FREEDOM OF INFORMATION MODEL PUBLICATION FOR DR.COWAN'S PRACTICE LISBURN HEALTH CENTRE LEVEL 3 LINENHALL STREET LISBURN BT28 1LU Telephone: 028 92 603203 Fax: 028 92 501311 CONTENTS SECTION A INTRODUCTION AND CONTEXT 1. How to obtain Information Page 1 2. Your rights to Information Page 1 3. Feedback Page 2 SECTION B CLASSES OF INFORMATION 1. Who we are Page 3 & 4 2. Our services Page 4 & 5 3. Financial and Funding Information Page 5 4. Regular publications and information for the public Page 5 5. Complaints Page 6 6. Our Polices and Procedures Page 6 & 7 7. This Publication Scheme Page 7 8. Cost of Information Page 7 & 8 SECTION C USEUFUL RESOURCES Page 9 SECTION A INTRODUCTION Welcome to the Publication Scheme for Dr. Cowan, Dr Trimble, Dr Cairns, Dr Warwick. This is a guide to the General Practitioners who practice together. The Publication Scheme is required by the Freedom of Information Act 2000. This Publication Scheme is a complete guide to the information routinely made available to the public by Dr Cowan and Partners working at Dr Cowan's practice Lisburn Health Centre Level 3, Linenhall Street, Lisburn BT 28 1LU. It is a description of the information about our General Practitioners and Practice which we make publicly available. It will be reviewed at regular intervals and we will monitor its effectiveness. 1. How to obtain Information The information within each Class is available in a booklet from Dr Cowan's Practice at the reception desk Lisburn Health Centre Level 3, Linenhall Street, Lisburn BT28 1LU. The Freedom Of Information Act is also available on our website www.lisburn-healthcentre.co.uk 2. Your rights to Information . In addition to accessing the information identified in the Publication Scheme, you are entitled to request information about Dr Cowan's Practice under the code of Practice on Openness in the HPSS (1996) . The Freedom of Information Act 2000 recognises that members of the public have the right to know how public services are organised and run, how much they cost and how the decisions are made. . From January 1st 2005 it will oblige Dr Cowan's Practice to respond to requests about information that it holds, and is recorded in any format and it will create a right of access to the information. These rights are subject to some exemptions which have to be taken into consideration before deciding what information it can release. . Revised environmental information regulations may be introduced in the future. These will enable similar access to environmental information as under the Freedom of Information Act 2000. . Under the Data Protection Act 1998, patients are also entitled to access their clinical records or any other personal information held about them. Should you require further information please contact Dr. Cowan or Ms Armstrong (Practice Manager) at Lisburn Health Centre Linenhall Street Lisburn BT28 1LU. 3. Feedback If you have any comments, questions or complaints 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 Ms M Armstrong Lisburn Health Centre Level 3, Linenhall Street Lisburn BT28 1LU SECTION B CLASSES OF INFORMATION All information at Dr Cowan's Practice is held, retained and destroyed in accordance with NHS guidance. Our commitment to publish information excludes any information which can be legitimately withheld under the exemptions set out in the Code of Practice on Openness in HPSS or Freedom of Information Act 2000. Where individual Classes are subject to exemptions, the main reasons are e.g. 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 in this Scheme is grouped into the following broad categories: 1. Who we are Class Description: Details of the Practice, organisation structures, key personnel and how we fit into the HPSS. . HPSS structure showing how the General Practice relates to the HPSS and other bodies. . A full list of local General Practices can be found on the web site of each Health and social Services Board. Dr Cowan's Practice provides general medical services for the geographical area of a 10 mile radius radiating from Lisburn Health Centre. . A full list of our services will be at Class 2 below. . Organisational Structure: Doctors M G Bertha Cowan TCD 1966 BA, MB, BCh, BAO, DRCOG, MRCGP F Mary Trimble QUB 1982 MB, BCh, BAO, DRCOG, MRCGP, FPC Ivor R Cairns QUB 1990 MB, BCh, BAO, DRCOG, MRCGP, DME Ian K Warwick QUB 1993 BDS, MB, BCh, BAO, DCH, DRCOG, MRCGP Staff PRACTICE MANAGER Ms May Armstrong SENIOR RECEPTIONIST Mrs Myrtle Ferguson RECEPTIONISTS Mrs Karen Walker Mrs Lisa Mitchell Miss Victoria Collins Miss Susan Stevenson Mr David Kidd 1. Who we are (Continued) PRACTICE NURSE Mrs Jillian McMinn DISTRICT NURSES Staff Nurse Hilary Harper HEALTH VISITORS Miss Mary Jordan Mrs Jane Elliott CHILD HEALTH ASSISTANT Mrs Denise Bradley TREATMENT ROOM NURSES Staff Nurse Rosaleen McNally Contract with the Health and Social Services Board are as follows: The practice holds a contract to provide General Medical Services, Maternity Medical Services Contraceptive Services and minor surgery to patients to patients registered with it. . Some information will be withheld, including personal, confidential information about individuals which is protected by the Data Protection Act 1998. 