Who can Request a Chaperone?

Any patient can request a chaperone at any time but in particular if any intimate examination is to take place.

Notices are present in reception and in consulting rooms reminding patients they are entitled to a chaperone at any time.

If a patient knows that they may need an intimate examination such as a breast examination or examination of genitalia in particular they should be given the choice of doctor/nurse that they see and the option of a chaperone when they book the appointment.

Under charges for Non-NHS services please update:

Holiday cancellation form £50

Fitness to travel letter £60

Fitness to Participate Letter £60

Private Health Insurance Claim form £60

HGV/PSV medical £145 20 min appt

Taxi Cab/Minibus medical £145 20 min appt

Pre Employment Medical (paid by employer) £145 20 min appt

Sickness benefite claim form £60

Firearms report £100 new/£50 renew

Private prescription £40

Lasting Power of Attorney medical and report (financial and/or health and welfare) £140 single £160 couple

Ofsted child minding health report £60

Adoption report £200 single £225 couple 20 min appt

Non NHS ECG £50

To whom it may concern letters £40 simple / £60 complex

Travel vaccines:

Yellow Fever £75 – Replacement Certificate £25

Hepatitis B £59 per jab (x3 or 4)

Rabies £70 per jab (x3)

Japanese B £150 per jab (x2)

Tick Borne Encephalitis £200

ACWY (meningitis for Hajj etc.) £75

Chickenpox £100

Whooping cough for travel £70

Vaccination certificate £25

What if it is not possible?

If this is not possible then all clinical staff are required to offer a chaperone should they need to undertake an examination of the patient that is either intimate in any way such as breast examination or genitalia or if the patient feels particularly vulnerable for some reason, e.g. if they are under the age of 16 or if they have had a difficult experience in the past or are mistrustful of people in authority for some reason e.g. past abuse etc.

This applies to a male or female doctor and a male or female patient.

If a chaperone is not available, or if the patient is uncomfortable in any way, then they can be offered another appointment at a different time or be seen by a different person but the patient should always be given the option.

What is a Chaperone for?

The chaperone’s sole purpose is to act in a capacity to ensure that there is no inappropriate behaviour on the part of the examining nurse or doctor and that the conduct of the patient is also appropriate.

The chaperone should be either a clinical member of staff or another member of staff who has had training.

They are entitled to stop the examination at any point if they feel that there is any inappropriate behaviour from either party.

In this instance the practice manager should be notified immediately and the appropriate steps taken to deal with the situation.

Charges for non-NHS services (payment by cash, debit or credit card)

Notes

The NHS provides most health care free of charge but as GPs are generally independent contractors and not employed directly by the government they charge for certain services not covered by their NHS contract. These fees help cover staff costs and the costs of maintaining the building.

Examples of non-NHS services for which GPs can charge their own registered patients include:

• Insurance reports for accident or sickness,
• fitness to fly or take part in activities,
• pre-employment medicals, HGV medicals,
• private prescriptions e.g. for malaria

Examples of non-NHS services for which GPs can charge other institutions:

• Life assurance or income protection reports,
• some reports for the department of work and pensions, and DVLA,
• reports for local authorities e.g. fostering or adoption.

It may seem that GPs are charging just for their signature but it is a condition of staying on the Medical Register that they sign only what they know to be true, which may involve studying the patient’s whole medical record.

If you have any questions about this please contact the Practice on 0118 969 7303

We are here to help you and welcome comments and constructive suggestions to help us improve our service.

If you would like to make a comment or if you have experienced problems please speak to the reception supervisor who will endeavour to assist you.

If you would prefer to write, please address your letter to James Cook, our Practice Manager.

Practice Complaints Summary

If you have a complaint or concern about the service you have received from the doctors or any of the Staff working in this practice, please let us know. We operate a practice complaints procedure as part of a NHS system for dealing with complaints. Our complaints system meets national criteria. Not all staff working at the surgery are employed by the practice. If your complaint involves one of them we will work with the relevant employer to assure you receive a detailed response.

