At The Ridge Medical Practice, we have designed our facilities to meet the diverse needs of the communities we serve, with valuable input from our active Patient Participation Group. Our Practice Charter ensures the highest quality of services, addressing various needs such as language support, accessibility for disabled users, consent, and the availability of chaperones. As part of our high governance standards there are some Practice policies and Patient Information leaflets that we would like to share with you here:
Privacy Notice
We understand how important it is to keep your personal information safe and secure and we take this very seriously. We have taken steps to make sure your personal information is looked after in the best possible way and we review this regularly. Please read this privacy notice (‘Privacy Notice’) carefully, as it contains important information about how we use the personal and healthcare information we collect on your behalf. You can read our Privacy Policy here.
Confidentiality
At The Ridge Medical Practice, we operate a strict code of confidentiality. We share information with other Health and Social Care organisations on a strictly ‘need to know’ basis. The Practice Caldicott Guardian is Dr Gareth James. He has overall responsibility to ensure that the practice systems comply with the relevant regulations relating to confidentiality. The practice has an electronic patient call system in the waiting room. If you do not want your name shown, please mention this at reception.
Our staff are always approachable about any problems, particularly when a young person is anxious about contraception needs or sexual health worries. Anything discussed is confidential and will not be disclosed to anyone else without permission of the patient, whatever their age. Even the fact that an appointment has been made will not be revealed to anyone else.
You can read our Confidentiality Policy here
Chaperones
It is the policy of the practice to offer patients a chaperone during certain examinations and procedures. Our full Chaperone Policy can be read by following the link.
If you feel you would like a chaperone to be present during an examination, please speak to the doctor or nurse and a chaperone will be made available to you.
Consent
Where possible, a clinician must be satisfied that a patient understands and consents to a proposed treatment, immunisation or investigation, as well as the nature, purpose, benefits and risks of the procedure. Drawings, interpreters, videos or other means may be used to help ensure that the patient understands the situation, and has enough information to give ‘Informed Consent’. Our full Consent Policy can be read by following the link.
Zero tolerance
The Ridge Medical Practice has a duty to provide a safe and secure environment for patients, staff, and visitors. Violent or abusive behaviour will not be tolerated, and decisive action will be taken to protect staff, patients, or visitors. There has been an increase in recent years in the level of violence, abuse and threats faced by staff, and sometimes visitors and patients, within the NHS. There is widespread recognition among staff and management of an outstanding need to tackle such behaviour effectively and a belief that fear of violence can seriously effect morale. The practice has a statutory duty to provide a safe and secure environment for its staff and others, as well as a moral duty to take reasonable steps to protect and support staff. Our full Zero tolerance policy about this can be read by following the link.
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