2022 by Carol Dark and Dr Marc Duffield

No major issues were identified.

Minor issues identified:-

Pedal bins in 8 clinical rooms and 2 toilets were faulty

A number of chairs in the waiting room and clinical rooms were torn

There is minor damage to walls in  three clinical rooms

Action taken:-

Chairs and pedal bins have been replaced, a request has been sent to NHS property services to request repairs to walls

Dr Curran and Partners plan to undertake the following audits in 2023:-

• Annual Infection Prevention and Control audit
• Cleaning audit
• Hand hygiene audit
• Monthly Sharps bin audit
• Weekly Cleaning Spot Checks

Staff training

Staff undertake mandatory annual infection, prevention control training.

Policies

All Infection Prevention and Control related policies are in date for this year.
Policies relating to Infection Prevention and Control are available to all staff and are reviewed and updated annually and all are amended on an on-going basis as current advice, guidance and legislation changes. Infection Control policies are circulated amongst staff for reading and discussed at meetings on an annual basis.

Risk Assessments

Immunisation: As a practice we ensure that all our staff are up to date with their Hepatitis B immunisations and offered any occupational health vaccinations applicable to their role (i.e., MMR, Seasonal Flu and Covid vaccinations). We take part in the National Immunisation campaigns for patients and offer vaccinations in house and via home visits to our patient population.

Curtains: All curtains are regularly reviewed and changed if visibly soiled

Cleaning specifications, frequencies, and cleanliness: There is a cleaning specification and frequency policy which the cleaners and staff employed by the trust work to.

Hand washing sinks: The practice has clinical hand washing sinks in every room for staff to use.

Responsibility

It is the responsibility of everyone to be familiar with this Statement and their roles and responsibilities under this.

Responsibility for Review

The Infection Prevention and Control Lead Carol Dark is responsible for reviewing and producing the Annual Statement for and on behalf of Dr Curran and Partners

Review date March 2024

Part of NHS South East London Clinical Commissioning Group’s (CCG) “Healthier Together” Five Year Strategy is to deliver best value by ensuring that we live within our means and use our resources well. Therefore to help us deliver our strategy and continue to support the cost effective, evidence based use of medicines, The CCG no longer supports the routine prescribing of medications for acute (short term) illnesses, minor and/or self-limiting conditions; and health supplements.

Position Statement for Prescribing Preparations Available to Purchase Over the Counter (OTC) for Self Care

How we use your medical records:

• This practice handles medical records in-line with laws on data protection and confidentiality.
• We share medical records with those who are involved in providing you with care and treatment.
• In some circumstances we will also share medical records for medical research, for example to find out more about why people get ill.
• We share information when the law requires us to do so, for example, to prevent infectious diseases from spreading or to check the care being provided to you is safe.
• You have the right to be given a copy of your medical record.
• You have the right to object to your medical records being shared with those who provide you with care.
• You have the right to object to your information being used for medical research and to plan health services.
• You have the right to have any mistakes corrected and to complain to the Information Commissioner’s Office. Please see the practice privacy notice or speak to a member of staff for more information about your rights.

For more information see our Privacy Notice or ask at reception for a leaflet.

Your GP practice holds copies of your patient health record electronically and in paper format. Both contain the healthcare information about you that your GP needs including your medical history, medications, allergies, immunisations and vaccinations.

If you have previously registered with a different GP in England, upon registering at this practice your electronic health record will, where possible, be transferred automatically from your previous practice through the use of an NHS system called GP2GP.

Transferring Your Electronic Health Record Leaflet

All practices, in line with government guidelines, have a ‘Zero Tolerance to Violence’ policy.

This means that any violent or abusive behaviour or perceived threatening behaviour, whether verbal or otherwise to staff or members of the public on practice premises will not be tolerated. We can refuse to provide a service, report the incident to the Police and request that the patient and their family be removed from their Practice list.