Registration
Please go to location to see the area covered by the Practice. When registering, new patients are asked to bring in their NHS Medical Card. If this is not available a GMSI form should be completed (available from the Medical Centre)New patients are also asked to complete a medical questionnaire, which gives the clinicians basic details until the NHS records arrive in the Practice.  Patients on regular medication or with continued health problems should make an appointment to see their new doctor.

Patient Preference of Doctor
Patients are invited to express a preference to receive services from a particular doctor. This will be recorded in the Patient record. We would encourage patients to plan ahead and see their preferred doctor to ensure continuity of care. This may not always be possible if you need to be seen urgently.

Removal of registered patients from the list:
Requested by the patient
The Practice will notify the Primary Care Trust in writing of any request for removal from its list of patients received from a registered patient.

Requested by the Practice
If there are reasonable grounds for wishing a patient to be removed from its list of patients, the Practice will notify the Primary Care Trust in writing and notify the patient of its specific reasons for requesting removal if appropriate to do so.

Health Care Assistants
Our Health Care Assistants are trained to undertake many duties to assist our clinicians, including taking blood samples and measuring blood pressures.

If you need a test before you see your doctor or nurse please ask for an appointment with the Health Care Assistant so that the results will be available when you are seen.

Maternity
There is a midwife attached to the Practice. Your care will include:

Parentcraft classes are run in conjunction with a Health Visitor and Physiotherapist.

Child and Family Health
The following services are offered:

Home visits can be arranged to discuss other issues, eg behaviour management, sleep problems, diet and any family health issues.  The Health Visiting Team can normally be contacted each morning between 9am and 10am on 01608 663332 or by leaving a message at other times.  Please note that there is a baby-changing unit located in the disabled toilet. Mothers requiring a private area for breast-feeding should enquire at Reception.

Accident and Emergencies
More serious injuries, particularly those that may require x-ray should go to the main Accident and Emergency Departments at Warwick Hospital or the Horton Hospital, Banbury.

Minor Injuries Unit
Patients with minor injuries can attend the Minor Injuries Unit at the Ellen Badger Hospital.

Hospital Admissions
On occasions patients are admitted to hospital but the hospital does not inform us of this until the patient has been discharged. It would be very much appreciated if a member of the patient’s family, or a friend, could inform us when a patient has been admitted, particularly if they are seriously ill. We believe that this would enable us to ensure better patient care. It would be equally helpful if we could be notified when a patient is discharged.

Services for Older People
Elderly patients can discuss any health or social issues with Moira Burbidge, the Lead Nurse for Care of the Elderly within the Shipston area. Telephone 01608 663349.

Community Nursing
The Nursing Team provides nursing care to patients in their home and is confidential. The Nursing Team are involved in:

The Community Nursing Team can be contacted on 01608 663349.

Voluntary Services

Transport
If you have difficulty arranging transport to the Medical Centre or to a hospital appointment, please telephone the Council for Voluntary Transport on 01608 663122 (Monday to Friday, 10am-12.30pm).

There will be a charge to cover costs for this service.

Wheelchairs
If you are in need of the use of a wheelchair on a short-term loan, the Volunteer Bureau offer a lending service, and can be contacted on 01789 296344 (Monday to Friday, 9am-4.30pm).

Medical Records
Medical records are held on computer. We are registered with the Data Protection registrar for this purpose and, as such, are governed by the Data Protection Act (1998).

Patient records are available only to the Doctors and attached staff within the practice. No information will be given to any other person without the patient’s prior consent. Please do not therefore ask for information about other patients, even relatives, as we will be unable to discuss this with you.

Medical Reports
If you give permission for a medical report for life insurance or employment, the Doctors are obliged to include all the relevant information in your medical records. You are entitled to see such a report before it is submitted to the requesting organisation. If you have indicated on the consent form that you wish to view the report, a copy will be posted to the home address we have for you along with a consent form for you to sign to instruct us to release the paperwork.

Access to Medical Records
The Access to Medical Reports Act (1988) and the Data Protection Act (1998) allows patients the entitlement to see certain of their medical records. Please address any such requests to the Practice Manager. There is a fee for this service.

Freedom of Information Act 2000
The public are able to gain access to the publication scheme available on the Primary Care Trust website: www.swarkpct.nhs.uk/foi

Primary Health Care Team Fund
The Practice is grateful to local organisations and individuals for their support of developments in the Practice.

Teaching
The Practice is approved for General Practitioner training, and at least one GP Registrar is normally attached to the Practice for a year at a time to gain experience in General Practice. They already have extensive experience in hospital medicine. They will often be able to see you if your own Doctor is unavailable. They may also wish to follow up any continuing problem.

We also have 2 Senior House Officers in Obstetrics & Gynaecology attached to the Practice on 6 month placements, currently alternating Friday mornings.

Medical Students are regularly on placement in the Practice for training purposes and may sit-in during consultations. You will always be asked if you have any objection beforehand.