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 (The Grove Medical Centre and Marina Surgery providing medical services under contract to the NHS) 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 (eg hard copy, website) | Cost | ||||
| Class1 – Who we are and what we do We are General Practice which runs from two sites “The Grove Medical Centre” and “The Marina Surgery”. We have five doctors and both sites are staffed with receptionists, practice nurses, health visitors and a district nursing team. We offer General Practices services under contract to the NHS. | From our website or Practice Leaflet | £0 | ||||
| Doctors in the practice Dr A Rayani, Dr. J Williams, Dr S Swan, Dr J Allchurch, Dr Rachel Thomas & Dr Michael Sorensen | From our website or Practice Leaflet | £0 | ||||
| Contact details for the practice; The Grove Medical Centre: Tel 01792 643000 Fax 01792 472800 Prescription line 01792 648049 Marina Surgery: Telephone 01792 643000 Fax 01792 301175 Practice website: http://www.wales.nhs.uk/thegrovemedicalcentre/ | From our website or Practice Leaflet | £0 | ||||
| Opening hours The Grove Medical Centre (Main Surgery) Reception desk Monday to Friday 8 am to 6.30 pm Triaged Appointments Monday to Friday Via Ask My GP online service 8.30 am to 5pm Practice Nurse & Health Care Support Worker Triaged Appointments Monday to Friday Via Ask My GP online service 8.30am to 5.00pm Baby Clinic 11.00 to 12.15pm centrally booked appointments by Child Health Dept. Please telephone 643000 to be given a time to come into surgery.
Reception desk Monday to Friday 08:15 am to 1.00 pm 2.00 pm to 6.00 pm Except Wednesday & Thursday Wednesday/Thursday morning 08.15 am to 1.pm Wednesday/Thursday afternoon Closed Triaged Appointments Monday, Tuesday and Friday 09:00 am to 12:00 am 2.00 pm to 5:00 pm (except Wednesday/Thursday) Practice Nurse & Health Care Support Worker Monday Tuesday 9.00 am to 12.00 pm 9.00 am to 12.40 am 2.00 pm to 3.00 pm 2.00 pm to 4.40 pm Extended Opening Hours This enhanced service is no longer available – it was withdrawn by the ABMU HB. | From our website or Practice Leaflet
From our website or Practice Leaflet
| £0 | ||||
| Other staffing details; The Primary Health Care Team Partners Dr Ashok Rayani, MB, BCh (Wales) MRCGP, (part time) Dr Jack Williams MB BCh, MRCGP (part time), Dr Sara Swan MBBCh, DFSRH, DROG MRCGP, (part time) Dr Joanna Allchurch MBBCh, MRCGP (part time) and Dr Michael Sorensen, MB, BCh (part time)
Practice Nurses Lead Practice Nurse: Miss Kelly Di’iulio RGN. Nurse: Mrs Samantha Evans RGN. The Practice Nurses deal with immunisations, contraception, cervical smears, health promotion clinics, chronic disease management, dressings and various other health tests.
Health Care Support Workers – Mrs Donna Clarke-Davies and Mr Gareth Apajee deal with new patient examinations, record blood pressure readings, ECG’s, spirometry and simple dressings and INR monitoring. They work under the supervision of the Practice Nurse or Doctor.
Practice Manager Mrs Lorraine Flower is responsible for the smooth running and the organisation of the practice.
Assistant Practice Manager & Medical Secretary Ms Carol Wilson assists the Practice Manager with the smooth running of the practice.
Reception Supervisors
Kelly Dicks and Ruth Lees are responsible for the smooth running of reception and all registration requirements. They also assists with the smooth running of the practice.
Receptionists Chris, Debbie, Marie, Cerys, Sue, Jane, Jules & Leah are here to help you access our services. They will often need to ask you for further details when you telephone to ensure that we deal with you as effectively as possible. They are bound by the same rules of confidentiality as the doctors.
Health Visitor Mrs Rhian Munt RHV will give advice on healthcare for expectant mothers, babies, small children and the elderly.
