Freedom of Information
Welcome to the Publication Scheme for Station Road Surgery
This is a guide to the Freedom of Information Publication Scheme for:-
Dr Stephen Williams MB BCh Cardiff Dip Occ Health
Dr Jonathan Griffin MB BCh Birmingham MRCGP
Dr Rebecca Walberg MB ChB Sheffield. DCH, DFFP, MRCGP
who practice as a Partnership at:-
Station Road Surgery
15/16 Station Road
Penarth
Vale of Glamorgan
CF64 3EP
Telephone: 029 2070 2301
Introduction
This Publication Scheme is a complete guide to the information routinely made available to the public by this Practice. It is a description of the information about each of the General Practitioners and the Practice itself which we make publicly available. It will be reviewed at regular intervals and we will monitor its effectiveness.
How much does it cost?
The publications are all free unless otherwise indicated within each Class [with £]. Where information is provided at a cost the charges will be calculated as set out in Class 7.
How is the information made available?
The information within each Class is downloadable from the practice website.
Rights of Access to Information
At the present time, in addition to accessing the information identified in the Publication Scheme, you are entitled to request information about this General Practice under the Code of Practice on Openness in the NHS issued by the Welsh Office in 1995.
Hard copies of the Code of Practice are available free of charge from the NHS Wales Department of the Welsh Assembly Government. The information is also available on the Department of Health website www.doh.gov.uk.
Sometimes some, or all, of the information cannot be provided and we will explain the reasons why when this happens.
The Freedom of Information Act 2000 recognises that everyone has the right to know how public services, such as NHS Wales, are organised and run, how much they cost and how you can make complaints if you need to. You have the right to know which services are being provided, the targets that are being set, the standards of service that are expected, the results achieved and how decisions are made.
From January 1st 2005 the Freedom of Information Act required all General Practices to respond to requests about information they hold, and created a right of access to that information. The rights to request and access this information are subject to some exemptions which a General Practice have to take into consideration before deciding what information can be released.
The Environmental Information Regulations which came into force in 1993 set the standard for the release of information about the environment in which we live and work. These are likely to be strengthened under a European Union Directive. Until the new Regulations come into force, information relating to the Environment can be requested using the existing Regulations and the Code of Practice on Openness.
Under the Data Protection Act 1998, you are also entitled to access your clinical records or any other personal information held about you and you can contact the Practice to do this.
Feedback
If you have any comments about the operation of the Publication Scheme, or how we have dealt with your request for information from the Scheme, please write to the Practice Manager at the Practice main address.
CLASSES OF INFORMATION
All information at the Practice is held, retained and destroyed in accordance with NHS Wales guidelines. Our commitment to publish information excludes any information which can be legitimately withheld under the exemptions set out in the Welsh Code of Practice on Openness in the NHS or The Freedom of Information Act 2000. Where individual Classes are subject to exemptions, the main reasons relate to the protection of commercial interests and personal information under the Data Protection Act 1998. This applies to all Classes within the Publication Scheme.
The information on this Scheme is grouped into the following broad categories:
1. Who we are
Our Practice is an NHS General Practice within the Vale of Glamorgan Local Health Board area.
A full list of the other primary care providers in the area is available via the Local Health Board website.
Our Practice is a partnership of the following principals, supported by a full complement of clinical and administrative staff.
Partners
Dr Stephen Williams MB BCh Cardiff Dip Occ Health
Dr Jonathan Griffin MB BCh Birmingham MRCGP
Dr Rebecca Walberg MB ChB Sheffield. DCH, DFFP, MRCGP
Practice Nurses
Sister Nicola Falconer RGN, Diploma in Asthma. Diploma in Cervical Cytology and Women's health
Sister Chris Ralphs RGN RSCN DN Cert Diploma in Diabetes. Diploma in Cervical Cytology and Women's Health
Practice Staff
Mrs Sandra Gardiner - Practice Manager
Plus a full complement of Reception, Secretarial and Clerical staff
Staff attached to the practice
Community Nurses & Health Visitor
Community Midwife
Community Psychiatric Nurse
Phlebotomist
2. Our Services
The practice provides general medical services under the following categories:-
Essential Services
(i) management of patients who are ill or believe themselves to be ill, with conditions from which recovery is generally expected, for the duration of that condition, including relevant health promotion advice and referral as appropriate, reflecting patient choice wherever practicable
(ii) general management of patients who are terminally ill
(iii) management of chronic disease in the manner determined by the practice, in discussion with the patient.
