Confidentiality
We feel it is time to tell our patients who has access to medical
notes. The paper notes are stored in the building unless a doctor
uses them for visits. The computer records can be used at any of the
surgery computers. There is an open external link used to maintain
the computer by our software suppliers. The suppliers do not open
individual records.
The following staff have access to all notes:
General Practitioners
General Practitioners in training
Practice Nurses
The following practice staff have access to notes to perform tasks e.g. filing or for clinical consultations:
Receptions Staff
Practice Manager
District Nurses
Health Visitors
Physiotherapists
Midwives
Dietitian
Psychiatric Nurse
Locum Doctors
Students
The following do not have routine access to notes:
Relatives
Employers
Lawyers
Police
In certain circumstance (usually the patients written approval or consent or it is a legal requirement) information will be released. It is understood that patients often have little choice about signing permission slips but we have refused inappropriate access in the past.
