The Accessible Information Standard is a new law to make sure that people who have a disability, impairment or sensory loss are given the information they can easily read or understand. The Accessible Information Standard tells NHS and adult social care. Organisations they must make sure people get information in different formats.

Please click here for the detailed leaflet about it.

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 Plane Trees Group Practice in the last financial year [2021/22] was £81,878 before tax and National Insurance. This is for 2 full-time GPs and 4 part-time GPs and non GP partners who worked in the practice for more than six months.

We are totally committed to providing a safe, comfortable environment where patients and staff can be confident that best practice is being followed at all times. The safety of everyone is of paramount importance to us.

All patients are entitled to have a chaperone present for any consultation, examination or procedure, where they feel one is required. This may be a formal chaperone i.e. a trained member of staff or you may prefer a family member or friend to be present.

Wherever possible we would ask you to make this request at the time of booking your appointment. This is so that arrangements can be made and your appointment is not delayed in any way. Where this is not possible, we will endeavor to provide a formal chaperone at the time of the request. Occasionally, however, it may be necessary to re-schedule your appointment if a chaperone is not available. You or the clinician may also request a chaperone to be present during your consultation for intimate examinations etc.

Care.data has been commissioned to provide data services to NHS England. The data will be used for analysis of the population as a whole, and in smaller sections e.g. by geographical areas, by age group etc, to help to plan demand and improve services for patients. The data will be “extracted” from your medical record here and held anonymously by the HSCIC, and also shared with other groups e.g. researchers.

Patient names will not extracted but your NHS number, date of birth, gender and postcode will be used. Data will be extracted to link the information from your record here with any records held by hospitals. Once these links have been made your identifiable information is deleted, with only details of your health retained for analysis.

Your consent to this process has been assumed by NHS England but you can withhold your consent by telling us. You can also withhold consent on behalf of your children or anyone for whom you have a Power of Attorney. You can withhold your consent for the extraction and/or the onward use of your information, even if anonymised.

More information is available in the leaflet “How information about you helps us to provide better care”, published by the Health and Social Care Information Centre, please click on the link to access this “How information about you helps us to provide better care”

 If you don’t want your information to be extracted and/or shared in this way please advise the receptionist.

There are big changes happening to how information from your medical records is being used by NHS England. Your GP’s computerised medical records can now be accessed and used by the NHS. In most cases your information is anonymised so that no one can identify you. However, some of these processes involve the extraction of patient-identifiable data. Your consent for this has been assumed by the NHS and if you are not happy with this you can tell us so that we can block unauthorised access to your records.

Please follow the link for more information: Patient information

Why are fees charged?

The government’s contract with GPs covers medical services to NHS patients. However, in recent years more and more organisations have been involving doctors in a wide range of non NHS work. This work is not funded by the government, so GPs have to charge a fee to cover their time and other expenses.

Surely the doctor is being paid anyway?

It is important to understand that many GPs are not employed by the NHS. They are self-employed and they have to cover the costs of everything from the limited NHS funds provided – staff wages, buildings, heating, lighting, etc – in the same way as any small business. The NHS covers costs for NHS work, but not for non-NHS work, the fees charged by GPs contribute towards keeping the surgery running.

Do GPs have to do non-NHS work for their patients?

With certain limited exceptions, GPs do not have to carry our non-NHS work. Many GPs however will always attempt to assist their patients and carry out this work.

Why does it sometimes take my GP a long time to complete my form/letter?

Time spent completing forms & preparing reports takes the GP away from the medical care of patients which will always have top priority. GPs have an ever increasing workload of forms which must be prioritised against offering appointments and other urgent administration. We aim to complete non-NHS work within two weeks of reciept.

I only need the GP’s signature – what’s the problem?

When a GP signs a certificate, completes a report or writes a letter it is a condition of remaining on the medical register (which allows them to practice as a doctor), that they only sign what they know to be true. In order to complete even the simplest of forms, the doctor may have to check a patient’s entire medical record.

We are unable to guarantee that forms or medicals can be completed ‘urgently’ or within a short time scale.
To check progress or ask about the fees charged please telephone 01422 330860.
NB: Practice policy is not to provide letters of support for housing or benefits appeals

Plane Trees Group Practice General Practice Privacy Notice

Privacy Notice for Children

We are a research practice and take part in the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR). The NIHR is funded by the Department of Health and is the research arm of the NHS, part of the Clinical Research Network (CRN) Yorkshire and Humber and provides data for patients from a primary care perspective.

The research is used to try and find the causes of diseases and to find better treatments and services for those diseases and improve patient care – in other words to try and find better ways of looking after patients and keeping people healthy.

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.

A key requirement for anyone involved in the conduct of clinical research is Good Clinical Practice for research (GCP) training. GCP is the guideline and standard to which all NHS research is conducted.

What is Primary Care Research?

The CRN Primary Care specialty 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 a 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?

You may be sent information through the post if we feel you could be a suitable participant.

You will always receive clear information about what taking part in a research study will involve. You will have the opportunity to ask questions and obtain further details about a study.

All clinical research carried out is thoroughly checked and approved by ethical committees thus ensuring it is appropriate and safe to perform.

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.

Your participation in any research project is entirely voluntary. You can withdraw yourself at any time without any need for an explanation.

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 can visit the National Institute for Health Research website to find out more information about research in primary care.

Our practice also contributes to the Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD). CPRD is a Government organisation that provides anonymised patient data for research to improve patient and public health. You cannot be identified from the information sent to CPRD.

For more information about how your data is used visit http://www.cprd.com/public

There is also information about research for patients on the NHS Choices website.

This system allows health workers to access minimal information in your GP record. At the moment this comprises your current medication and drug reactions only. The practice recommends that you participate in this program as it is really for your benefit e.g. Out of Hours GP’s can see what treatments you are taking. The consent process for this has already taken place but you may withdraw your consent at any stage if you wish.

Please click on the link for further information Summary Care Record patient information leaflet

If you don’t want your information to be extracted and/or shared in this way please advise the receptionist.