FOI

Guide to Information provided by GPs under the model publication scheme

Under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 all public authorities are required to have and operate a publication scheme approved by the Information Commissioner. Doctors providing medical services under most contracts with the NHS in England, Wales and Northern Ireland are public authorities in respect of information relating to those services.

It is the intention of the Information Commissioner that all public authorities should adopt and operate the one model scheme that has been approved. This is a very general scheme based on the principal that all public authorities need to recognize the public interest in the transparency of the services provided for and paid for by the general public. It is a commitment to make information easily available to the public.

Note: The scheme is only for information held as a public authority and does not include any information that is not held, is held for other purposes or would be exempt from release.

The scheme requires three documents to be considered:

  • the model scheme itself;
  • our guidance on adopting and operating the scheme; and,
  • a guide provided by the public authority indicating what information will be provided, how it will be provided and whether any charge will be made for its provision.

To assist medical practitioners who are public authorities we have produced the outline of a guide for their use. They should consider expanding elements of it to provide greater explanation and additional information where this can be done. For example if there are specific plans for the provision of NHS services these could be detailed. It is not necessary to submit the guide completed by the practice for approval.  

We recognize that it is unlikely that GPs are going to have registers available for public inspection and while this remains the case “None Held” can be entered in this section. Under policies and procedures we have listed the policies we would expect practices to have. Again if this is not the case, “Not held” can entered in the relevant part. Any additional policies should also be listed.

Fees should be requested only where this is done in accordance our guidance.

Information available from Bodowen Surgery under the Freedom of Information Act model publication scheme

Information covered by this scheme is only about the primary, general or personal medical services we provide under contract to the National Health Service.

Information to be published

How the information can be obtained

(e.g. hard copy or website)

Cost

Class 1 – Who we are and what we do

(Organisational information, structures, locations and contacts)
This will be current information only

Doctors in the practice Dr N BIBBY
Dr D SELVERAJAH
Dr V BALAKRISHNAN
Dr B SREERAM
N/A
Contact details for the practice (named contacts where possible with telephone number and email address (if used)) Tel: 01352 710529
Fax: 01352 710784
www.bodowensurgery.co.uk
N/A
Opening hours Monday to Friday: 8.00  – 18:00
18.00 – 18.30 Emergencies Only
For Out of Hours service 0300 123 55 66
N/A
Other staffing details Practice Manager – Further staff details are available on request from the Practice Manager N/A

Class 2 – What we spend and how we spend it

(Financial information relating to projected and actual income and expenditure, procurement, contracts and financial audit)

Current and previous financial year as a minimum

Total cost to the PCT/LHB/HSSB of our contracted services. Available on request from the Practice Manager N/A
Audit of NHS income Available on request from the Practice Manager N/A
   

Class 3 – What our priorities are and how we are doing

(Strategies and plans, performance indicators, audits, inspections and reviews)
Current and previous year as a minimum

   
Plans for the development and provision of NHS services Available on request from the Practice Manager N/A
   

Class 4 – How we make decisions

(Decision-making processes and records of decisions)
Current and previous year as a minimum

   
Records of decisions made in the practice affecting the provision of NHS services Available on request from the Practice Manager N/A
   

Class 5 – Our policies and procedures

(Current written protocols, policies and procedures for delivering our services and responsibilities)
Current information only (mark “not held” against any policies not actually held)

   
Policies and procedures about the employment of staff Available on request from the Practice Manager N/A
Internal instructions to staff and policies relating to the delivery of services Available on request from the Practice Manager N/A
Equality and diversity policy Available on request from the Practice Manager N/A
Health and safety policy Available on request from the Practice Manager N/A
Complaints procedures (including those covering requests for information and operating the publication scheme) Available on request from the Practice Manager N/A
Records management policies (records retention, destruction and archive) Available on request from the Practice Manager N/A
Data protection policies Available on request from the Practice Manager N/A
Policies and procedures for handling requests for information Available on request from the Practice Manager N/A
Patients’ charter Available on request from the Practice Manager N/A
   

Class 6 – Lists and Registers

Currently maintained lists and registers only

   
Any publicly available register or list (if any are held this should be publicised; in most circumstances existing access provisions will suffice) None Held N/A
   

Class 7 – The services we offer

(Information about the services we offer, including leaflets, guidance and newsletters produced for the public)

Current information only

   
The services provided under contract to the NHS    
Charges for any of these services    
Information leaflets    
Out of hours arrangements Please see our website or information leaflets N/A

Please note: If you are unable to access information through the website paper copies are available, although charges may apply, please contact the Practice Manager for further details.

