We are committed to protecting your privacy. You can access our website without giving us any information about yourself. But sometimes we do need information to provide services that you request, and this statement of privacy explains data collection and use in those situations.

In general, you can visit our web site without telling us who you are and without revealing any information about yourself. However there may be occasions when you choose to give us personal information, for example, when you choose to contact us or request information from us. We will ask you when we need information that personally identifies you or allows us to contact you.

We collect the personal data that you may volunteer while using our services. We do not collect information about our visitors from other sources, such as public records or bodies, or private organisations. We do not collect or use personal data for any purpose other than that indicated below:

• To send you confirmation of requests that you have made to us
• To send you information when you request it.

We intend to protect the quality and integrity of your personally identifiable information and we have implemented appropriate technical and organisational measures to do so. We ensure that your personal data will not be disclosed to State institutions and authorities except if required by law or other regulation.

Our website may contain links to other websites of interest. However, once you have used these links to leave our site, you should be aware that we don’t have any control over the other website. Therefore, we cannot be responsible for the protection and privacy of any information which you provide whilst visiting these sites.

Please see the Privacy Notice for HealtheIntent here https://www.lewishamandgreenwich.nhs.uk/privacy-notice

Main Surgery at Burney Street

Located right in the heart of historic Greenwich, our main surgery is on the doorstep of the fabulous Greenwich Park. There is a public car park opposite as well as several parking meters right outside.

We recognise that despite the ramp, the main door can be awkward for wheelchairs and buggies. If you need help, any of our staff will be happy to assist you. Should you be unable to manage the stairs for the upstairs consulting rooms, please inform the receptionists and they will arrange for you to be seen downstairs.

There is a disabled toilet in the downstairs waiting room, which also has baby changing facilities.

Branch Surgery at The Wallace Health Centre

Our branch surgery is just a short walk away from the centre of Greenwich, in the Creekside area. As parking here is limited, with some free public bays in Glaisher Street, we would encourage attending by either public transport or on foot. Please do not park on the forecourt of the neighbouring establishment as they enforce parking for their own customers only, and you may be clamped.

We have full disabled access and all consulting rooms are on the ground floor. There is a disabled toilet in the downstairs waiting room, which also has baby changing facilities.

Do you need information in a different format?

Do you need support?

Burney Street practice offers a variety of ways to aid effective communication between the patient and all members of staff.

If you need extra support, please speak to a member of staff who will document this on your records.

Interpreting Service

We can arrange interpretation and translation services in person or by phone for patients who do not speak English or need a British Sign Language interpreter. Please let us know if you need this service when booking an appointment.

Interpreters for languages and BSL can be pre-booked to sit in the appointment with you.

For language services a telephone service called Language Line can be used.

Specific Information for Hearing Impaired Patients

• Email correspondence can be used instead of telephone
• Services such as booking appointments and ordering repeat prescriptions can be done online at: patientservices.co.uk
• Please speak to reception for more information. You can ask reception a question online by completing the Ask Reception a Question form.

For more information please visit the “Council interpreting and translation services” page on the Royal borough of Greenwich site.

Here at the Burney Street Practice we have a Zero Tolerance Policy for aggressive, rude and unreasonable behaviour. Our staff are here to help you and have the right to carry out their duties without fear of being attacked, either verbally or physically.

We will not tolerate any such behaviour directed at them and ask that you treat all members of staff with respect. However, if whilst attending the surgery, you do behave unacceptably, you will be asked to leave the premises and removed from our list and possibly reported to the police.

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.