How to complain

We hope that most problems can be sorted out easily and quickly, often at the time they arise and with the person concerned. If your problem cannot be sorted out in this way and you wish to make a complaint, we would like you to let us know as soon as possible – ideally, within a matter of days or a few weeks – because this will enable us to establish what happened more easily.

The complaint needs to be made within 12 months, either from the date of the incident or from when the complainant first knew about it. These should be sent to our Practice Manager, James Cook. We prefer complaints to be in writing as it enables us to understand your complaint better so that we can respond fully, but if this is not possible please call to arrange a telephone call with our Complaints Manager.

Alternatively you can speak to James Cook with informal complaints or comments. This might be more suitable for minor matters.

We will acknowledge your complaint within two working days and aim to have looked into your complaint within two weeks, but sometimes it can take longer. When we look into your complaint, we will aim to:

• Find out what happened and what went wrong;
• Provide you with a formal response to your complaint;
• Make sure you receive an apology, where this is appropriate;
• If necessary, arrange a meeting for you to discuss the problem with us and if appropriate, those concerned with your complaint;
• Make sure you receive an apology, where this is appropriate;
• Identify what we can do to make sure the problem doesn’t happen again.
• Explain how you can escalate your complaint if you are not satisfied with the outcome.

Complaining on behalf of someone else

Please note that we keep strictly to the rule of medical confidentiality. If you are complaining on behalf of someone else, we have to know that you have their permission to do so. A note signed by the person concerned will be needed, unless they are incapable (because of illness) of providing this.

Right to complain

All clinical complaints are investigated by our senior clinician Dr Mark Reed.  Alternatively you have a right to complain directly to NHS England at the address below. You should be aware that any complaints received by NHS England will be forwarded to the Practice for an initial response:-

NHS England
PO Box 16738
Redditch
B97 9PT

By email to: england.contactus@nhs.net

Please state: ‘For the attention of the complaints team’ in the subject line.

By telephone: 0300 311 22 33 (Monday to Friday 8am to 6pm, except Wednesday when they open at 9.30am and excluding English Bank Holidays)

The Health Service Ombudsman

The Health Service Ombudsman has published a booklet that describes the ‘six principles for remedy’ in relation to complaints handling and involves:

• Getting it right
• Being customer focused
• Being open and accountable
• Acting fairly and proportionately
• Putting things right
• Seeking continuous improvements

If you remain unhappy after everything has been done to try to resolve your concern or complaint you have the right to approach the Ombudsman.

Tel: 0345 015 4033 (Monday to Friday 8.30am to 5.30pm except bank holidays)

Mobile: Send a text to our “call back” service: 07624 813 005, with your name and mobile number.

As part of our commitment to patient care, we have to record personal information. This is to ensure you get proper care and treatment. We keep these details because we may need to see you again.

We are properly registered under the provisions of the Data Protection Act and the designated data controller is the Practice Manager incumbent at any given time.

We may use some of this information to help us:

• Protect the health of public generally
• See that the NHS runs efficiently
• Plan for the future
• Train our staff, pay our bills and account for actions

This information might also be used in conjunction with:

• Auditing our actions
• Preparing statistics on NHS performance and activity
• Investigating complaints
• Helping staff review the care they provide and making sure it is of the highest standard
• Training and educating staff and doctors (but you can choose whether or not to be involved personally)
• Undertaking research approved by the Local Research Ethics Committee (if anything to do with the research involves you personally you would be contacted to give your consent)

Everyone working in the practice has a legal duty to keep information about you confidential.

If at any time you would like to know more about how we use your information please contact the Practice Manager.

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 tends to routinely make available. The information you provide will be used for the following purposes:

• Updating your clinical records.
• We share with hospitals or other medical clinicians when you have been referred for further care on a need to know basis.
• The Thames Valley Primary Care Agency

It will not be used for any other purpose. The data held will be used solely by Woodley Centre Surgery & Westfield Road Surgery. The information you provide will be kept securely and confidentially in accordance with the requirements of the Data Protection Act (1988).

The ICO has published a new Model Publication Scheme that all public authorities are required to adopt.

Every effort is taken to ensure that the information published on this website is accurate and informative.

