Safeguarding confidential patient information is the responsibility of all NHS staff. The Burney Street Practice will ensure that your confidentiality is respected and maintained at all times in the following ways:

• Confidentiality means that when you see a doctor or nurse at the practice for any health issue, including sexual health, the doctor or nurse will not share the information you give them with anyone else, provided we think you are ‘competent to consent’ to the treatment (competent to consent means that you are fully capable of understanding the treatment and any possible consequences)
• Doctors and nurses seeing young people for sexual health information, advice or treatment will ask you if you wish to inform a parent, carer or other trusted adult. However, if you do not wish to inform an adult, we will respect your wishes and still offer you treatment

A doctor, nurse or other health professional may only break confidentiality if they think that you or someone else is at significant risk of harm. However, they will not break confidentiality without informing you first. This means that if you see a doctor or nurse at the practice for personal issues, sexual health information and advice, contraception, screening for sexually transmitted infections (STI’s), or information and referral for abortion we will see you, even if you are under 16, without having to inform your parents or carers.

Download the Greenwich Young People’s Services document for a list of telephone numbers and links to websites on a range of topics that may affect you.

The Burney Street Practice is an accredited training practice for fully qualified doctors entering general practice (GP registrars), who will often remain with us for one year.

We are also involved in training medical students and nurses who may sometimes accompany one of the doctors. You will always be informed if a doctor has a student with them, and if you prefer to be seen alone, we will of course respect your wishes.

The Summary Care Record (SCR) is a secure, electronic patient record that contains key information derived from patients’ detailed GP records. It is accessed in emergency and unplanned care scenarios, where such information would otherwise be unavailable.

What does the SCR contain?

The core dataset contains information about a patient’s medication, allergies and any previous adverse reactions to medicines. Other information such as significant medical history, care plans, patient wishes or preferences (and other relevant information) can be added with the consent of the patient.

Please click on the links below to find out more about Summary Care Records, how your information will be used and what decisions you need to make.

• Summary Care Records Patient Additional Info Letter
• Summary Care Records Patient Leaflet
• SCR Fact Sheet
• Letter for new patients
• Summary Care Records Opt Out form

From the 1st of July 2007 it became illegal to smoke anywhere on or surrounding these premises. Can we ask all patients that should you need to smoke that you move away from the building and windows and do not smoke around the front entrance.

Please view our Smoking Ban Policy for more information.

Fees For Non-NHS Services Explained

 

Why do I have to pay?

The NHS will provide most health care to people free of charge; however there are a few exceptions.

The NHS will cover the costs for NHS work but not the costs for any non-NHS work. Subsequently, any fee charged for non-NHS work will cover the GP’s costs for providing the service.

Charges are made to cover the costs of the treatment to the patient, or because the service is not covered by the NHS.

GP’s are self employed and as such have to cover the increasing costs of staff, buildings, heat and light etc.

 

What is covered by the NHS and what is not?

The government’s contract with GP’s covers medical services to NHS patients. In recent years, more and more organisations have been involving doctors in a whole range of non-medical work. Sometimes the only reason that GP’s are asked is because they are in a position of trust in the community, or because an insurance company or employer wants to be sure that information provided is true and accurate.

 

Examples of non-NHS Services for which GP’s can charge their patients are:

Medicals for pre-employment driving requirements (HGV, PSV etc.)

Prescriptions for taking medication abroad

Private sick notes

To Whom it May Concern letters

Accident/ sickness insurance certificates

Some travel vaccinations

 

Examples of non-NHS Services for which GP’s can charge other institutions are:

Medical reports for insurance agencies

DVLA reports and medicals

Examinations of local authority employees

 

 

 

How are charges decided?

The British Medical Association (BMA) issue guidelines on suggested fees although each individual practice will set their own charges for each of the services they provide. Burney Street Practice carries out periodic reviews of charges and endeavours to follow a fair charging policy.

 

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

Time spent completing forms and preparing reports takes the GP away from the medical care of his/her patients. Most GP’s have a very heavy workload, the majority of GP’s work can add up to 60 hours a week and paperwork takes up an increasing amount of their time. In addition non-NHS work must be undertaken outside of NHS contracted time.

 

I only need the doctor’s signature, what is the problem?

