What is the Care and Health Information Exchange?

The Care and Health Information Exchange (CHIE) is an electronic record containing key information about your medical history from hospital, general practice, community care and social services in Hampshire. It is a safe way of sharing information about patients to those treating them. This lets them provide faster and more accurate care. The HHR is a much more detailed version of the SCR.

What information is available in the Care and Health Information Exchange?

Your CHIE record contains information about the medication you are currently taking, your allergies, test results, and other critical medical and care information, such as diseases you have and operations you have had. Health and care staff can access your information if they have your permission to do so.

Who uses the Care and Health Information Exchange?

The Hampshire Health Record benefits nearly all clinicians within the local (Hampshire) NHS and is used by a variety of people, from hospital doctors and pharmacists, to community nurses, podiatrists, occupational therapists and physiotherapists, as well as your GP.

Having access to your record allows clinicians to have a much wider view of information than they might otherwise have to hand, which in turn is beneficial to providing your regular health care. In situations where a clinician may not have any history of your previous treatments, for example in Accident & Emergency, access to information about allergies, diagnosis and medication can provide vital details that will help them give you the best care and advice possible.

What can I do if I don’t want my record shared?

If you don’t want to have your information shared, you can opt-out. To opt out or to request a copy of your record, fill out the appropriate form found here and bring it to the surgery.

To find out more about the Care and Health Information Exchange Record, visit the Care and Health Information Exchange website.

A relative or friend accompanying you may remain present during examinations at your own discretion, and with the agreement of your doctor, but the use of suitably trained personnel is more appropriate for the purposes of chaperoning.

If such a member of staff is unavailable we will offer to reschedule your appointment accordingly, as you prefer.

Complaints Procedure

We make every effort to give the best service possible to everyone who attends our practice.

However, we are aware that things can go wrong resulting in a patient feeling that they have a genuine cause for complaint. If this is so, we would wish for the matter to be settled as quickly, and as amicably, as possible.

To pursue a complaint please contact the practice and we will deal with your concerns appropriately. Further written information is available regarding the complaints procedure from reception or via the link below.

To view our complaints procedure click here.

To view the third party consent form click here.

The practice complies with data protection and access to medical records legislation. Identifiable information about you will be shared with others in the following circumstances:

• To provide further medical treatment for you e.g. from district nurses, hospital services and any clinics hosted by the local Practice Federation (Eastleigh Southern Practices Network)
• To help you get other services e.g. from the social work department. This requires your consent.
• When we have a duty to others e.g. in child protection cases, or for the prevention and detection of crime

Anonymised patient information will also be used at local and national level to help the Clinical Commissioning Group and Public Health plan services e.g. for diabetic care.

If you do not wish anonymous information about you to be used in such away, please let us know. Reception and administration staff require access to your medical records in order to do their jobs. These members of staff are bound by the same rules of confidentiality as the medical staff.

Freedom of Information

Information about the General Practitioners and the practice required for disclosure under this act can be made available to the public. All requests for such information should be made to the practice manager. For more information, please see our Freedom of Information Protocol.

Access to Records

In accordance with the Data Protection Act of 2018 and access to health records act, patients may request to see their medical records. Such requests should be made through the secretaries. No information will be released without the patient consent unless we are legally obliged to do so.

Case Study

The GP refers you to Orthopaedics. Within the referral letter are your significant medical problems, your allergies, your medications and your recent consultation with the GP. The Consultant is able to use this information to ensure they are treating you safely.

We are able to hold your home number, mobile number, and email address. By giving these details to us, you consent to us using them to contact you by phone, email or SMS. Please ensure these details are kept up to date, particularly for teenagers and young people who may have the contact details for their parent or carer on their record.

If you wish to opt out of text messaging, please contact us.

We increasingly work with other local GP practices to provide a wider range of services. When you book an appointment for these extended services, EMIS Community allows information recorded by your GP to be shared with these services and for your GP to view information recorded by these services.

GP Connect has been enabled to make appointment booking and clinical information sharing with a range of national NHS services including NHS 111. For more information on this click here.

If you have any concerns about who has access to your medical information, or questions about sharing information with other agencies, please contact the practice.

Annual Statement for Infection Prevention and Control (Primary Care)

It is a requirement of The Health and Social Care Act 2008 Code of Practice on the prevention and control of infections and related guidance that the Infection Prevention and Control Lead produces an annual statement regarding compliance with good practice on infection prevention and control and makes it available for anyone who wishes to see it, including patients and regulatory authorities.