2. Our Services Class Description: The range of services we provide under contract to the HPSS. . Lisburn Health Centre Services: Audiometry Podiatry Occupational Therapy Speech Therapy Orthoptics District Nursing Physiotherapy Social Services Dr Cowan's Practice Services: Asthma, Minor Surgery, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Maternity Travel Clinic Hypertension Clinic Contraception, Child Health Smears/Cervical Cytology Diabetic Weight Management Smoking Cessation Advice Influenza (seasonal) . Surgery Hours: Lisburn Health Centre opens from 8.30am until 6.00pm Monday to Friday Telephone: Lisburn 028 92 603203 The building and grounds are fully 2. Our Services (Continued) accessible and equipped for disabled patients. We have two lifts, disabled toilets,ramps and disabled car parking facilities at Lisburn Health Centre. . Out of Hours Service: Telephone Lagan Valley out of hours service Lisburn 028 92 602204 operates from 18 00hrs to 08 30hrs . All members of staff our English speaking but will do they utmost to communicate to all patients non-English speaking. Unfortunately we do not have a resident interpreter. We do however have an interpreter who works for Down Lisburn Trust and can be made available on request. At the present moment in time we do not have an audio system available for any deaf patients but we will be looking into this in the near future. . Clinical Interests of Our Doctors: Dr Cowan: Asthma Dr Trimble: Prescribing Dr Cairns: Diabetes Dr Warwick: Ischemic Heart Disease 3. Financial and Funding Information Class Description: Funding details and charging policies . Dr Cowan's General Practice receives money from Central Service Agency according to its contract in exchange for services provided for patients. . The sum spent on drugs prescribed by the Dr Cowan's General Practice in 2001/2002 was £901,992.00 . There may be circumstances where material cannot be released because it is confidential or commercial information or the appropriate officer designated for these purposes under the Act has taken the view that it may be prejudicial to the conduct of the Practice's affairs. 4. Regular publications and information for the public Class Description: Guidance and information leaflets . A practice leaflet is available from Dr Cowan's Reception desk at level 3, Linenhall Street, Lisburn BT28 1LU. Also available from our reception desk are a variety of information leaflets (e.g. How to stop smoking, diabetic advice, weight loss and exercise leaflets) 5. Complaints Class Description: Policies, procedures and contacts for complaints . If you have a complaint please speak to Dr Cowan as soon as possible, preferably within six months and not later than one year. This will be acknowledged within two days and you will be offered an appointment to discuss matters fully. If this does not produce a satisfactory resolution to your complaint, then a written complaint can be made to the: Complaints Officer Eastern Health and Social Services Board 12-22 Linenhall Street Belfast BT2 8BS Telephone: 028 90 321313 Ext 2917 6. Our policies and procedures Class description: General policies and procedures in use within the practice. These include, but are not restricted to, data protection, prescribing and prescription, zero tolerance health and safety. . Data Protection: Regular review as there is always technology advances. Ensuring that there are no breaches of the act (e.g. access to patient information outside of practice). Patient's informed of there rights under the data protection act allowing them to have access to all relevant information. . Prescribing Policy: The practice has a repeat prescribing protocol which includes advice to patients regarding ordering of prescriptions and issues regarding authorization, recording and monitoring compliance of repeat prescriptions All repeat prescriptions should be ready within one working day of the original request which may be in person, by