When a GP is required to complete a certificate or a report it is a condition remaining on the Medical Register that they sign only what they know to be true and accurate from a patient’s medical record.

Inaccurate reporting can have serious consequences for the GP from the General Medical Council or even the police.

The GP may have to check the patient’s medical record and this can be very time consuming in addition to their already heavy clinical workload.

The Practice endeavours to provide a 4-6 week turnaround for this type of work. We are aware that there may be occasions when a request is deemed as urgent, however if not given adequate time then this may not be possible to complete at short notice.

 

Note

We do not provide letters to support housing applications unless we are written to by the housing association or council, together with a letter of consent from the patient.

We do not provide letters supporting immigration applications

We do not sign passport application forms

 

 

Private Fees/Non NHS service price list

 

The services shown are not provided under the National Health Service (NHS) contract and the following fees will be charged.

 

Fee is paid prior to delivery of service unless by prior written agreement, where payment will be via invoice

 

Accident/sickness certificates for insurance purposes	£89.50
School fee and holiday insurance certificates	£65
Reports for health clubs to certify that patients are fit to exercise	£89.50
Private prescriptions e.g. for travel purposes	£25
Travel immunisation	Not currently offered unless available under NHS vaccine programme.
GP certificate or letter of fact	£40
Private sick note	£40
Validation of private medical insurance claim e.g. BUPA, AXA, and Vitality Health.	£89.50
TFL Taxi license medical (need eye test prior to appointment)	£145
HGV medical (need eye test prior to appointment)	£145
Fit to fly letter	£55
Fitness for education to attend university, college, teacher or nurse training.	£55
Firearms License	£89.50
Criminal compensation form	£50
Other written pro-forma, no examination needed – prices from.	£89.50
Other written report with detailed opinion and statement of patient’s condition without examination.	£135

 

Non-NHS services charge other institutions are:

(Fee is charged to institution prior to report being completed)

 

Life assurance and income protection reports for insurance companies (PMA report) e.g. from HSBC, L&G	£135
Reports for the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) in connection with disability living allowance and attendance allowance.	(charge stated on form)
Medical reports for local authorities in connection with adoption and fostering.	£145
DVLA reports	(charge stated on form)

We do not sign passport applications

 

Medical Records Request under GDPR

 

Full summary of record	Free
Copy of full medical records	Free

 

 

Update

Due to a large increase in clinical workload Burney Street Practice has decided to outsource our insurance reports and other factual report requests to Medi2Data who will process your request using their system eMR.

What is Medi2Data?

Medi2Data is an NHS Digital accredited company who have developed a digital system called eMR which enables GP practices to create digital, GDPR compliant medical reports.

We would ask all patients to switch their mobile phones off and not use them whilst on the surgery premises.

They interfere with electrical equipment and disturb others whilst waiting or working.

If you are more than 10 minutes late for your appointment, you may be asked to wait until the end of the surgery before you are seen.

If you arrive more than 15 minutes late, you will be asked to re-book your appointment.

You can view and download our privacy notice below:

• Privacy Notice_SCR_20231013
• Privacy Notice_Safeguarding_20231011
• Privacy Notice_Public Health_20231013
• Privacy Notice_Payments_20231011
• Privacy Notice_National Screening Programs_20231013
• Privacy Notice_General Practice_20231010
• Privacy Notice_Direct Care Emergencies_20231013
• Privacy Notice_CQC_20231013
• Privacy Notice_Commissioning, Planning, Risk stratification, Patient Identification_20231011
• Privacy Notice_Call Recording_20231013

• This practice handles medical records in line with laws on data protection and confidentiality
• We share medical records with those who are involved in providing you with care and treatment
• In some circumstances we will also share medical records for medical research, for example to find out more about why people get ill
• We share information when the law requires us to do so, for example, to prevent infectious diseases from spreading or to check the care being provided to you is safe
• You have the right to be given a copy of your medical record
• You have the right to object to your medical records being shared with those who provide you with care
• You have the right to object to your information being used for medical research and to plan health services
• You have the right to have any mistakes corrected and to complain to the Information Commissioner’s Office. Please see the practice privacy notice or speak to a member of staff for more information about your rights
• For more information ask reception using our online form for a leaflet