District Nursing Team
There is a team of nurses attached to the practice who work from a local HUB situated in the old County Hall premises – they provide nursing assistance to patients confined to home. Mental Health Liaison Nurse Naomi Syaid, RMN provides help with depression, stress and other life issues, by referral from a GP. Physiotherapist By referral from GP only. Midwife The Midwife runs the ante-natal clinic every Tuesday and visits patients in their own homes. Chiropodist A Chiropodist visits the surgery once a month, specifically for diabetic patients by referral from GP.
| From our website or Practice Leaflet | £0 £0 | ||||
| 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) Main funding for our services in by payment for service outlined in the Welsh assemblies Statement for Financial entitlement which includes payment for local and enhanced services as agreed with Swansea Local Health Board. Expenditure is categorised into Staff Costs, Medical Expenses, Premises, Administration, Finance and Depreciation
Current and previous financial year as a minimum
Total Income 2018 Total Income 2019 £1207108 £1266830 | FOI request to practice; 1. Charges are by personal application at the General Practice. 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. | As agreed | ||||
| Total cost to the PCT/LHB/HSSB of our contracted services. Total Expenditure 2018 Total Expenditure 2019 £1252368 £1247173
| See above | See above | ||||
| Audit of NHS income Total NHS Income 2018 Total NHS Income 2019 £1063524 £1126828 | See above | See above | ||||
| Class 3 – What our priorities are and how we are doing (Strategies and plans, performance indicators, audits, inspections and reviews) Practice Priorities 1. The practice will manage medical conditions according to the highest standards as defined by the profession. 2. All staff will treat you with courtesy and respect. 3. You will receive appropriate information regarding your medical condition and treatment. 4. Partners, nurses and staff will be encouraged to undertake appropriate further training. Current and previous year as a minimum In 2007 89% of our patients rated our practice as good, very good or excellent, in 2008 90% of our patients rated our practice as good, very good or excellent No recent patient surveys have been undertaken | From our website or Practice Leaflet | £0 | ||||
| Plans for the development and provision of NHS services; Services are planned in conjunction with the Local Health Board and patients needs. In 2019 the practice committed to many enhanced services including extended hours for patients appointments. | From our website or Practice Leaflet | £0 | ||||
| Class 4 – How we make decisions (Decision making processes and records of decisions) Current and previous year as a minimum Decisions are made at formal meetings with the decision’s being recorded in the minutes of these meetings. The meetings are Partners meetings to enable the overall smooth running of the Practice. Clinical Meetings to monitor and agree improvements to clinical matters and receptionist meetings to ensure the effective management of back office requirements. | FOI request to practice;
| Charges are by personal application | ||||
| 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 | FOI request to practice;
| Charges are by personal application | ||||
| Internal instructions to staff and policies relating to the delivery of services | FOI request to practice;
| Charges are by personal application | ||||
| Equality and diversity policy | FOI request to practice;
| Charges are by personal application | ||||
| Health and safety policy | FOI request to practice;
| Charges are by personal application | ||||
| Complaints procedures (including those covering requests for information and operating the publication scheme) | The practice operates within the laid down NHS Complaints procedure. Details can be obtained at reception or from the Practice Manager. | |||||
| Records management policies (records retention, destruction and archive) | None Held
| |||||
| Data protection policies & GDPR | FOI request to practice;
| Charges are by personal application | ||||
| Policies and procedures for handling requests for information | All requests are to be made in writing to the following address; The Practice Manager The Grove Medical Centre 6 Uplands Terrace Swansea SA2 0GU
| £0 | ||||
| Patients’ charter | From our website or Practice Leaflet | £0 | ||||
| Class 6 – Lists and Registers
Currently maintained lists and registers only | FOI request to practice;
| Charges are by personal application | ||||
| Any publicly available register or list (if any are held this should be publicised; in most circumstances existing access provisions will suffice) | None Held | |||||
| 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 Practice publishes a practice leaflet and quarterly patient newletter. | From our website or Practice Leaflet | £0 | ||||
| The services provided under contract to the NHS Details of our services can be found in the practice leaflet these include, but are not restricted to, physiotherapy, minor surgery, travel advice, diabetic clinics. | From our website or Practice Leaflet | £0 | ||||
| Charges for any of these services; Typically there are no charges for NHS services with the exception of travel vaccines. | FOI request to practice;
| Charges are by personal application | ||||
| Information leaflets
| From our website or Practice Leaflet | £0 | ||||
| Out of hours arrangements Out of Hours Emergencies The surgery will be closed between 6.30 pm and 8.00 am Monday to Friday and all day on Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holidays. In the event of an emergency or if you need urgent advice, please telephone the ABM Out of Hours Service on 111 (calls will be charged at a local rate). Your call will be answered by a call handler who will ask you for some details (eg, your name, address and telephone number) and why you need to see a doctor. You may be put through to a nurse straight away or one will call you back. If the nurse thinks you need to see a doctor straight away, they will speak to you about what happens next. In most cases, someone from the out of hour’s service will speak to you or you will be asked to attend a Primary Care Centre. In Swansea, the Primary Care Centre is based in Morriston n Hospital. The out of hours service described above is a service provided by ABMU Health Board. In the event of a medical emergency ring 999. | From our website or Practice Leaflet | £0 | ||||
