LATEST NEWS SUMMER 2011

YOUR REGISTERED CONTACT DETAILS:

We are now sending one and sometimes two text reminders to your mobile phone when you book a face to face or a telephone appointment. We may also be using this system to remind you to book reviews, to cancel appointments if necessary, and to let you know about news, changes and patient surveys. If for any reason you do not want text reminders on your phone please let us know.

Security note: it is our duty to point out that text messages, and electronic devices such as mobile telephones, are not secure. Emails and texts which identify your GP surgery could, potentially, increase your risk of Identity fraud.
If you have registered a mobile telephone number and you wish to OPT OUT of our text messaging service please let us know.

Security note: it is our duty to point out that email accounts which send information about you across the internet, and electronic devices such as computers, are not secure. Emails which identify your GP surgery could, potentially, increase your risk of Identity fraud. If you register an email address with us this will form part of your medical record and will be transferred to all future practices who may use registered email addresses in different ways.

OUR POLICY
We have begun to register patients' email addresses when requested on an individual basis only. To ensure patient confidentiality there are restrictions on how we manage email communications. We will accept as genuine emails from patients who have registered their email details with us in person, by presenting photographic proof of identity. As it is possible for anybody to set up an email address in any name EMAILS FROM NON REGISTERED EMAIL ADDRESSES WILL BE IGNORED.

REPEAT PRESCRIPTION REQUESTS
The only exception to the above is repeat prescription requests which will be passed on to our reception team. However, this should not be taken as confirmation either of registration or that the prescription will be issued. The request must include your full name, date of birth, registered postcode, registered telephone number, and full details of the repeat prescription items being requested. Please note that the fastest way to order a prescription is by using the prescription facility available to patients who set up a secure online account with us (called EMIS Access). This system has the benefit that it allows you to confirm that your repeat prescription has been issued.

EMAIL REGARDING MEDICAL MATTERS
If you register your email address with us no confidential / medical information will be sent to you via email – we will not use email to correspond with you regarding any clinical aspect of your healthcare. This is because medical matters are confidential, and email is not a secure medium of communication. The most secure way to discuss medical matters online is to use the short message facility available to patients who set up an online account with us (called EMIS Access). We are able to reply to these messages direct to your secure EMIS Access account.

I hope that this explains why we cannot use email for certain aspects of our communications with patients.

We sometimes use web based surveys to gather patient feedback. If we have any active surveys you can access the link here. We may send survey links to mobile phones and to our virtual Patient Reference Group.

There are no active surveys at the moment.
 

nhs choices - behind the headlines