Salisbury Walk-in Health Centre is registered under the Data Protection Act 1998 and follows all statutory requirements regarding confidentiality, including the appropriate guidelines for information security.
The Data Protection Act gives your the right to access your own personal data. To access you health records please ask at reception.
We will comply with your request within 21 days. In exceptional circumstances it may take longer, in which case you will be informed and an explanation given. A doctor or nurse will check your health records in accordance with the Data Protection Act. If they are in agreement with your request one of the receptionists will contact you to inform you of the costs and set a date for you to view the relevant records once the fee has been paid. Only in exceptional cases will access be denied.
Introduction - What is a Publication Scheme?
Salisbury Walk in Health Centre's publication scheme is based on the model which has been prepared and approved by the Information Commissioner. The new scheme came into effect on 1 January 2009.
The publication scheme commits Salisbury Walk in Health Centre to make information available to the public as part of its normal business activities. The information covered is included in the classes of information set out below, where this information is held by us. Additional assistance is provided to the definition of these classes in sector specific guidance manuals issued by the Information Commissioner.
The scheme commits Salisbury Walk in Health Centre:
- To proactively publish or otherwise make available as a matter of routine information, including environmental information, which is held by us and falls within the classifications below.
- To specify the information which is held by us and falls within the classifications below
- To proactively publish or otherwise make available as a matter of routine, information in line with statements contained within this scheme.
- To produce and publish the methods by which the specific information is made routinely available so that it can be easily identified and accessed by members of the public.
- To review and update on a regular basis the information we make available under this scheme.
- To produce a schedule of fees charged for access to information which is made proactively available.
- To make this publication scheme available to the public.
Classes of Information
The classes of information held by Salisbury Walk in Health Centre are available in the following categories:
- Who we are and what we do
Organisational information, locations and contacts, constitutional and legal governance.
- What we spend and how we spend it
Financial information relating to projected and actual income and expenditure.
- What our priorities are and how we are doing
Strategy and performance information, plans, assessments, inspections and reviews.
- How we make decisions. Decision making processes, internal criteria and procedures, consultations
Policy proposals and decisions. Decision making processes, internal criteria and procedures, consultations.
- Our policies and procedures
Current written protocols for delivering our functions and responsibilities.
- Lists and Registers
Information held in registers required by law and other lists and registers relating to the functions of the authority
- The services we offer
Advice and guidance, booklets and leaflets and transactions. A description of the services offered.
The classes of information will not generally include:
- Information the disclosure of which is prevented by law, or exempt under the Freedom of Information Act, or is otherwise properly considered to be protected from disclosure.
- Information in draft form
- Information that is no longer readily available as it is contained in files that have been placed in archive storage, or is difficult to access for similar reasons.
The method by which information published under this scheme will be made available
Our publication scheme indicates what information is covered by this scheme and how it can be obtained. Click here to access our publication scheme
Where it is within our capability information will be provided on this website.
Where it is impracticable to make information available on the website or when an individual does not wish to access the information by website, information can be obtained by contacting reception.
Information will be provided in the language in which it is held or in such other language that is legally required. Where we are legally required to translate any information, we will do so.
Obligations under disability and discrimination legislation and any other legislation to provide information in other forms and formats will be adhered to when providing information in accordance with this scheme.
Charges which may be made for information published under this scheme
The purpose of this scheme is to make the maximum amount of information readily available at minimum inconvenience and cost to the public. Any charges imposed by us for routinely published material will be justified and transparent and kept to a minimum.
Material which is published and accessed on the website is 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 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 schedule of fees which are 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. Payment may be requested prior to the provision of information.
Written Requests
Information held by us 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.
All requests received will be acknowledged. If we hold the information requested it will be sent to you within 20 working days of the acknowledgement letter being sent.
For more complex requests we will inform you of the expected time period when you will receive information.
Patient Confidentiality
The Freedom of Information Act does not change the right of patients to protection of their patient confidentiality in accordance with Article 8 of the Human Rights Convention, the Data Protection Act and at common law. Maintaining the legal right to patient confidentiality continues to be an important commitment on our part.
To help with this, we have appointed Dr Christopher Gotham as Caldicott Guardian, and who has responsibility to ensure the protection of patient confidentiality throughout the practice in accordance with your legal rights.
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