This website is provided for information only. It is not intended to replace a consultation with an appropriately qualified medical practitioner.  Neither the Surgery, nor any of its sub-contractors can accept responsibility for any loss, damage or injury that arises from the use of this website.

Links are provided for information and convenience only. We cannot accept responsibility for the sites linked to, or the information found there. A link does not imply an endorsement of a site; likewise, not linking to a particular site does not imply lack of endorsement.

We make every effort to ensure that this website is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. However, we cannot guarantee uninterrupted access to this website, or the sites to which it links. We accept no responsibility for any damages arising from the loss of use of this information.

The care that we can provide for you depends on the partnership between patients and their doctor. Whilst we will always strive to meet the demands placed on us there are things that you the patient can do that will make our job easier.

What you can do for us:

• Please treat all surgery staff with the same courtesy and respect that we offer to you.
• Ask if you are not clear about your treatment, and try to follow the medical advice offered.
• Please remember that an appointment is for ONE person only.
• Please book a separate consultation for each member of your family who wishes to see the doctor.
• If you feel your problem is complicated, or you have several problems, please inform the receptionist who will book you a double appointment. This will assist other patients as it will help the doctor run to time.
• It is the patient who is responsible for keeping an appointment with any doctor or hospital specialist. If you wish to cancel, please give adequate notice to the practice to allow the appointment to be used for someone else.
• Only ask for an urgent appointment when there is a real need for it: coughs, colds, sore throats, and problems which have been going on for a week or more, rarely need to be seen in an urgent slot.
• If a doctor is running late please be patient; on another occasion it might be you that needs the extra time. Please do not blame the receptionists.
• Do be patient when your doctor is called away to deal with an emergency.
• Do keep us informed about changes in your personal circumstances and in particular any change of address or telephone number.
• We are all responsible for our own health and we should all take appropriate action to prevent ill health, for instance by not smoking. If you do need advice about prevention we are available to provide it.

• General Practice Transparency Notice for GPES Data for Pandemic Planning and Research (COVID-19)

Woodley Centre Surgery is a general medical practice offering high quality compassionate health care in a friendly welcoming setting. Our aim is to provide our patients with a personalised medical and nursing service and we work hard to ensure that patients receive the care we would wish for ourselves and families.

To accomplish this we place great value in:

• Our staff, on whom our reputation depends
• Maintaining standards of confidentiality, record keeping and clinical knowledge
• Treating you with respect and courtesy
• Acting as your advocate and guide to health and social services
• Offering easy access to appointments
• Bringing Best Practice to your care

Our Vision

To provide accessible high quality patient empowered health care incorporating 21st century technology, whilst maintaining a personalised service and training the GPs of the future.

The Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) offers confidential advice, support and information on health-related matters. They provide a point of contact for patients, their families and their carers.

CCG Patient Advice and Liaison Team (PALS)
NHS Berkshire West CCG
57-59 Bath Road
Reading
Berkshire, RG30 2BA

Email: bwccg.bwpalscomplaints@nhs.net

Telephone: 0118 982 2720

For more information on PALS, please visit www.nhs.uk.

PCNs are clusters of neighbouring GP practices which have teamed up to provide patients with a wider range of health and wellbeing services, specifically geared towards the needs of their local areas.

Find out more about PCNs inBerkshire West.

Your information, what you need to know

If you want to speak to us about your data, please see our Contact Us page.

This notice describes why we collect information about you, how your information will be used and your rights in respect of your data.

Why we collect information about you

Your records are used to ensure you get the best possible care.  Your information helps them to make the best decisions about your care and helps provide you with proactive advice and guidance.  Important information is also collected to help us to remind you about specific treatment which you might need, such as health checks, immunisations for children and reminders for screening appointments.  We work with other NHS services to co-ordinate these.

Information held about you may be used to help protect the health of the public and to help us to improve NHS services. Information may be used within the GP practice to monitor the quality of the service provided (known as ‘clinical audit’).

What data do we collect and receive about you?

