Information Sharing Changes Ahead…

We would like all our patients to be aware that as from 11^th January 2016 we will be enhancing the sharing process of your Medical Record with any NHS Service who have involvement in your clinical care unless you have chosen to opt out.

At present your GP holds your Medical Record and other NHS Service Providers are not able to access it unless you have given explicit consent to the Practice, therefore often making it very difficult for them to provide the best care for you as they have limited information to base their decision on. By unlocking the Practices side of your Medical Record this will mean that you have the choice at the point of consultation with other NHS Service Providers, to allow the clinician to view vital medical information that could significantly enhance the quality of the medical care provided to you by Community and Secondary Care Services.

How does it work?

Step 1

Think of your medical record as a window that is bolted on both sides. As from the 11^th January Forest Medical will be unbolting the lock that we are responsible for to allow you, the patient to choose if other Health Care Professionals who have any involvement in your care can see your medical record. However, this DOES NOT mean that all other Health Care Professionals automatically have the right to access your medical record without your explicit consent.

Step 2

At the point of you having a face to face consultation with the Health Care Professional outside your GP Practice, e.g. attending Accident & Emergency, Appointment with a Consultant, Treatment with physiotherapist etc. you will be asked if you give consent for the clinician to access your record. At this point it is your decision if you grant or deny access and just because you have granted permission on one occasion does not automatically give consent for consecutive appointments. This is when you as the Patient have the right to choose if you unbolt the second lock on the opposite side of the window or not. The only time this bolt will be unlocked without your explicit consent will be if you are unconscious and not able to make the decision for yourself.

Opting Out

All patients have the right to ‘Opt Out’ of the Enhanced Sharing Process. If you do not wish for Forest Medical to unbolt the lock on their side of your Medical Record then please request an ‘Opt Out Form’ from reception or from the link below and return it for the attention of the Reception Manager, Charlotte Mellors.

eDSM Consent form – final

Forest Medical is an extremely popular Practice and our list size has grown tremendously over the past year.  In order to meet the demand from our patients I am delighted to inform you of the forthcoming additions to our team.

From May 2015 Dr Hameed will be joining us as a Salaried GP.  Dr Hameed was previously one of Registrars and we are very pleased to have him back as a qualified GP.  Dr Hameed is also a specialist in ENT (Ear Nose and Throat) and we are therefore hoping to get permission from Mansfield and Ashfield CCG to provide ENT procedures that you would normally need to go to hospital for.  So watch this space!!!

From June 2015 we will increase our “On The Day” appointments as our new Practitioner, Ian Farnsworth will be joining us.  Ian will be working full time at the Rosemary Street Health Centre site and will see patients who need urgent medical attention.

From July 2015 we will also be joined by an extremely experienced HCA, Di Darrington-Jackson.  Di will also be full time and will be seeing patients for Spirometry, Ear Care, Health Checks and Wound Dressings to name but a few of her skills.

I am sure you will welcome our new members and find them to be knowledgeable, approachable and friendly.

Kind Regards

Nicola Ryan, Practice Manager