All Polices

Access to Records

Using the NHS App on your phone or tablet or the NHS site on a computer you can view your medical records

The system allows you to view your medical record over the internet. It allows you to easily and quickly view the electronic medical information held about you by your GP Practice.

The information is presented to you in a format that is easy to navigate and offers you links to resources such as patient information leaflets about diseases, tests, investigations, support groups and medications etc.

Please click here to read more about this and to opt out of having access.

General Practice Data for Planning and Research

How the NHS and care services use your information.

From 1st July 2021, the NHS will change how it share shares your GP medical record. The General Practice Data for Planning and Research data extract by NHS Digital from GP practices across England will help the NHS to improve health and care services for everyone by collecting patient data and holding it in a central national database.

This is an upgrade to an existing similar process called GPES – General Practice Extract Service. The new data collection will be more efficient, effective and much more frequent.

For example, patient data held in this new data base can help the NHS to:

  • Monitor the long-term safety and effectiveness of treatments
  • Plan how to deliver better health and care services
  • Prevent the spread of infectious diseases
  • Identify new treatments and medicines through health research

The national data opt-out is a service that allows patients to opt out of their confidential patient information being used for research and planning. There is much more information about this process here.

You have a choice about whether you want your confidential patient information to be used in this way. If you are happy with this use of information you do not need to do anything. If you do choose to opt out your confidential patient information will still be used to support your individual care.   You can change your mind about your choice at any time.

GP Net Earnings

2023/24
PUBLICATION OF EARNINGS

All GP practices are required to declare the mean earnings (eg average) for GPs working to deliver NHS services to patients at each practice.

The average pay for GPs working at the Charles Hicks Centre in the last financial year before tax and national insurance is £83,360.

This is for 2 full time GPs and 10 part time GPs who worked in the practice for more than 6 months.

It should be noted that the prescribed method for calculating earnings is potentially misleading because it takes no account of how much time doctors spend working in the practice, and should not be used to form any judgement about GP earnings, nor to make any comparison with any other practice.

Freedom of Information

Information about the General Practitioners and the practice required for disclosure under this act can be made available to the public. All requests for such information should be made to the practice manager.

Please click here to view our full policy.

Prescribing Policy for Patients Abroad

This policy outlines the procedure for patients travelling abroad for short and long periods of time.

NHS Policy

By law, the NHS ceases to have responsibility for the medical care of patients when they leave the UK.  In addition GPs are not required by their terms of service to provide prescriptions for the treatment of a condition that is not present and may arise while the patient is abroad.

The NHS does accept responsibility for supplying ongoing medication for temporary periods abroad of up to 3 months. However, if a person is going to be abroad for more than 3 months, then they are only entitled (at NHS expense) to a sufficient supply of regular medication in order to get to their destination, where they should the find an alternative supply of that medication.

Patients residing abroad for a period of more than 3 months should be removed from the registered patient list.

Hicks Group Practice Surgery Policy

Travelling out of the country for less  than 3 months
For patients who inform us they will be out of the country for less than 3 months, we will provide sufficient medicines for an existing condition (e.g. asthma, diabetes…) for the period while the patient is away where it is safe to do so.  Drugs that require frequent monitoring may not be prescribed where there are safety concerns.  1 months supply only will be issued for drugs normally available over the counter, such as paracetamol.

Travelling out of the country for more than 3 months
If you are leaving the country for more than 3 months will can only prescribe sufficient medication to enable you to make alternative arrangements at your destination (up to 3 months supply where safe to do so).

You

This policy outlines the procedure for patients travelling abroad for short and long periods of time.

NHS Policy

By law, the NHS ceases to have responsibility for the medical care of patients when they leave the UK.  In addition GPs are not required by their terms of service to provide prescriptions for the treatment of a condition that is not present and may arise while the patient is abroad.

The NHS does accept responsibility for supplying ongoing medication for temporary periods abroad of up to 3 months. However, if a person is going to be abroad for more than 3 months, then they are only entitled (at NHS expense) to a sufficient supply of regular medication in order to get to their destination, where they should the find an alternative supply of that medication.

Patients residing abroad for a period of more than 3 months should be removed from the registered patient list.

Hicks Group Practice Surgery Policy

Travelling out of the country for less  than 3 months
For patients who inform us they will be out of the country for less than 3 months, we will provide sufficient medicines for an existing condition (e.g. asthma, diabetes…) for the period while the patient is away where it is safe to do so.  Drugs that require frequent monitoring may not be prescribed where there are safety concerns.  1 months supply only will be issued for drugs normally available over the counter, such as paracetamol.

Travelling out of the country for more than 3 months
If you are leaving the country for more than 3 months will can only prescribe sufficient medication to enable you to make alternative arrangements at your destination (up to 3 months supply where safe to do so).

You will also be removed from our patient list. We will be pleased to re-register patients on their return to residence in the UK and can reassure patients that their electronic notes are kept on file for reference on your return.

Patients and relatives should not seek medication for themselves from the UK while they are abroad as this constitutes NHS fraud.

Useful NHS facts for travel abroad

https://www.nhs.uk/using-the-nhs/healthcare-abroad/healthcare-when-travelling-abroad/

https://www.nhs.uk/common-health-questions/medicines/can-i-take-my-medicine-abroad/

Chaperones

You may request a chaperone for any procedure, test or examination, please speak to reception or your clinician.