telephone or in writing (including an SAE). The general practitioners (GP'S) make the decision regarding repeat items the details of which are entered onto the computer, including review intervals. Repeat medication is generally issued in multiples of 28 days with a 56 day supply being the usual quantity on repeat. Certain drugs e.g.; antibiotics potent topical steroids and appetite suppressants are not suitable to be issued as repeats. Compliance is monitored by an IT system, with repeat prescriptions being issued no earlier two weeks before the date on which they are due. . Prescription Policy: Repeat prescriptions can be ordered by letter, telephone or in person to reception. Please include an SAE if you wish your prescription to be posted. 24 hours' notice is required for repeat prescriptions. Repeat prescriptions will be issued no earlier than two weeks before the date on which they are due. 6. Our policies and procedures (Continued) . Zero Tolerance Health and Safety: Dr. Cowan's Practice Statement: "Our aim is to treat you with respect-but we expect the same consideration from you." We have been increasingly aware of a small minority of our patients treating the reception staff with less than courteous and considerate behaviour recently. Our staff performs a difficult and stressful job, and endeavour to be polite, helpful and respectful at all times. Their task is made much more difficult when treated with less than proper behaviour. Please note that aggressive, foul or abusive language will not be tolerated from anyone. Thank you for your co-operation. We expect all or members of staff to be polite, helpful and respectful at all times. If you are dissatisfied in anyway or have a complaint about a member of staff please speak to the Practice Manager Ms May Armstrong who will try to resolve the matter as quickly as possible. Disciplinary action will be taken with any member of staff who has behaved in an inappropriate manner. 7. This Publication Scheme Class description: In this class we will publish any changes we make to this publication scheme, the criteria on which are information management policies are made and a referral point for all enquiries regarding information management generally in General Practice. We will also publish any proposed changes or additions to publications already available. . This class contains an outline of the way that costs for information are calculated. In some cases, this will involve costs for copying, printing, stamped addressed envelopes and the administrative costs involved in. 8. 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) Leaflets and brochures - there will be no charge for leaflets or booklets on, for example, services we offer to the public. A List is available from Dr Cowan's Practice Lisburn Health Centre Level 3, Linenhall Street, Lisburn BT28 1LU. (b) Photocopying will be charged at fifteen pence per sheet. If however a patient's record has to be photocopied a £50.00 charge will be occurred either to the patient or Solicitors office. 8. Cost of Information (Continued) (c) A Full Medical £50.00 A HGV or PSV Medical £50.00 A Private Sick line £8.00 A Full Medical for Insurance Purposes £100.00 An Insurance Form £10.00 (d) E-mail -there will be no charge unless otherwise stated. The charges will be reviewed regularly. SECTION C USEFUL RESOURCES This part of the Publication Scheme sets out further information including useful resources, publications and a copyright statement. Publications Code of Practice on Openness in the HPSS (1996) http://www.ehssb.n- i.nhs.uk/ebweb.nsf/4cdbab0966e6c2f880256c1d00408939/e71ac73127aca18 98025665c003430f3?OpenDocument&Highlight=0,openness Freedom of Information Act 2000 www.legislation.hmso.gov.uk/acts2000/2000036.htm Code of Practice under Section 45 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 www.lcd.gov.uk Code of Practice under Section 46 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 www.lcd.gov.uk Statement of Fees and allowances payable to General Medical Practitioners in Northern Ireland http://www.dhsspsni.gov.uk/publications/2002Sfa.pdf COPYRIGHT Material available through this Publication Scheme is subject to Dr Cowan's General Practice copyright unless otherwise indicated. Unless expressly indicated to the contrary, the material 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 of the material and acknowledge copyright status. This permit does not extend to third party material, accessed through the scheme. You must obtain authorisation to reproduce such material from the copyright holder concerned.