Records are stored electronically and on paper and include personal details about you such as your address, carers, legal representatives, emergency contact details, as well as:

• Any appointments, visits, emergency appointments
• Notes and reports about your health
• Details about your diagnosis, treatment and care
• Details about any medication you are taking
• Results of investigations such as laboratory tests, x-rays
• Relevant information from health  and care professionals, relatives or carers

We also receive information from other organisations that are caring for you that we hold in your record.  This will include letters and test results.

How we use your information:  For providing your care

Prescriptions

Where you have agreed we will send information on your prescriptions to pharmacies, either by electronic systems or by paper.

Test requests and results

Where we undertake tests on you, such as blood tests, we will send the sample and details of the tests we are requesting to the most appropriate pathology laboratory.  The data shared with the laboratory will include your NHS number, name, the type of test requested and any health information relevant to doing the test and producing the result or report.  We will receive the test results back from the laboratory electronically and these will be stored in your patient record.

Extended services and out of hours

We work closely with neighbouring practices and ‘out of hours’ providers including NHS 111 to ensure that if you need care from a doctor outside of normal hours that they have access to your records when needed to give you the best possible care.  This may be delivered over the phone or via video consultation as appropriate.  Services may be run by ‘GP Federations’ and ‘Primary Care Networks’.

Patient referrals

With your agreement, your GP or Nurse may refer you to other services not provided by the practice, or they may work with other services to provide your care in the practice.  Information will be shared by letters, emails and shared record systems.

Once you have been seen, the other care agency will tell us about the treatment they have provided for you and any support which your GP needs to provide. This information is then included in your record.  Referrals can be to lots of different services, such as smoking cessation services, social prescribers, voluntary services and other health and care agencies, as appropriate, for your care.

Hospital, Community or Social Care Services

Sometimes the staff caring for you need to share some of your information with others who are also supporting you. This could include hospital or community based specialists, nurses, health visitors, therapists or social care services.  Information will be shared to organisations where you receive care, whether that is local or further away, if you need specialist care or emergency care in another.

Shared computer systems

Health and Social care services are developing shared systems to share data efficiently and quickly.  It is important for anyone treating you to be able to access your shared record so that they have all the information they need to care for you. This will be during your routine appointments and also in urgent situations such as going to A&E, calling 111 or going to an Out of hours appointment.  It is also quicker for staff to access a shared record than to try to contact other staff by phone or email.

Only authorised staff can access the systems and the information they see is carefully checked so that it relates to their job.  Systems do not share all your data, just data which services have agreed is necessary to include.

For more information about shared care records, please see the Local Shared Care Record statement.

Safeguarding of children or vulnerable adults

If we have significant concerns or hear about an individual child or vulnerable adult being at risk of harm, we may share relevant information with other organisations, such as local authorities and the Police, involved in ensuring their safety.

Ensuring medicines work well

We work with the local Medicines Management team of the Clinical Commissioning Group to help get the best out of medicines for patients and ensure they are effective in managing conditions.  This generally uses anonymous data, but occasionally they will assist in reviews of medication for patients with complex needs. Doctors may also seek advice and guidance on prescribing queries.

Identifying health risks

Systems known as ‘risk stratification tools’ are used to help determine a person’s risk of suffering particular conditions and enable us to focus on preventing ill health before it develops.  Information in these systems comes from a number of sources, such as hospitals and the practice.  This can help us identify and offer you additional services to improve your health.

Multi-disciplinary team meetings

For some long term conditions, such as diabetes, the practice participates in meetings with staff from other agencies involved in providing care, to help plan the best way to provide care to patients with these conditions.

National Services (including screening programmes)

There are some national services like National Diabetes Audit and the National Cancer Screening Programmes that collect and keep information from across the NHS. This is how the NHS knows when to contact you about services like cervical, breast or bowel cancer screening.

You can find out more about how the NHS holds and shares your information for national programmes on the NHS screening website.

Data may also be shared on anyone who contracts a ‘communicable disease’, such as Covid-19, in order to manage public health and safety.

