PUBLICATION SCHEME
by the NHS Freedom of Information (FOI) project board and the British Medical Association. Freedom Of Information – Publication Scheme
The Freedom of Information Act 2000 obliges the practice to produce a Publication Scheme. A publication scheme is a guide to the ‘classes’ of information the practice intends to routinely make available. This scheme is available from reception.
This Publication Scheme provides a guide to the services and practitioners who practice together as required by the Freedom of Information Act 2000.
It based on the model publication scheme for general practices produced by the NHS Freedom of Information (FOI) project board and the British Medical Association
PUBLICATION SCHEME
PART ONE: INTRODUCTION
This Publication Scheme is a complete guide to the information routinely made available to the public by Dr C and Dr H Westwood. It is a description of the information about the practice and the General Practitioners. It will be reviewed at regular intervals and we will monitor its effectiveness.
Your rights to information
• 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 the FOI Act will oblige the General 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 that information. These rights are subject to some exemptions, which have to be taken into consideration before deciding what information it can release.
• In additions to accessing the information identified in the Publication Scheme, you are entitled to request information about Dr Westwood under the NHS Openness Code 1995.
• Under the Data Protections 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 Manager to arrange this.
• New environmental information regulations may be introduced as early as 2003. These will enable similar access to environmental information as under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.
How much does it cost?
Publications are all free unless otherwise indicated. Where there is a charge for providing information the cost will be calculated as set out in each class.
How do we make information available?
Information is available in hard copy from the Practice Manager as indicated for each class of information.
Feedback
If you have any comments about the operation of this Publication Scheme, or how we have dealt with your request from the Scheme, please write to:
Mrs Sarah Robinson – Practice Manger
Timperley Health Centre
169, Grove Lane
Timperley
WA16 6PH
PART TWO: CLASSES OF INFORMATION
All patient information is stored, retained and destroyed in accordance with NHS guidelines.
Our commitment to publish information excludes any information, which can be legitimately withheld under the exemptions set out in the NHS Openness Code or Freedom of information Act 2000.
Where individual Classes are subject to exemptions, the main reasons are the protection of commercial interests and the protection of confidential personal information under the Data Protection Act 1998. This applies to all Classes within the Publication Scheme.
The information included in this Scheme is grouped into 7 broad categories.
Class 1 information
Details of the practice organisational structure, key personnel and how we fit into the NHS.
Who we are:
Dr C Westwood and Dr H Westwood
Timperley Health Centre
169, Grove Lane
Timperley
Altrincham
WA15 6PH
Tel: 0161 980 3751
Fax: 0161 904 9678
This NHS practice is part of TRAFFORD CCG. It supplies services in accordance with the General Medical Services contract held with TRAFFORD CCG.
This practice aims to follow national and local best practice guidelines, including the NICE best practice and the National Service Frameworks.
Some information will be withheld including personal and confidential information about individuals that is protected by the Data Protection Act 1998.
Class 2 Information
The range of services we proved under contract to the NHS.
Clinics
• Smoking Cessation
• Cryotherapy and Joint Injections
• Baby Immunisation Clinic
• Cervical Cytology
• Child Health Surveillance
• Contraceptive Services
• Disease Management Clinics
• Health Promotion Clinics
• Maternity Medical Services
• Childhood Immunisations
• Flu and Pneumococcal Vaccinations
• Travel Vaccinations
Reception Opening Times:
Monday 8:00am – 6:00pm
Tuesday 8:00am – 6:00pm
Wednesday 8:00am – 6:00pm
Thursday 8:00am – 6:00pm
Friday 8:00am – 6:00pm
Class 3 information
Funding details and charging policies set out as agreed per BMA Guidelines.
Financial and funding information
The practice receives money from Trafford PCT according to its contract with them in exchange for services provided for patients.
Class 4 information
Class 4: Regular Publications and information for the public
1) We keep a range of leaflets/posters on medical problems that can be accessed by:
• Asking our reception team, the practice nurses or the doctors
• Looking at the leaflets/posters in the waiting room
2) We keep you informed of temporary alterations in our opening hours by
• Prominent notices in the waiting room
• Notices on the entrance doors
3) We publish a practice leaflet which is updated from time to time. It is available from
Reception. Once an update is produced, previous copies are destroyed and are no longer
available for publication.
4) We keep some leaflets and information produced by other organisations. These can be accessed from:
• Leaflet racks
• Notice boards
The leaflets available under Class 4 are free of charge.
Leaflets may from time to time become unavailable due to replacement by an alternative or because they have been updated.
The following published information is available:
• Practice Leaflet
• Treatment and advice leaflets
• Many more on request
All of these publications are free of charge.
Class 5: Complaints
We have a practice complaints procedure, which has been agreed with our Primary Care Trust for all practices, and a copy may be obtained from reception. If you wish to make a complaint please write to the Practice Manager.
There may be circumstances where material cannot be released because it is confidential to a third party as regulated by the Date Protection Act 1998 or is no longer available under NHS guidelines.
This practice follows the NHS complaints procedure and follows a strict protocol when dealing with all complaints.
Class 6 Information
General policies and procedures in use within the practice.
Our policies and procedures
• Date Protection
• Prescribing and prescription policy
• Zero tolerance policy
• Health and Safety
• More on request
Class 7 Information
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 generally in the Trust. We will also publish any proposed changes or additions to publications already available.
This Publication Scheme
The purpose of this scheme is to make the maximum amount of information readily available at minimum inconvenience and cost to the public. Charges made by the authority for routinely published material will be justified and transparent and kept to a minimum.
Material which is published and accessed on a website will be provided free of charge.
Charges may be made for information subject to a charging regime specified by Parliament.
Charges may be made for actual disbursements incurred such as:
• photocopying
• postage and packaging
• the costs directly incurred as a result of viewing information
Charges may also be made for information provided under this scheme where they are legally authorised, they are in all the circumstances, including the general principles of the right of access to information held by public authorities, justified and are in accordance with a published schedule or schedules of fees which is readily available to the public.
If a charge is to be made, confirmation of the payment due will be given before the information is provided.
Written requests
Information held by a public authority that is not published under this scheme can be requested in writing, when its provision will be considered in accordance with the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act.
Part Three: Useful Resources
Web sites:
Information Commissioner www.informationcommissioner.gov.uk
Lord Chancellor’s Department www.lcd.gov.uk
NHS Freedom of Information web site www.foi.nhs.uk
Publications
NHS Openness Code www.doh.gov.uk/nhsexec/codemain.htm
FOI Act 2000 www.legislation.hmso.gov.uk/acts2000/2000036htm
Code of Practice under Section 45 FOI Act 2000 www.lcd.gov.uk
Code of Practice under Section 46 FOI Act 2000 www.lcd.gov.uk
Statement of Fees and Allowances payable for General Medical Practitioners in England
http://www.redbook.il2.com/rb/Docs/rb0.htm
Copyright
All 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