Welcome to the Publication Scheme for Bodowen Surgery

This is a guide to the Publication Scheme for Bodowen Surgery General Practice in which each of the following practice as a partnership

Dr B Sreeram
Dr N Bibby
Dr D Selverajah
Dr V Balakrishnan

Introduction

his Publication Scheme is a complete guide to the information routinely made available to the public by this Practice. It is a description of the information about each of the General Practitioners and the Practice itself which we make publicly available. It will be reviewed at regular intervals and we will monitor its effectiveness.

How much does it cost?

The publications are all free unless otherwise indicated within each Class [with £]. Where information is provided at a cost the charges will be calculated as set out in Class 7.

How is the information is made available?

The information within each Class is available in hard copy from:

Practice Manager
Bodowen Surgery
Halkyn Road
Holywell
Flintshire
CH8 7GA

Rights of Access to Information

At the present time, in addition to accessing the information identified in the Publication Scheme, you are entitled to request information about Bodowen Surgery General Practice under the

Code of Practice on Openness in the NHS issued by the Welsh Office in 1995.  Hard copies of the Code of Practice are available free of charge from the NHS Wales Department of the Welsh Assembly Government. The information is also available on the Department of Health website www.doh.gov.uk. Sometimes some, or all, of the information cannot be provided and we will explain the reasons why when this happens.

The Freedom of Information Act 2000 recognises that everyone has the right to know how public services, such as NHS Wales, are organised and run, how much they cost and how you can make complaints if you need to.  You have the right to know which services are being provided, the targets that are being set, the standards of service that are expected, the results achieved and how decisions are made.

From January 1st 2005 the Freedom of Information Act will require all General Practices to respond to requests about information they hold, and it will create a right of access to that information. The rights to request and access this information are subject to some exemptions which a General Practice have to take into consideration before deciding what information can be released.

The Environmental Information Regulations which came into force in 1993 set the standard for the release of information about the environment in which we live and work. These are likely to be strengthened within the next eighteen months under a European Union Directive.  Until the new Regulations come into force, information relating to the Environment can be requested using the existing Regulations and the Code of Practice on Openness.

Under the Data Protection Act 1998, you are also entitled to access your clinical records or any other personal information held about you. To do this, please contact:

Practice Manager
Bodowen Surgery
Halkyn Road
Holywell
Flintshire
CH8 7GA

Feedback

If you have any comments about the operation of the Publication Scheme, or how we have dealt with your request for information from the Scheme, please write to:

Practice Manager
Bodowen Surgery
Halkyn Road
Holywell
Flintshire
CH8 7GA

CLASSES OF INFORMATION

All information at Bodowen Surgery General Practice  is held, retained and destroyed in accordance with NHS Wales guidelines. Our commitment to publish information excludes any information which can be legitimately withheld under the exemptions set out in the Welsh  Code of Practice on Openness in the NHS or The Freedom of Information Act 2000. Where individual Classes are subject to exemptions, the main reasons relate to 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 on this Scheme is grouped into the following broad categories:

  1. Who we are
    Details of the Practice and Practitioners, organisational structure, key personnel and how we fit into the NHS Wales structure.
  2. Our Services
    The range of services we provide under contract to NHS Wales.
  3. Financial and funding information
    Funding details and charging policies.
  4. Regular publications and information for the public
    Guidance and information leaflets.
  5. Complaints
    Policies, procedures and contacts for complaints.
  6. Our policies and procedures
    General policies and procedures in use within the Practice. These    include, but are not restricted to, data protection, prescribing and prescription, Management of Violent Patients and health and safety.
  7. This Publication Scheme
    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 in the General Practice. We will also publish any proposed changes or additions to publications already available and information regarding our policy in relation to charging for information.

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:

  1. a) Via the General Practice/Local Health Board /Trust Web Site – Free of charge, although any charges for Internet Service provider and personal printing costs would have to be met by the individual.

However, requests for multiple printouts, or for archived copies of documents which are no longer accessible or available on the web, may attract a charge for the retrieval, photocopy, postage etc. We will let you know the cost and charges that will have to be paid in advance. We will not provide printouts of other organisation’s websites.

  1. b) Leaflets and brochures – free of charge on, for example, services we offer to the public.
  2. c) E-mail will be free of charge unless it says otherwise.

The charges will be reviewed regularly and be in line with other NHS organisations.

Useful Resources

Web sites:

www.informationcommissioner.gov.uk
This is the web site of the Information Commissioner.

www.lcd.gov.uk
This is the web site of the Lord Chancellor’s Department.

www.wales.nhs.uk/foi
This is the web site for NHS Wales Freedom of Information.

www.nhs.foi.uk
This is the web site for NHS  Freedom of Information.

Publications

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  or contact: HMSO Licensing Division, St Clements House, 2-16 Colegate, Norwich NR 3 1BQ.  Tel: 01603 621000.