As best practice, the Annual Statement should be published on the Practice website.

Infection Control Annual Statement: – December 2023

Purpose

This annual statement will be generated each year in December in accordance with the requirements of The Health and Care Act 2022 Code of Practice on the prevention and control of infections and related guidance. It summarises:

• Any infection transmission incidents and any action taken (these will have been reported in accordance with our Significant Event procedure)
• Details of any infection control audits undertaken, and actions undertaken
• Details of any risk assessments undertaken for prevention and control of infection
• Details of staff training
• Any review and update of policies, procedures, and guidelines

 Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) Lead

The Hedge End Medical Centre has one Lead for Infection Prevention and Control: ALISON JOHNSON (Advanced Nurse Practitioner)

The IPC Lead is supported by: JENNIE DOCK (PRACTICE MANAGER) and team.

The Infection Control Lead attends annual training needs and regular Infection Control Forums delivered by the ICB Primary Care Quality Lead in Lead Infection Prevention and Control Specialist.

 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 next significant event meeting, attended by GP partners, team leads and management. Those attending the significant event review meetings will agree learning and ensure it is cascaded to all relevant staff.

In the past year there has been 3 significant events (listed below), relating to infection prevention and control. Learning from these events are included:

Incident 1 – Cold chain breach (Vaccines left out)

Multiple vaccines were discovered in a box left on the side in the clean utility room. It was box containing individual named vaccines that the practice buys in for required treatments. This is a locked room so there was no breach of patient identifiable information. The vaccines were removed from potential use and the staff member informed the Practice Manager of her findings.

The investigation concluded that the length of time the vaccines had been out of the cold chain could not be determined, although the manufacturers have all been contacted for advice and guidance as per Infection Control procedure.  The vaccines have been covered in red tape and replaced in the fridge, until replys have all been received from manufacturers.  The likely explanation is that it was left on the side accidentally before the weekend, and the probable action will be to dispose of all the vaccines that are involved in this cold chain breach.

Learning

• Quarantine the vaccines and clearly label them not for use until manufacturers contacted for stability data.
• Inform Manufacturers clinical teams, NHS England Screening, and Immunisation Team Wessex.
• Await instruction of disposal or how to use if off label from manufacturers. Label vaccines accordingly
• Investigate the incident and document all relevant information recorded as a significant event.
• Feedback at significant event meeting.
• The relevant staff member was reminded to ensure safe storage of vaccines and the need for replacement immediately into the fridge.
• The only vaccines to be removed at any one time are the relevant one / ones to the patients need.

Incident 2.- Power failure resulting in a break in the cold chain.

One of the practices’ three vaccine fridges started to alarm. This fridge contained flu vaccines only.  There had been a power cut overnight due to a storm. The Practice Manager was informed by the member of staff who identified this break in power supply first thing in the morning, the day before the fridge temperature had been checked. The data logger was checked to ascertain the time of the temperature excursion, but it was found not to have stored data for the past two weeks. Fortunately, the surgery has three power circuits in the building, each fridge is on a separate circuit. Thanks to our rigorous temperature recording for vaccine storage and stock control only one fridge was affected.  That fridge was isolated, it was established that the maximum length of time was 12hrs. The fridge had remained sealed during that time. The Vaccines were quarantined and clearly labelled not for use and manufactures contacted for stability data.

The advice from the manufacture was to continue to use the vaccines affected by this break in the cold chain, as vaccine efficacy was not compromised. However, the vaccines would now be classed as off label.

An explanation was given to each patient prior to giving the affected flu vaccines advising that the vaccine was off label but had efficacy was unaffected, and the vaccine safe to give. They were also offered written information to take home. Patients were asked to consent to the off-label use of the vaccine.

The vaccine information is recorded on each individual patients notes that the vaccine is off label and patient information has been given. Thus, allowing the patient to make an informed choice of consent.

Incident 3. Live vaccine given to a child under 2yrs of age in the clinical at-Risk category. (Inactivated vaccination should have been given).

The clinician was alerted to this mistake after the event, as the Emis system has an in built safety net system when entering a vaccination into the system prior to giving. The clinician concerned notified the lead nurse and Practice Manager straight away.

