This practice is supporting vital coronavirus (COVID-19) planning and research by sharing your data with NHS Digital. This transparency notice supplements our main practice privacy notice.

The health and social care system is facing significant pressures due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. Health and care information is essential to deliver care to individuals, to support health, social care and other public services and to protect public health. Information will also be vital in researching, monitoring, tracking and managing the coronavirus outbreak. In the current emergency it has become even more important to share health and care information across relevant organisations. This practice is supporting vital coronavirus planning and research by sharing your data with NHS Digital, the national safe haven for health and social care data in England.

For more information, please visit www.digital.nhs.uk.

Information about the General Practioners and the practice required for disclosure under this act can be made available to the public. All requests for such information should be made to:

Fernville Surgery
Midland Road
Hemel Hempstead
HP2 5BL

Phone: 01442 213 919

Each member of staff is required to sign a confidentiality agreement ensuring they comply with strict rules regarding medical confidentiality. The Practice is registered under the Data Protection Act. We also adhere to the principles defined in the Caldicott Committee Report which restricts access to personal information on a “need to know” basis.

Please understand we are unable to divulge information about a patient who is a partner, family member or close friend. We can only do so if we have written confirmation from the patient stating you are acting on their behalf. We will then put a note on their record to ensure your wishes are respected.

If you do not wish anonymous information about you to be used in such a way, please let us know. Reception and administration staff require access to your medical records in order to do their jobs. These members of staff are bound by the same rules of confidentiality as the medical staff.

Fernville Surgery prides itself in maintaining professional standards. For certain examinations during consultations an impartial observer (a Chaperone) will be required. This applies whether or not you are the same gender.

This impartial observer will be a trained chaperone who is familiar with the procedure and be available to reassure and raise any concerns on your behalf. Children under the age of 18 may have a chaperone with them if unaccompanied. If a chaperone is unavailable at the time of your consultation then your examination may be rescheduled for another time.

You are free to decline any examination or chose an alternative examiner or chaperone. You may also request a chaperone for any examination or consultation if one is not offered to you. The GP may not undertake an examination if a chaperone is declined.

The role of a Chaperone

• Maintains professional boundaries during intimate examinations.
• Acknowledges a patient’s vulnerability.
• Provides emotional comfort and reassurance.
• Assists in the examination.
• Assists with undressing patients, if required.

For more information please ask one of our receptionists.

The Practice will ensure that it is as easy as reasonably possible for patients and their representatives to exercise their legitimate rights of access to Medical Records. Please write to the Practice so that we can have an accurate record of the request. We will respond to a written request within 14 days, with agreement to provide access or with a legitimate reason why access has been refused. We will require proof of identity before making records available.

Access to Medical Records Online

We also offer some limited access to Medical Records online. In order to arrange this you first need to register for Patient Access which will give you facilities to make and cancel appointments online and also to request your repeat prescriptions online. You then need to make a second application to be registered for access to your Medical Records. This leads to an interview with a specially trained member of staff to ensure you understand all the implications prior to activating it. At this stage we will ask you for photo ID.