How we use your information:  beyond providing your care

The information collected about you when you use our services can also be used and provided to other organisations for purposes beyond your individual care, for instance to help with:

• Improving the quality and standards of care
• Research into the development of new treatments
• Preventing illness and diseases
• Monitoring safety
• Planning new services
• Public health screening
• Assisting the Care Quality Commission with any investigations
• Investigating fraud

Wherever possible data used for these purposes is anonymised so that you cannot be identified.  If information cannot be completely anonymous, then this may only take place when the law allows the information to be used.  All these uses help to provide better health and care for you, your family and future generations.

This practice is supporting vital health and care planning and research by sharing your data with NHS Digital. For more information about this see the GP Practice Privacy Notice for General Practice Data for Planning and Research.

Statutory disclosures

Sometimes we are duty bound by laws to disclose information to organisations such as the Care Quality Commission, the Driver and Vehicle Licencing Agency, the General Medical Council, Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs and Counter Fraud services.  In these circumstances we will always try to inform you before we are required to disclose and we only disclose the minimum information that the law requires us to do so.

• What else might information be used for?

Objecting to the of use of data for purposes beyond your care

The NHS Constitution states ‘You have a right to request that your personal and confidential information is not used beyond your own care and treatment and to have your objections considered’. For further information please visit: The NHS Constitution

National data opt-out

The national data opt-out enables patients to opt-out from the use of their personal confidential data for research or planning purposes.  To find out more or to register to opt out, please visit the NHS Website: Your Data Matters.

If you have any concerns about use of your data not covered by the National Data Opt out, please contact the practice.

How long do we hold information for?

Records are kept for the lifetime of the patient.  If you move to a new practice, your record will be transferred.  If the practice you have left need to access your record, for example to deal with a historic complaint, they will let you know.  When information has been identified for destruction or deletion it will be disposed of using approved confidential disposal procedures.

Your rights:

Data Protection laws give you a number of rights, including access to your data, correction, erasure, objection and restriction of use of your data.  Details on how to request access to your data are set out below.    If you have any concerns about the accuracy and use of your records, please contact us.

Right of Access to your information (Subject Access Request)

You have the right to have a copy of the information we hold about you.  There are some safeguards regarding what you will have access to and you may find information has been removed for the following reasons.

• Where your doctor has decided that some information may cause significant harm to you or someone else
• Where the information is about someone else (third party) and is confidential to them

You can make a request by asking or writing to the practice. We may ask you to complete a form so that we have a record of your request.  You will need to provide proof of identity.

If you would like to access your GP record online, please visit Patient Access.

Lawful basis for processing:

The use of personal data for providing care is supported under the following Article 6 and 9 conditions of the GDPR:

• Article 6(1)(e) ‘…necessary for the performance of a task carried out in the public interest or in the exercise of official authority…’; and
• Article 9(2)(h) ‘necessary for the purposes of preventative or occupational medicine for the assessment of the working capacity of the employee, medical diagnosis, the provision of health or social care or treatment or the management of health or social care systems and services…”

Change of Details

It is important that you tell us as soon as you can if any of your details such as your name or address, email address or mobile number have changed.  This is to make sure no information about you is sent to an old address.

Mobile telephone number

If you provide us with your mobile phone number, we may use this to send you text reminders about your appointments or other health screening information.  Please let us know if you do not wish to receive text reminders on your mobile.

Email address

Where you have provided us with your email address we will use this to send you information relating to your health and the services we provide.  If you do not wish to receive communications by email, please let us know.

Any changes to this notice will be published on our website and in a prominent area at the practice.

Data Protection Officer

Should you have any questions or concerns about your data, please contact our Data Protection Officer via the details on our Contact Us page.

Right to complain

If you have concerns or are unhappy about any of our services, please contact the Practice Manager.