The NHS Imms Team was contacted for advice and Mum was contacted by telephone giving the clinical advice from NHS Imms. She was advised to closely monitor the child and what signs and symptoms to monitor for.

A follow-up telephone call was made to give the Mum an opportunity to discuss and to escalate the error should she wish to do so. An email was sent containing written information from NHS Imms Team.

Learning.

All vaccines should be entered onto the Emis computer system prior to giving.

In future the surgery will not send out AccuRx self-book text messages to children under the age of 2yrs, as they need to be booked with a different clinician in a different clinic.

This incident has been shared as a learning process for the whole Team as part of the Significant Event learning process.

Infection Prevention Audit and Actions

The Annual Infection Prevention and Control audit process was completed by Alison Johnson, Louise Cook, and Jennie Dock in July 2023.

The audits completed this year were as follows:

General Infection Control Audit (including environment, sharps, waste, vaccines, clinical)

Cleaning Audit with the domestic cleaning company.

As a result of both audits, the following things have been changed in Hedge End Medical Centre:

• Building maintenance planned
• Decoration and repair of damaged walls to be assessed in the review and prioritised
• Area’s requiring de cluttering identified.
• Areas for deep cleaning identified and completed
• Removal of limescale from all taps in all the rooms.

Hedge End Medical Centre plan to undertake the following audits during 2024

• Annual Infection Prevention and Control audit (including environment, sharps, waste, vaccines, clinical)
• Domestic Cleaning audit
• Audit the decluttering process, in particular to ensure the removal of items under the sinks in each room, if item / items are still required, they are to be placed in a sealed top box.
• Hand washing Audit.
• An audit of Post operative infection rate with regards to Coil insertions and Implant insertions/removals.

 Risk Assessments

Risk assessments are carried out so that best practice can be established and then followed. In the last year the following risk assessments were carried out / reviewed:

• Management of staff working with confirmed covid-19 infection and presumed Covid 19 Infection.
• Management of clinical staff during pregnancy
• Management of Covid-19 infection in the community
• Regular water testing to ensure that nil Legionella has entered our water systems, with hot and cold temperature checking and recording of all water pipes throughout the practice

• Immunisation: As a practice we ensure that any staff who will come into contact with body fluids are up to date with their Hepatitis B immunisations and have a good response to titres. If not, risks assessments are carried out. All staff are offered an annual influenza vaccine if they have not been able to receive one at their own GP practice.

We take part in the National Immunisation campaigns for patients and offer routine scheduled vaccinations and seasonal vaccinations in surgery and via home visits to our patient population.

Curtains and blinds: The NHS Cleaning Specifications state the curtains should be cleaned or if using disposable curtains, replaced every 6 months. To this effect we use disposable curtains and ensure that all clinical areas (treatment rooms/minor ops) are changed every 6 months. All curtains are regularly reviewed and changed if visibly soiled. The windows blinds are very low risk and therefore do not require a particular cleaning regime other than regular vacuuming to prevent build-up of dust.

Toys: All toys have been removed since March 2020.

Cleaning specifications: frequencies and cleanliness:

We also have a cleaning specification and frequency policy which our cleaners and staff work to. An assessment of cleanliness is conducted by the cleaning team manager and Practice Management and logged. This includes all aspects in the surgery including cleanliness of equipment.

Hand washing sinks: The practice has clinical hand washing sinks in every room for staff to use. Some of our sinks do not meet the latest standards for sinks but have had the plugs removed. Staff reminded to turn of taps that are not ‘hands free’ with paper towels to keep patients safe. We have liquid soap with wall mounted soap dispensers to ensure cleanliness and hand gel in the waiting room and clinical rooms.

Training

All our staff receives mandatory training in infection prevention and control. On-line training is available and mandatory for all new staff.

The Infection Control Lead attends annual training needs and regular Infection Control Forums delivered by the Primary Care Quality Lead in Lead Infection Prevention and Control Specialist.

GPs have undertaken specialist training in Minor surgery, infection prevention and control and joint injections. However, due to capacity within the GP clinical Team, minor surgery clinics have been suspended.

GP’s and specially trained nurses have undertaken specialist training in Sexual health with regards to Coil insertions and Implant insertions/removals.

GPs and Practice Nurses attend Target sessions and practice nurse forums that may include topics relating to infection control.

