BISHOP’S CASTLE MEDICAL PRACTICE

Your surgery

Accident and Emergency – the nearest Accident and Emergency Department is at Royal Shrewsbury Hospital, Mytton Oak Road, Shrewsbury.  Patients requiring stitches or x-rays as a result of an injury should go direct to hospital.

 

Results— All test results are seen by a doctor who will follow-up any that require further action.  Results will only be given over the telephone to the patient themselves and then only as ‘normal’ or ‘please discuss this with a doctor/nurse’.  Reception staff are not qualified to discuss the clinical aspect of any results; any concerns should be discussed with either a GP or nurse.

 

Occasionally, abnormal blood results are reported out of hours to the doctors at Shropdoc when they do not have access to any clinical information.  This makes clinical decision making very difficult so we have given consent for triage doctors working for Shropdoc to have access to previous test results only to help make a correct decision regarding further care.  This is via a password protected link and will not allow access to any other part of the patient’s medical records.

 

Cervical smear results take about 6 weeks and results are sent directly to the patients home by the Primary Care Trust.

 

Hospital Referrals—Choose and Book—Your GP may need to refer you to a hospital to be seen by a specialist.  You now have a choice of where you would like to be seen.  A couple of days after seeing the doctor you will be sent in the post all the information you need for making your appointment.

· You can choose from at least 4 hospitals

· You can choose the date and time of your appointment

· The referrals is sent electronically speeding up the referral process.

 

 

Young People—Please make an appointment to see the doctor or nurse if you have any worries or anything you would like to discuss in confidence.  We will keep your secret safe—either come alone or bring a parent or friend.  We are able to help, and advice is always available on alcohol, sexual health, feeling low, drugs, bullying, acne, problems at home, contraception, problems at school, health issues, relationships, smoking.  If you are worried please come and talk about it!!  No problem is too big or too small!!  Visit our links page for some useful websites.

 

Access to medical records— We keep information about you for your future care and treatment.  We only ever use or pass on information about you if people have a genuine need for it.  Whenever we can we remove details which identify you.  The sharing of some types of very sensitive personal information is strictly controlled by law.  However, sometimes the law requires us to pass on information, for example to notify an infectious disease.  Anyone who receives information from us is also under a legal duty to keep it confidential.  The practice is registered under the Data Protection Act (1998).  You have a right to see your medical records.  To do this you will need to make a written request to the Practice Manager.  There will be a small administration charge for this service.

 

Confidentiality - We ask you for personal information so that you can receive appropriate care and treatment.  This is recorded on computer and we are registered under the Data Protection Act.  We will ensure that patient confidentiality is maintained at all times by the practice team.  For this reason we are reluctant to give hospital reports or test results over the telephone to anyone other than the patient.  The out of hours service may require access to your results to aid with your care should you need to contact them. 

 

Suggestions and Complaints - The practice charter is displayed on this website and in the waiting room.  We welcome patients’ comments and constructive criticisms either directly to a doctor or other member of staff.  If you have a complaint about any part of the service you receive at the surgery please bring it to the attention of a doctor or the Practice Manager who will be happy to go through our complaints procedure with you.  If you prefer, you can make your complaint in writing to the Practice Manager and the matter will be investigated.  A written reply will be sent within fourteen days of receiving the complaint.

 

Disabled Access - There is a reserved car parking space near to the exit door.  Wheelchair access to the building is via a ramp at the exit door.  There is a bell on the outside wall to alert staff to your presence.  A disabled patients’ WC is provided at ground floor level.  We would be happy to consider any suggestions to  improve access.

 

Primary Care Trust - The practice is part of the Shropshire County Primary Care Trust, William Farr House, Mytton Oak Road, Shrewsbury, SY3 8XL.  They have details of all primary medical services in the area.

 

Zero Tolerance - Our surgery staff deserve the right to do their jobs without being verbally or physically abused.  Most of our patients respect this right and we thank you for being one of them. 

 

Types of behaviour that will not be tolerated include:

 

· Loud or intrusive conversation or shouting.

·  Threatening or abusive language involving excessive swearing or offensive remarks.

· Derogatory remarks of any kind, including comments regarding race, religion, gender or sexuality.

· Malicious allegations relating to members of staff, other patients or visitors.

· Threats or threatening behaviour.

· Physical violence

 

The practice supports the Government’s NHS Zero Tolerance Zone Campaign.  Violent patients will be reported to the police and struck off the GP’s list.  We ask that you treat your GP and practice staff properly – without violence or abuse.

 

 

Useful telephone numbers

 

Dial-a-ride                                                  01588 638350

Hamar Centre (Cancer Support)                 01743 261035

Ludlow Hospital                                          01584 872201

Newtown Hospital                                       01686 617200

Robert Jones & Agnes Hunt

Orthopaedic Hospital Oswestry                   01691 404000

Royal Shrewsbury Hospital                          01743 261000

Severn Hospice                                          01743 236565

Shropshire Social Services                          01743 659898

Victoria Memorial Hospital, Welshpool        01938 553133

Shropshire County Primary Care Trust        01743 261300

Bishop’s Castle Community Hospital           01588 638220

District Nurse                                              01588 676323