For independent advice about data protection, privacy and data-sharing issues, you can contact:

The Information Commissioner
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF

Website: https://ico.org.uk/global/contact-us

Telephone: 0303 123 1113

Community Wellness outreach project

Purpose

We are working with the Berkshire West Primary Care Alliance as part of a Community Wellness Outreach Project to increase NHS health checks, we are using third party providers who will have access to aspects of patient data only where this would be relevant. All parties have completed a Data Protection Impact Assessments

Legal Basis

• Article 6(1)(e) ‘…necessary for the performance of a task carried out in the public interest or in the exercise of official authority…’; and

• Article 9(2)(h) ‘necessary for the purposes of preventative or occupational medicine’

Patients may opt out of having their personal confidential data used for Planning or research. Please contact your surgery to apply a Type 1 Opt out or visit the NHS Website to apply a National Data Opt Out

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.

We do not use cookies on this website therefore you will not see a message asking you to choose to accept or decline cookies.

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.

Taking part in Research

Woodley Centre Surgery is involved in medical research and from time to time you may be approached to take part. Taking part in research is voluntary: you can freely accept or decline, and this will not affect the care that you receive in any way. Even if you agree to take part, you can still withdraw at any time, without having to provide justification. Withdrawing from a study will not affect the care we provide for you.

All research projects carried out at Woodley Centre Surgery have been thoroughly checked and approved by the relevant health authorities & ethical committees ensuring it is appropriate and safe to perform. You will always receive clear information about what taking part in a research study would involve and will have the opportunity to ask questions and obtain further details about a study. All projects are fully compliant with all UK laws (incl. GDPR).

• You may receive a text message, email or a letter in the post offering you the opportunity to take part in a study (the letter will include some information about the project).
• Your doctor or nurse may also discuss research opportunities during your usual appointment.
• You may also be approached by a member of the study team in the waiting area; be assured that this person and their activity will have been approved by the practice.

What you will be asked to do as part of the research will vary from study to study. The Patient Information Sheet for each project will detail what is expected of you. The study team is also there to answer all questions you may have.

Things you may want to know

• Participation in research is entirely voluntary and you have the right to say ‘No’. Nobody will put pressure on you to take part in research if you do not wish to.  You do not have to give us a reason if you decide not to take part.
• Your care and your relationship with your doctor or nurse will not be affected in any way if you decide not to take part in a research study.
• You will always receive clear information about what taking part in a research study would involve. The practice will usually provide you with a patient information sheet; then, if you agree to take part, the study team will explain the study to you in more detail and you will have the opportunity to ask questions about it.
• Nobody from outside this practice will be given your contact details or have access to your medical records without your prior consent. If you do agree to take part in a study, you will be asked to sign a consent form – this will clearly state which parts of your notes (if any) may be looked at for the purposes of the research.
• You will not be asked to take part in a large number of studies. Most researchers are very specific about the criteria that people need to meet in order to enter their study.  Usually this means that only a relatively small number of patients at the practice will be suitable for any one study.

Your data for research (GDPR guidelines and Anonymous data)

If you do agree to take part in a study, you will be asked to sign a consent form. This will clearly state which parts of your medical notes (if any) may be looked at for the purposes of the research study. Nobody from outside your practice organisation will be given your contact details or have access to your medical records without your prior consent.

This practice is also participating in (x) national database project(s) which collects anonymised electronic medical records from GP surgeries throughout the UK.  Through the electronic clinical system we use to record medical notes, a completely anonymous (i.e. no identifiable patient details are shared at all) extract is taken which is used for medical research.  This clinical data is then catalogued and provides continuous monitoring of infection and disease around the UK.

What if I don’t want to get involved in research?

We recognise that some people may not want to receive information about research studies by post or text message. If you do not want to be contacted about research studies that we may run at the practice in the future, please let us know. If you change your mind at a later date, you can still opt back in at any time.

To opt out of participating in any research studies visit the NHS Your Data Matters website to set your preferences

Research in the NHS in collaboration with the National Institute for Health Research (National Institute for Health and Care Research)

The NHS is committed to the innovation, and to the promotion, conduct and use of research to improve the current and future health and care of the population.

Clinical Research is a major driver of innovation and central to NHS practice for maintaining and developing high standards of patient care. Participating in Clinical research allows patients to get access to new interventions, treatments, and medicines. Ultimately, investment in research means better and more cost-effective care for patients.