Policies

The following policies have been reviewed and updated as appropriately:

• Primary care infection prevention and control

Policies relating to Infection Prevention and Control are available to all staff and are reviewed and updated on a 2 yearly basis and all are amended on an on-going basis as current advice, guidance and legislation can change. Infection Control policies are circulated amongst staff for reading and discussed at meetings on an annual basis.

Responsibility

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

Review date

December 2024

Responsibility for Review

The Infection Prevention and Control Lead and Practice Manager are responsible for reviewing and producing the Annual Statement.

Jennie Dock

Practice Manager

For and on behalf of the Hedge End Medical Centre.

The MIG project enables GPs to see information recorded by the community teams about a patient, and for community staff to see information recorded by the GPs without having to log onto another system or to search for the patient in another system.

Who Uses MIG?

Information will be available between the following organisations within Hampshire:

• GP surgery
• Mental Health
• Children’s Services
• Older People’s Mental Health Inpatients
• Older Person’s Mental Health Community
• Adult Nursing and Therapies

Who can see my Information on MIG?

Of the above, all patients will have a GP record, but not all patients will have one of the other records. The GP record will only be visible to the other service if the other service has a record of their own. Staff will only be able to access MIG with your consent, and access will be audited.

What can I do if I don’t want my record shared?

If you don’t want to have your information shared, please contact the surgery and let us know.

Case Study

The Health Visitor for a mum and new baby wants to check that they have had their 8 week check. The Health Visitor can use MIG to check this has been done and no concerns were raised by mum or the GP.

We are required to provide all of our patients with a named GP.

Your named GP is the GP who is responsible for handling your paperwork (prescriptions, letters, etc.), and has overall responsibility for the care and support you receive.

This does not prevent you from seeing any GP at the practice.

If you would like to know who your named GP is, please call on 01489 785 722 or ask at reception.

If you have a preference for your named GP, please ask at reception and we will make reasonable efforts to accommodate you.

All GP practices are required to declare the mean earnings (e.g. average pay) for GPs working to deliver NHS services to patients at each practice.

The average pay for GPs working in Hedge End Medical Centre in the last financial year (2022-2023) was £75,314 before tax and National Insurance. This is for 13 part time GPs, who worked in the practice for more than six months.

Fair Processing Notice under the Data Protection Act 2018 – How we use your personal information

This fair processing notice explains why the GP practice collects information about you and how that information may be used.

The health care professionals who provide you with care maintain records about your health and any treatment or care you have received previously (e.g. NHS Trust, GP Surgery, Walk-in clinic, etc.). These records help to provide you with the best possible healthcare.

NHS health records may be electronic, on paper or a mixture of both, and we use a combination of working practices and technology solutions to ensure that your information is kept confidential and secure.

Records which this Practice hold about you may include the following information:

• Details about you, such as your address, carer, legal representative, emergency contact details, next of kin
• Any contact the surgery has had with you, such as appointments, telephone, eConsults submitted by you, etc.
• Notes and reports about your health
• Details about your treatment and care
• Results of investigations such as laboratory tests, x-rays etc.
• Relevant information from other health professionals, relatives or those who care for you

To ensure you receive the best possible care, your records are used to facilitate the care you receive. Information held about you may be used to help protect the health of the public and to help us manage the NHS. Information may be used within the GP practice for clinical audit to monitor the quality of the service provided. Some of this information will be held centrally and used for statistical purposes. Where we do this, we take strict measures to ensure that individual patients cannot be identified. Sometimes your information may be requested to be used for research purposes – if this information needs to be identifiable, the surgery will always gain your explicit consent before releasing the information for this purpose.

General Practice Data for Planning and Research

Patients personal confidential data will be extracted and shared with NHS Digital in order to support vital health and care planning and research. Further information can be found here.

Risk Stratification

Risk stratification data tools are increasingly being used in the NHS to help determine a person’s risk of suffering a particular condition, preventing an unplanned or (re)admission and identifying a need for preventive intervention. Information about you is collected from a number of sources including NHS Trusts and from this GP Practice.

A risk score is then arrived at through an analysis of your anonymised information using software managed by our clinical system provider, and is only provided back to your GP as data controller in an identifiable form. Risk stratification enables your GP to focus on preventing ill health and not just the treatment of sickness. If necessary your GP may be able to offer you additional services. Please note that you have the right to opt out of your data being used in this way.

