Consent
We have made some changes around consent and confidentiality following National guidance regarding confidentiality.
Proxy access for children 10 and under
Up to 10 years of age the parents/carers of our younger patients can have proxy access to book appointments, order medication and view the child’s medical record. Proxy access will only be given to registered carers and parents with parental responsibility.
Please use this form to request proxy access for a child up to the age of 10 years old Patient Proxy Online Access Form - Child aged 10 or under (PDF, 790KB)
Patients ages 13 to 15 years of age inclusive
Patients should apply for access in their own right. Access will be given for booking appointments and ordering medication only.
The patient will require their own email account and own mobile number. Log-in information will not be sent to parents or carers and no shared email accounts or mobile numbers are allowed.
*Proxy access for parents/carers will be given for medical reasons and always at the discretion of the GP. Usually,when the patient is unable to make medical decisions for themselves due to a medical condition. This access is given on a case-by-case basis.
Please use this form to request access if you are aged 13 to 15 years old. Patient Online Access Form - 13 to 15 Year Olds (PDF, 409KB)
Patients ages 16 years and over
Patients should apply for access in their own right using their own email address and own mobile number. No shared email addresses or mobile numbers are allowed.
Access will be to book appointments, order medication and view medical records.
Please use this form to request access if you are aged 16 years and over. Patient Online Access Form - 16+ (PDF, 338KB)
Proxy Access
Proxy access was developed to allow someone other than the patient (often used by the parents or recognised carers of young children and the registered carers of adults) to access and manage parts of their GP online services account. The proxy is given their own online access account (rather than using the patient’s login details).
Patient Proxy Online Access Form - Aged 16+ (PDF, 820KB)
Online Services Records Access Information
If you wish to, you can now use the internet to book appointments, request repeat prescriptions for any medications you take regularly and look at your medical record online. You can also still use the telephone or come into the practice for any of these services as well. It’s your choice.
Being able to see your record online might help you to manage your medical conditions. It also means that you can even access it from anywhere in the world should you require medical treatment on holiday. If you decide not to join or wish to withdraw, this is your choice and practice staff will continue to treat you in the same way as before. This decision will not affect the quality of your care.
You will be given login details, so you will need to think of a password which is unique to you. This will ensure that only you are able to access your record – unless you choose to share your details with a family member or carer.
It will be your responsibility to keep your login details and password safe and secure. If you know or suspect that your record has been accessed by someone that you have not agreed should see it, then you should change your password immediately.
If you can’t do this for some reason, we recommend that you contact the practice so that they can remove online access until you are able to reset your password.
If you print out any information from your record, it is also your responsibility to keep this secure. If you are at all worried about keeping printed copies safe, we recommend that you do not make copies at all.
The information that you can see online may be misleading if you rely on it alone to complete insurance, employment or legal reports or forms.
Be careful that nobody can see your records on screen when you are using Patient Online and be especially careful if you use a public computer to shut down the browser and switch off the computer after you have finished.
The practice has the right to remove online access to services. This is rarely necessary but may be the best option if you do not use them responsibly or if there is evidence that access may be harmful to you. This may occur if someone else is forcing you to give them access to your record or if the record may contain something that may be upsetting or harmful to you. The practice will explain the reason for withdrawing access to you and will reinstate access as quickly as possible.
Before you apply for online access to your record, there are some other things to consider.
Although the chances of any of these things happening are very small, you will be asked that you have read and understood the following before you are given login details.
Forgotten History
There may be something you have forgotten about in your record that you might find upsetting.
Abnormal results or bad news
If you have been given access to test results or letters, you may see something that you find upsetting. This may occur before you have spoken to your doctor or while the practice is closed, and you cannot contact us. If this happens, please contact us as soon as possible. We may set your record so that certain details are not displayed online. For example, we may do this with test results that you might find worrying until they have had an opportunity to discuss the information with you.
Choosing to share your information with someone
It’s up to you whether or not you share your information with others – perhaps family members or carers. It’s your choice, but also your responsibility to keep the information safe and secure. If it would be helpful to you, you can ask the practice to provide another set of login details to your Online services for another person to act on your behalf. They would be able to book appointments or order repeat prescriptions. They may be able to see your record to help with your healthcare if you wish. Tell your practice what access you would like them to have.
Coercion
If you think you may be pressured into revealing details from your patient record to someone else against your will, it is best that you do not register for access at this time.
Misunderstood information
Your medical record is designed to be used by clinical professionals to ensure that you receive the best possible care. Some of the information within your medical record may be highly technical, written by specialists and not easily understood. If you require further clarification, please contact the practice for a clearer explanation.
Information about someone else
If you spot something in the record that is not about you or notice any other errors, please log out of the system immediately and contact the practice as soon as possible.
More information
For more information about keeping your healthcare records safe and secure, you will find a helpful leaflet produced by the NHS in conjunction with the British Computer Society:
Keeping your online health and social care records safe and secure www.nhs.uk/NHSEngland/thenhs/records/healthrecords/Documents/PatientGuidanceBooklet.pdf [EXTERNAL PDF LINK]