This has been set up as a result of several donations to the surgery to provide equipment and services to our patients which would not normally be available within standard general practice. Items that we could spend the money on are agreed by one of the doctors in the practice, a nurse and lay patient member of the practice population.

Purchases to date include three pulse oximeters (these are extremely useful in measuring oxygen levels) which are particularly of benefit in a former mining community to accurately determine people who may need home oxygen or specific medications for a particular lung-related disease where facilities are only normally only found in hospital.

All information held about you in your medical records is governed by the Data Protection Act. No information will be released without your consent unless we are legally obliged to do so or it is in the best interest for your medical care. Anyone who receives information from us is also under a legal duty to keep it confidential. A leaflet is available from reception which gives a more detailed explanation.

In line with the Best Practice in the NHS, we now offer you copies of referral letters made on your behalf to consultants. If you would like a copy of a referral letter, please tell the doctor who is making the referral and the letter will be available for you to pick up at the relevant reception in 3 working days.

All telephone calls coming into all the surgeries are recorded and used for staff training purposes.