Medicine Management

The Practice may conduct Medicines Management Reviews of medications prescribed to its patients. This service performs a review of prescribed medications to ensure patients receive the most appropriate, up to date and cost effective treatments.

This service is provided by pharmacists and Technicians employed by Hampshire, Southampton and Isle of Wight Clinical Commissioning Group. They are bound by the same confidentiality rules as our staff are.

Eastleigh Southern Parishes staff

The Practice works alongside Eastleigh Southern Parishes Network (ESPN) who employ Care Navigators, Social Prescribers and Health and Wellbeing workers. These are non-clinical staff whose role it is to prevent hospital admissions for vulnerable patients, and support the practice in providing care for their patients.

They have access to patients’ records when the patient has explicitly consented to this.

GP Connect – Primary and Secondary Care

We use a facility called GP Connect to support your direct care. GP Connect makes patient information available to all appropriate clinicians when and where they need it, to support direct patients care, leading to improvements in both care and outcomes. GP Connect is not used for any purpose other than direct care.

Authorised Clinicians such as GPs, NHS 111 Clinicians, Care Home Nurses (if you are in a Care Home), Secondary Care Trusts, Social Care Clinicians are able to access the GP records of the patients they are treating via a secure NHS Digital service called GP connect.

The NHS 111 service (and other services determined locally e.g. Other GP practices in a Primary Care Network) will be able to book appointments for patients at GP practices and other local services.

In order for your Personal Data to be shared or processed, an appropriate “legal basis” needs to be in place and recorded. The legal bases for direct care via GP Connect is the same as the legal bases for the care you would receive from your own GP, or another healthcare provider:

• for the processing of personal data: Article 6.1 (e) of the UK GDPR: “processing is necessary for the performance of a task carried out in the public interest or in the exercise of official authority vested in the controller”.
• for the processing of “Special Category Data” (which includes your medical information): Article 9.2 (h) of the UK GDPR:  “processing is necessary for the purposes of preventive or occupational medicine, for the assessment of the working capacity of the employee, medical diagnosis, the provision of health or social care or treatment or the management of health or social care systems and services”.

Because the legal bases used for your care using GP Connect are the same as used in other direct care situations, the legal rights you have over this data under UK GDPR will also be the same- these are listed elsewhere in our privacy notice.

• Find out more about GP Connect.

How do we Maintain the Confidentiality of Your Records?

We are committed to protecting your privacy and will only use information collected lawfully in accordance with:

• General Data Protection Regulations 2018 (formerly Data Protection Act 1998)
• Human Rights Act 1998
• Common Law Duty of Confidentiality
• Health and Social Care Act 2012
• NHS Codes of Confidentiality, Information Security and Records Management
• Information: To Share or Not to Share Review

Every member of staff who works for an NHS organisation has a legal obligation to keep information about you confidential. Any visitor to the premises who will or could be exposed to your identifiable information will sign a confidentiality agreement.

We will only ever use or pass on information about you if others involved in your care have a genuine need for it. We will not disclose your information to any third party without your permission unless there are exceptional circumstances (i.e. life or death situations), where the law requires information to be passed on and / or in accordance with the new information sharing principle following Dame Fiona Caldicott’s information sharing review (Information to share or not to share) where “The duty to share information can be as important as the duty to protect patient confidentiality.”

This means that health and social care professionals should have the confidence to share information in the best interests of their patients within the framework set out by the Caldicott principles. They should be supported by the policies of their employers, regulators and professional bodies.

Who are Our Partner Organisations?

• NHS Trusts / Foundation Trusts
• GP’s
• NHS Commissioning Support Units
• Independent Contractors such as dentists, opticians, pharmacists
• Private Sector Providers
• Voluntary Sector Providers
• Ambulance Trusts
• Clinical Commissioning Groups
• Social Care Services
• Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC)
• Local Authorities
• Education Services
• Fire and Rescue Services
• Police & Judicial Services
• Voluntary Sector Providers
• Private Sector Providers
• Other ‘data processors’ which you will be informed of

You will be informed who your data will be shared with and in some cases asked for explicit consent for this happen when this is required. We may also use external companies to process personal information, such as for archiving purposes. These companies are bound by contractual agreements to ensure information is kept confidential and secure.

Who are Our Partner Software Suppliers / Businesses?

