Freedom of Information Rhyddid Gwybodaeth
Introduction
Information availability
Rights of access
Feedback
Classes
Cost
Resources
Copyright
Introduction
This is a guide to the Publication scheme for Builth & Llanwrtyd
Medical Practice in which each of the following practice as a partnership:
Dr. M. Riley, Dr. R.L. Gibbins, Dr. R. Walters, Dr. A. Wallace,
Dr. H. Christley.
This publication scheme is a complete guide to the information routinely
made available to the public by Builth & Llanwrtyd Medical 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 monitor its effectiveness.
How is The Information Made
Available?
The information within each Class is downloadable from the
practice website or available in hard copy from The Surgery, Glandwr
Parc, Builth Wells, Powys or The Branch Surgery, Ffos Road, Llanwrtyd
Wells, Powys.
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 Builth & Llanwrtyd Wells Group Medical Practice
under the Code of Practice on Openness in the NHS issued by the
Welsh Office in 1995. Hard copies of the Code are available free
of charge from the NHS Wales Department of the We19 January, 2008al Assembly for Wales, Cathays Park, Cardiff
CF10 3NQ). The information is also available on the Department of
Health website. 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 (FoI) Act requires all General Practices to respond to requests about information they hold, and creates a right of access to that information. The rights to request and access this information are subject to some exemptions which a General Practice has to take into consideration before deciding what information can be released.
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 should contact the Practice Manager in writing to arrange
to do this.
The Practice will seek to satisfy all FoI Act requests promptly and within 20 working days. However we will extend this timescale to give full consideration to a Public Interest test. If we do not expect to meet the deadline, we will inform the requester as soon as possible of the reasons for the delay and when we expect to have made a decision.
The Practice will apply exemptions provided in the FoI Act and, where qualified exemptions exist, the Practice will disclose the information unless the balance of public interest lies in withholding it.
The Practice will consult with third parties before disclosing information that could affect their rights and interests. However, according to the FoI Act, the Practice must take the final decision on disclosure.
The Practice will record all FoI Act requests and our responses. We will monitor our performance in handling requests and complaints.
The Practice will ensure that all staff are aware of their obligations under the FoI Act and will include FoI Act education in the induction of all new staff.
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:
Mrs Jane Stephens
Practice Manager
The Surgery
Glandwr Parc
Builth Wells
Powys LD2 3DZ
Classes of Information
All Information at the Builth & Llanwrtyd Medical Practice
is held, retained and destroyed in accordance with NHS Wales’s
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
Builth and Llanwrtyd Medical Practice is a partnership of 5 doctors: Dr. M. Riley, Dr. R.L. Gibbins, Dr. R. Walters, Dr. A. Wallace and Dr H. Chrisley, who provide general practitioner services to the surrounding area. The partnership is not limited.
The practice is situated in a rural area of Mid Wales, covering an area of approximately 500 square miles and serves a population on about 7,500 people. The main surgery, in the town of Builth Wells provides services for approximately 6,000 patients and a second branch surgery 13 miles away in Llanwrtyd Wells provides for 1,500 patients. The two towns themselves have populations of 2,400 and 1,200 people respectively. The remaining patients live in small villages and farming communities.
The practice premises are described in greater detail on the profile page of this website.
2. Details of the Practice and Practitioners, organisational structure, key personnel and how we fit into the NHS Wales structure
There are five partners in the practice whose names are listed in the above paragraph. All are “full time”. Four of the partners are male and one female. Two partners provide most of the services in the Branch Surgery at Llanwrtyd Wells. The remaining partners are based in Builth Wells.
The practice has a manager, Mrs Jane Stephens, who manages the practice in conjunction with the partners. There is a full range of support staff; reception, office and secretarial. Four part-time practice nurses (Sr. Gaynor Hooper, Sr. Pat Jones, Sr Sarah Bowen & Sr Amanda Price) provide services at both surgeries, including diabetes, asthma, anticoagulant and travel clinics as well as a general range of services. Community Psychiatric Nurses (CPN), Health Visitors (HV) and a Dietician are also attached to the Practice. Additionally, there is a wide range of medical and paramedical support available through Builth Wells Cottage Hospital.
