Southmead Surgery

OTHER SERVICES

OBTAINING MEDICAL ADVICE AND TREATMENT

NHS Direct 0845 4647

This is a nurse-led advice line available 24/7 for all non-urgent medical enquiries.

Walk-in Centre, Upton Hospital, Albert Street, Slough

You can just turn up here and you will be seen by a nurse or doctor.

Emergency contraception is also available.

EQUIPMENT

As soon as you feel well enough, please return any surgery equipment such as crutches, walking sticks, Zimmer frames, wheelchairs and nebulisers. The surgery needs them for other patients.

GETTING THE BEST FROM YOUR CONSULTATION

Please tell your doctor or nurse exactly how you are feeling. It might help to write down how you've been (and when) and any questions you might have, before your appointment. You'll be helping us to diagnose your condition and to choose the right treatment more quickly. If you are unsure about anything your doctor asks, or tells you, please ask for clarification. Please follow the advice given to you by the doctor or nurse.

RELATIONSHIPS

Please treat our staff with the same courtesy and respect that you would expect to receive from them. We do have the right to have a patient removed from our list, but will only do so in the case of patients who repeatedly ignore their responsibilities to us, or who are violent or seriously abusive towards our staff or other patients.

FRIENDS OF SOUTHMEAD SURGERY

The Friends of Southmead Surgery is a group formed in 1993 with the twin objectives of extending the relationship between doctors, staff and patients associated with the surgery, and to engage in activities which would raise funds for the purchase of equipment which could not otherwise be obtained by the surgery. Since their formation they have raised tens of thousands of pounds.

Please help however you can!

PRIMARY CARE TRUST

The Southmead Surgery is included in an area governed by Buckinghamshire Primary Care Trust. Their address is shown here:

Buckinghamshire Primary Care Trust
3rd Floor
40 Oxford Road
High Wycombe
HP11 2EE

CONFIDENTIALITY

This practice recognises the need for confidentiality and all staff realise the importance of total discretion on all matters at all times. We ask you for personal information so that you can receive appropriate care and treatment. This information is recorded on computer and we are registered under the Data Protection Act. The practice will ensure that patient confidentiality is maintained at all times by all members of the practice team. However, for the effective functioning of a multi-disciplinary team it is sometimes necessary that medical information about you is shared between members of the team.

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION

The Freedom of Information Act 2000 obliges the practice to produce a Publication Scheme. A Publication Scheme is a guide to the 'classes' of information the practice intends to routinely make available.

CARERS

If you are a carer please fill out a form at reception. Friendly impartial advice can be obtained by telephoning the South Bucks Carers' helpline on 01494 463536.

NON-NHS SERVICES

There are certain services requested by patients which are not covered by the National Health Service, eg fitness to drive medicals, completion of private health insurance claim forms, passport signing and some travel vaccinations. Where we have to levy a charge, we use the British Medical Association's recommended scale of fees.