We use a number of pieces of software and organisations outside of the NHS to facilitate your healthcare and enable our staff to contact you. These are as follows:

Access to personal information / Subject Access Requests

You have a right under the General Data Protection Regulations 2018 to request access to view or to obtain copies of what information the surgery holds about you and to have it amended should it be inaccurate. In order to request this, you need to do the following:

• Your request must be made in writing to the GP, this can be made by email or letter (note for information from the hospital you should write direct to them)
• We will initially offer you online access to your Detailed Coded Record. This contains your electronic medical record, and summarised paper record. It does not contain any letters from the hospitals or other attachments on your record. The advantage of applying for access to this record is that is updates as your medical record updates, so you will always have the most current information.
• If the Detailed Coded Record is not adequate for your needs, we will email you a copy of your medical record. If you are not able to receive an email containing your medical record, you will print a copy for you. There may be a charge to have a printed copy of the information held about you if the administrative burden of photocopying and printing is excessive.
• We are required to respond to you within 20 days
• You will need to give adequate information (for example full name, address, date of birth, NHS number and details of your request) so that your identity can be verified and your records located

Objections / Complaints

Should you have any concerns about how your information is managed at the GP, please contact the Practice Manager by email, telephone or letter. If you are still unhappy following a review by the GP practice, you can then complain to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) www.ico.gov.uk, [email protected], telephone: 0303 123 1113 (local rate) or 01625 545 745.

If you are happy for your data to be extracted and used for the purposes described in this privacy notice then you do not need to do anything. If you have any concerns about how your data is shared then please contact the practice.

Change of Details

It is important that you tell the person treating you if any of your details such as your name or address have changed or if any of your details such as date of birth is incorrect in order for this to be amended. You have a responsibility to inform us of any changes so our records are accurate and up to date for you.

Notification    

The General Data Protection Regulations 2018 requires organisations to register a notification with the Information Commissioner to describe the purposes for which they process personal and sensitive information.

This information is publicly available on the Information Commissioner’s Office website www.ico.org.uk

The practice is registered with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO).

Who is the Data Controller?

The Data Controller, responsible for keeping your information secure and confidential is: Hedge End Medical Centre

If you are still unhappy following a review by the Practice you can then complain to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO). www.ico.org.uk, [email protected], telephone: 0303 123 1113 (local rate) or 01625 545 745.

Who is the Data Protection Officer?

As a public authority, we have to appoint a Data Protection Officer (DPO). The DPO for this Practice is NHS Arden and Greater East Midlands Commissioning Support Unit. They assist us in monitoring internal compliance, provides advice regarding Data Protection Impact Assessments (DPIAs), and helps us demonstrate compliance with an enhanced focus on accountability. The contact details for our DPO is Judith Jordan 0121 611 0730 [email protected].

Hedge End Medical Centre actively supports clinical research studies within primary care. The NHS Constitution states that Research is a core function of the NHS. Clinical Research is a major driver of innovation and central to NHS practice for maintaining and developing high standards of patient care.

Ultimately, clinical research means patients get access to new treatments, interventions and medicines. Investment in research means better, more cost effective care for patients.

National Data opt-out

The national data opt-out was introduced on 25 May 2018 and replaces the previous ‘type 2’ opt-out.  NHS Digital collects information from a range of places where people receive care, such as hospitals and community services. The new programme provides a facility for individuals to opt-out from the use of their data for research or planning purposes. For anyone who had an existing type 2 opt-out, it will have been automatically converted to a national data opt-out from 25 May 2018 and you will receive a letter giving you more information and a leaflet explaining the new national data opt-out.

To view the patient information leaflet produced by NHS Digital click here.

The national data opt-out choice can be viewed or changed at any time by using the online service at www.nhs.uk/your-nhs-data-matters

For more information, click here.

National Institute for Health Research

In 2006 the Department of Health set up The National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) to improve the health and wealth of the nation through Research.

The NIHR Clinical Research Network (CRN) was introduced to provide the infrastructure to the NHS to allow high quality research to be set up and delivered efficiently and effectively. Hedge End Medical Centre is part of a network of local practices participating in research activities under the banner of CRN Wessex. To find out more about the work of the NIHR Clinical Research Network go to www.crn.nihr.ac.uk

What is Primary Care Research?

The CRN Primary Care speciality works in collaboration with researchers and primary care practitioners such as GP’s, practice nurses, pharmacists and dentists to promote the successful delivery of research studies in the NHS.