Additional Services
(i) cervical screening
(ii) contraceptive services
(iii) vaccinations and immunisations
(iv) child health surveillance
(v) maternity services
Enhanced Services
These are NHS services not provided through Essential or Additional services. They include more specialised services undertaken by GPs or nurses with special interests and allied health professionals and other services at the primary-secondary care interface. They may also include services addressing specific local health needs or requirements, and innovative services that are being piloted and evaluated.
Further detail of Enhanced Services are available on application at the practice.
Out-of-Hours Service
The emergency out-of-hours service is provided by Primecare, a service commissioned by the Local Health Board.
Quality Standards
The practice seeks to comply fully with the requirements of the GMS Contract Quality & Outcomes Framework, National Institute for Clinical Excellence, National Service Framework Guidelines, NHS Complaints Procedure, Clinical Governance, and other relevant quality standards.
Languages Spoken
English
3. Financial and funding information
The Practice receives funding from the the Local Health Board according to its contract in exchange for services provided for patients.
The total income received from the NHS before expenses in 2007/2008 was £539,043
The sum spent on drugs prescribed by the Practice in 2007/2008 was TBA
For services outside of the practice's NHS contract, whether provided to NHS or private patients, a charge is made according to a notice displayed in the waiting room at the practice or from practice reception staff.
4. Regular publications and information for the public
Guidance and information leaflets on a variety of health issues are available at the surgery. Please ask the receptionist.
5. Complaints
Complaints should be addressed to the Practice Manager in writing, who will ensure that the matter is dealt with according to the NHS Complaints Procedure.
6. Our policies and procedures
General policies and procedures in use within the Practice include, but are not restricted to, Data Protection, Prescribing and Prescriptions, Management of Violent Patients and Health and Safety.
7. This Publication Scheme
In this class we will publish any changes we make to this Publication Scheme, the criteria on which our information management policies are made and a referral point for all enquiries regarding information management in the General Practice. We will also publish any proposed changes or additions to publications already available and information regarding our policy in relation to charging for information.
Cost of Information
For the most part, we will charge you only for hard copies or copying onto media (e.g. CD ROM). Some information is available free, but for others there may be a charge. The charges will vary according to how information is made available. Charges are as follows:
a) Via the Practice's Web Site – Free of charge, although any charges for Internet Service provider and personal printing costs would have to be met by the individual.
For those without Internet access, a single print-out as on the website would be available by post from the practice or by personal application at the practice.
However, requests for multiple printouts, or for archived copies of documents which are no longer accessible or available on the web, may attract a charge for the retrieval, photocopy, postage etc. We will let you know the cost and charges that will have to be paid in advance. We will not provide printouts of other organisation’s websites.
b) Leaflets and brochures - free of charge on, for example, services we offer to the public. A list is available from the practice.
c) "Glossy" or other bound paper copies, or in some cases a CD Rom, video or other mediums, are available for a charge as stated in our publication list(s) available from the practice.
d) E-mail will be free of charge unless it says otherwise.
The charges will be reviewed regularly and be in line with other NHS organisations.
Useful Resources
Web sites:
www.informationcommissioner.gov.uk
This is the web site of the Information Commissioner.
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Governmentcitizensandrights/Yourrightsandresponsibilities/DG_4003239
Directgov is the website of the UK government providing information and online services for the public.
www.wales.nhs.uk/foi
This is the web site for NHS Wales Freedom of Information.
www.foi.nhs.uk
This is the web site for NHS Freedom of Information.
Publications
• Welsh Code of Practice on Openness in the NHS www.wales.nhs.uk
• FOI Act 2000 www.hmso.gov.uk/acts/acts2000/20000036.htm
• General Medical Services Contract Documentation
Copyright Material available through this Publication Scheme is subject to the General Practice’s copyright unless otherwise indicated. Unless expressly indicated to the contrary, it may be reproduced free of charge in any format or medium provided it is done so accurately in a manner which will not mislead. Where items are re-published or copied to others, you must identify the source and acknowledge copyright status. This permit does not extend to third party material, accessed through the scheme. For HMSO Guidance Notes see www.hmso.gov.uk/guides.htm
or contact HMSO Licensing Division, St Clements House, 2-16 Colegate, Norwich NR 3 1BQ. Tel: 01603 621000.
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