James Street Group Practice

Patient rights and responsibilities

We aim to provide the best possible service to our patients and hope you will feel that we achieve that aim.

The care of your health is a partnership between yourself and the Primary Health Care Team. The success of that partnership depends on an understanding of each other’s needs and co-operation between us.

Our responsibility to you:

• You will be greeted courteously
• You have a right to confidentiality
• You have the right to see your medical records subject to the limitations of the law
• You will be seen the same day if your problem is urgent
• You will be seen by your doctor of choice whenever possible
• You will be informed if there will be a delay of more than 20 minutes for your appointment
• You will receive appropriate information about your condition and treatment
• Your medical condition will be managed to the highest standards
• You will be referred to a consultant when your GP thinks it necessary
• You will be given the result of any test or investigation on request or at your next appointment
• Your repeat prescription will be ready for collection within 48 hours of your request (72 hours if it is delivered to a chemist)
• Your suggestions and comments about the services offered will be considered sympathetically and any complaint dealt with quickly

Your responsibility to us:

• To treat all members of staff with courtesy and respect.
• Do not ask for information about anyone other than yourself
• Tell us of any change of name or address, so that our records are accurate
• Only request an urgent appointment if appropriate.
• Home visits should only be requested if you are bed bound and really too ill to attend surgery. Try to ring before 11.00.
• Please cancel your appointment in advance if you are unable to attend
• Please be punctual, but be prepared to wait if your own consultation is delayed by an unexpected emergency
• Please appreciate that the reception desk is a busy one and staff will be dealing with many tasks
• Please make sure that your mobile phone is switched off when in the surgery.
• Please allow sufficient time for your consultant’s letter or the results of any tests to reach us. You will be advised of the usual length of time to wait
• Do let us know whenever you feel we have not met our responsibility to you
• We would, of course, be pleased to hear when you feel praise is due as well

Date published: 10th October, 2014
Date last updated: 2nd April, 2020