A wide range of research studies are supported which look at:

• Promoting a healthier lifestyle
• Disease diagnosis and prevention
• Management of long-term illnesses such as diabetes or hypertension
• Prevention of future ill-health
• Treating common conditions such as tonsillitis or influenza

What are the benefits of GP practices taking part in Research?

• It offers patients access to new treatments
• It brings new dimension to practice and added skills to those involved
• It provides national gold standard training for research
• It offers mentorship and support to those involved in research within practice

How can you help and take part at Hedge End Medical Centre?

There are many various ways a patient can become involved in studies:

• A doctor or nurse may talk to you about a particular study and ask whether you would be interested in participating
• You may be sent information through the post if we feel you may be a suitable participant
• You may read information about a current study in the patient waiting room or on the surgery website and wish to take part by contacting your GP or the Research Nurse.

You are under no obligation to participate in any research project. Your care and your relationship with your doctor or nurse will not be affected in any way if you decided not to take part in a research study. You will always receive clear information about what taking part in a research study would involve. You will have the opportunity to ask questions and obtain further details about a study. If you do agree to take part in a study you will be asked to sign a consent form. This will clearly state which parts of your notes (if any) may be looked at for the purposes of the research study. Nobody from outside this practice will be given your contact details or have access to your medical records without your prior consent.

Please note: the funding for our research activity is via the CRN so does not come out of the practice’s own budget and therefore does not affect our patients’ services. All clinical research carried out at Hedge End Medical Centre is thoroughly checked and approved by ethical committees thus ensuring it is appropriate and safe to perform. Your participation is entirely voluntary and can be withdrawn by yourself at any time without any explanation required.

Case Study

Bournemouth University, in conjunction with the National Institute for Health Research, are testing whether participating in Tai Chi slows the progress of mild cognitive impairment. The Practice writes to the patient / carer of anyone with this diagnoses and invites them to take part in the study. The letter from the practice contains information the research team if they wish to participate.

Covid-19 Research

We have agreed to take part in supplying patient data to the Nuffield Department of Primary Care at the University of Oxford, and the Royal College of General Practitioners to help them develop a deeper understanding of the COVID-19 pandemic in general practice.

The data – shared under strict governance guidelines – will enable researchers to understand the spread of COVID-19, including tracking when it peaks and helping to inform government strategy around measures such as social distancing and lockdown. Practices are also being asked to support public health surveillance by supplying samples from symptomatic patients and providing extra blood samples from asymptomatic patients having routine blood tests. Some practices are also being asked to take part in rapid clinical trials of selected medicines to reduce the duration and severity of the virus. The first trial will need up to 3,000 patients. As many practices as possible are needed to support the work.

The programme will form a key part of the UK approach to clinical trials of selected medicines to reduce the duration and severity of the virus, and a possible vaccine.

The agreement will be activated until the end of March 2021.

What is a Summary Care Record?

The Summary Care Record (SCR) is an electronic record containing information about the medicines you take, allergies you suffer from, and any serious reactions to medicines you have had. Storing this information in one place makes it easier for relevant healthcare staff to treat you in an emergency, or when your GP practice is closed. This information could make a difference to how a doctor decides to care for you, for example which medicines they choose to prescribe you. With your consent, additional information can also be added to your record.

Who can see my Summary Care Record?

Only healthcare staff involved in your care can see your Summary Care Record.

Do I have to have a Summary Care Record?

No. It is not compulsory for you to have a Summary Care Record. If you wish to opt out, you will need to complete a form and bring it to the surgery. Click here for the opt-out form.

For further information visit the NHS Care Records web page or view the Summary Care Records patient information sheet.

Case Study

You are in an accident at the weekend in Nottingham and don’t have a full list of your medication or allergies. The A&E department ask for your consent to check this information on the SCR.

We all have bad days, and when we feel ill we may feel ‘down’ and a little more irritable than normal. All our staff are here to help you. Reception staff are following procedures that help the practice to function efficiently.

Staff have the right to work in a safe and secure environment and we, as employers, have the legal responsibility to provide that safe and secure environment.

The practice will not tolerate:

• Verbal abuse to staff which prevents them from doing their job or makes them feel unsafe.
• Threats of violence or actual violence to a GP or a member of his or her staff.

The GPs have the right to remove from their list with immediate effect any patient who behaves in the above manner.