There is a national NHS Plan that explains how the NHS is changing and sets out how all the different parts function and work together. A copy is available on the Department of Health Website (www.doh.gov.uk).
3. Our Services
The practice aims to follow current published good practice guidance examples of which can be found on the NICE website (www.nice.org.uk) or the Department of Health website (www.doh.gov.uk) which can be accessed from the links page of the practice website (www.builthsurgery.co.uk).
All services provided by the practice will be subject to the rules governing the Data Protection Act 1998and information will only be shared with other organisations and public bodies according to the “Caldicott Guidelines” and the “New Good Practice Guidelines for GP Electronic Patient Records” available from the Department of Health, Royal College of General Practitioners and the British Medical Association. The practice protocol for sharing information is shown on the practice leaflet.
The range of services we provide under contract to the NHS Wales are detailed in our Practice Leaflet and the practice website (see address above) together with the practice opening hours.
The practice is a member of the Shropshire Doctors Co-operative Ltd., which provides out of hours cover for patients.
All partners provide the full range of medical services, but also have areas of special interest. These include women’s health, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, orthopaedics, emergency medicine, research and teaching. There is a long term interest in innovative healthcare which includes screening for diabetic eye disease and acupuncture. The doctors as part of their responsibility as general practitioners provide medical cover (oversight of the GP beds) for the local community hospital situated in Builth Wells.
4. Financial and Funding Information
The Builth and Llanwrtyd Medical Practice receives money from Powys Local Health Board (LHB) according to its contract (as per Class 1 above) in exchange for services provided for patients.
The total funding received from the NHS before expenses in 2006
was £1,083,436
The sum spent on drugs prescribed by the practice in 2006 was
£42,272
5. Regular Publications and Information for the Public
Guidance and information leaflets are readily available at the surgery provided as computer printouts by the software programs Mentor Plus or DXS.
The practice leaflet and website inform patients of services provided by the practice and are available to all patients. The Practice also publishes a regular e-mail newsletter that informs patients of our services and highlights any changes to our services. This is initially sent to all patients who have contacted us via the website or e-mail but subsequently allows patients to cancel or continue with their free subscription as they wish.
6. Complaints
The practice has its own in-house complaints procedure a copy of
which is available from reception.
7. Our Policies and Procedures
General policies and procedures in use within the practice are
available in hard copy from the Practice Manager on written request
and from the website. These include, but are not restricted to,
data protection, prescribing and repeat prescription, management
of violent patients and health and safety.
The practice has adopted the record management policy described
in “The National Assembly of Wales Corporate Policy on Records
Management – November 2001”
8. This Publication Scheme
In this class we will publish any changes we make to this publication
scheme, the criteria on which our information 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
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 website – free of charge, although any
changes for Internet Service Provider (ISP) 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 Mrs Jane Stephens or by personal
application at The Surgery, Builth Wells or The Branch Surgery,
Llanwrtyd Wells at a cost of 32p per A4 sheet. However, requests
for multiple print-outs or for archived copies of documents which
are no longer accessible or available on the web, may attract a
charge for 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 print-outs of other organisations’ websites.
b. Leaflets and brochures – free of charge on, for example,
services we offer to the public. A list is available from reception
at The Surgery, Builth Wells or The Branch Surgery, Llanwrtyd Wells.
c. E-mail will be free of charge unless it says otherwise
Examples of charges are:
For each print-out A4 paper 32p/sheet
The charges will be reviewed regularly and be in-line with other NHS organisations.
Useful Resources
Websites:
Builth Surgery
Information Commissioner
Lord Chancellor’s Department
NHS Wales Freedom of Information
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 contact:
HMSO Licensing Division, St. Clements House, 2-16 Colegate, Norwich NR3 1BQ Tel.: 01603 621000