The National Institute for Health Research (National Institute for Health and Care Research) is the nation’s largest funder of health and care research and provides the people, facilities and technology that enables research to thrive. Working in partnership with the NHS, universities, local government, other research funders, patients, and the public, they deliver and enable world-class research that transforms people’s lives, promotes economic growth and advances science.

Woodley Centre Surgery is part of a network of local practices participating in research activities under the banner of National Institute for Health and Care Research Clinical Research Network: Thames Valley and South Midlands (National Institute for Health and Care Research CRN TVSM). The CRN TVSM is hosted by Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and covers Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Milton Keynes, and Oxfordshire.

Click here to find out more about the work of the National Institute for Health and Care Research

Support for Primary Care Research

The National Institute for Health Research works with researchers and primary care practitioners such as GPs, practice nurses, pharmacists, and dentists to promote the successful delivery of research studies in the NHS. We support a wide range of research including studies which look at:

• Promoting a healthier lifestyle
• Disease diagnosis and prevention
• Management of long-term illnesses such as diabetes or hypertension
• Prevention of future ill-health
• Treating common conditions such as influenza

Following GDPR guidelines and ensuring your data is protected

Use of third-party document outsource processors (mailing companies)

Researchers regularly use document outsource processors such as Docmail to send study information to people who might be interested in taking part in clinical research. Only companies that are confirmed as being fully compliant with the laws surrounding data protection and data sharing, such as GDPR, are used. In addition to this, providers will be reviewed and permitted by the regulatory bodies that ethically approve, govern, and oversee clinical research taking place in the UK, such as the NHS Health Research Authority and Research Ethics Committees.

We would like to reassure you that, should you receive an invite to participate in a research study:

• The letter will have come directly from the practice. We do not share identifiable information with researchers without patient consent.
• It is our practice staff who perform research mailouts using the document outsource processor. Your contact details will not be shared outside of the system and will be deleted after 28 days.

Practice collaboration with research data registries

We are part of Clinical Practice Research Datalink which means that we contribute de-identified data to CPRD (Clinical Practice Research Datalink) for public health research. CPRD is a real-world research service supporting retrospective and prospective public health and clinical studies and is jointly sponsored by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency and the National Institute for Health Research (National Institute for Health and Care Research), as part of the Department of Health and Social Care.

Individual patients cannot be identified from this information but you are able to opt out if you prefer. Protecting the confidentiality of patient data is paramount, and only anonymised patient data is provided to researchers.

We are part of the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) Research Surveillance Centre (RSC) which means that we contribute de-identified data to the RSC for public health research. The RSC is an active research and surveillance unit that collects and monitors data, in particular Influenza, from practices across England.

Individual patients cannot be identified from this information.

What are the benefits of your practice being active in research?

Evidence suggests that patients who receive care in research-active institutions have better health outcomes than those who are treated in a non-research environment.

By joining the research community, we are actively helping to improve the standard of healthcare for our patients.

Research provides an opportunity for you, the patient, to better understand your health conditions as well as give something back to the NHS and wider community.

Sometimes it can provide patients with access to new treatments, as well as bringing a new dimension to practice and added skills to those involved.

The practice will receive funding to cover any additional costs of taking part in research (it does not come out of our own budget and so routine patient services will not be affected).

Patient Perspective: Is research right for me & what do patients taking part in research really think?

Ultimately, our research helps people to access and take part in studies which could potentially make a real difference to their health conditions and quality of life. Click on the links below to hear more from patients who have taken part in research: Click on the links to find out more information:

Health talk: Patient and public involvement in research

Clinical Research Network – Patient Research Experience Survey

Here are a few quotes from patients who have taken part in research:

• “I felt being part of the research helped my case, maybe got treatments that I would not have had otherwise”.
• “I do feel as though I’m contributing to the improved care for future generations”.
• “With the close monitoring / treatments from everyone, I now feel a lot healthier”.
• “The process has made me much more aware of my condition and that advice and care was immediately available”.

We strongly support the NHS policy on zero tolerance. Anyone attending the surgery who abuses the GPs, staff or other patients be it verbally, physically or in any threatening manner whatsoever, will risk removal from the practice list.