Practice Policies & Patient Information
About Swanswell Medical Centre
Swanswell Medical Centre was established in 1994 and is situated on the geographic boundary of Birmingham and Solihull. The practice premises are modern and purpose built.
We are a training practice and offer a full range of NHS services.
Our doctors, nurses, reception team and all our other staff are dedicated to offering a professional service.
As well as a source of information about our practice, the staff and the services we provide, we hope you will use this website as a useful resource for other health-related information. Please have a look around and do send us some feedback if you like. We can use your ideas to improve our online services and further develop the content of this site.
Access to medical records
If you require access to any part of your medical record, please download and complete the below form. Please note that if you require someone else to collect your records on your behalf, your signature on the form will have to be witnessed by a member of staff at the surgery.
Please note that it may take up to one calendar month to provide the information requested, and that repeated requests for the same information may attract a fee.
Care Data
Birmingham and Solihull Shared Care Record
Ever wondered why, when you see a social worker, they can’t see all your health and care information? And why you find yourself having to answer the same old questions over and over?
Well, the simple answer is they all use different computer systems to record your details. And because these systems aren’t connected, the health and care organisations looking after you can’t share your information with each other.
But that’s changing with the introduction of something called the Birmingham and Solihull Shared Care Record or ShCR. ShCR will make a joined-up approach to health and care much more possible.
Watch the ‘Introduction to the Birmingham and Solihull Shared Care Record’ video on YouTube
What is the Shared Care Record (ShCR)?
The Shared Care Record is an electronic record of a person’s care.
The difference between this and what already exists is that it will bring together all your separate records into a structured, easy-to-read format.
This will give those professionals directly involved in your care a more complete view of the care and treatment you’ve had across all services.
Who will be able to look at my information – and what will they see?
The first phase of the Shared Care Record will allow health and care professionals directly involved in your care to view:
- Your GP practice medical record.
- Basic hospital care and mental health information.
Being able to see this information will help them give you the best care as quickly as possible without having to make phone calls or wait for other organisations to forward details on.
You can rest assured your records will only be seen by health and social care professionals directly involved in your care.
There are strict rules around how your information is used. It will be managed and shared appropriately and in line with all legal requirements, including the General Data Protection Regulation and the Data Protection Act 2018.
Official inspections, or audits, will check this is the case.
How does having my records shared benefit me?
The benefits to you include:
- Not having to repeat your details every time you need care.
- Better and, potentially, faster treatment as the professionals caring for you will be able to quickly see your records.
- Clinicians will be able to see what medications you’re taking, what you’ve taken in the past, and if you have any allergies, making your treatment safer.
- More effective treatment should you need care for COVID-19, thanks to the fast availability of accurate information about any pre-existing conditions you might have and your medications.
Can I say no to this?
You can agree or disagree to share your information at any time; the decision is entirely yours.
However, we do not recommend this as information that could be vital when you need health or social care support might not be immediately to hand as a result.
If you do not want any of your data to be shared at all, you can submit an online form here, or telephone 0345 6461163.
Birmingham and Solihull Shared Care Record frequently asked questions.
Disabled Access
- Patient car park is available
- Some of the car parking spaces are at least 2.5 m wide
- The route to the practice is obstacle free and flat
- Patients who are unable to access the building are able to ring the bell at the practice entrance if they require assistance
- Patient areas are on the ground floor and there is wheelchair access to the consulting rooms
- A disabled toilet is available in the entrance foyer with grab rails and a pull-cord alarm
- An induction loop is available
- Large font practice leaflets are available
- Guide or other assistance dogs are allowed into the practice
- Waiting room chairs with arms are available to assist patient in standing or sitting
- Private room facilities are available for patients who may have communication, reading, or writing difficulties.
GP Net Earnings
All GP practices are required to declare the mean earnings (e.g. average pay) for GPs working to deliver NHS services to patients at each practice.
The average pay for GPs who worked for six months or more in Swanswell Medical Centre in the last financial year was £79496 before Tax and National Insurance. This is for 3 part time GPs.
Patient Guide to Services
It’s Your Practice: A patient guide to GP services has been put together by the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) for patients.
This guide has been produced as part of the RCGP’s aim to build stronger relationships between you and your doctors and encourage the involvement and inclusion of you in your own care.
The guide provides helpful information on all aspects of using GP services: from finding and choosing a practice and how to get the most out of a GP consultation to accessing health records and understanding patients’ rights and responsibilities.
It is split into several sections including:
- General Practice explained
- Choosing the right practice for you
- Registering with a GP practice
- Seeing your GP – consultations
- Seeing your GP – the next steps
- After your GP consultation
- Your health record
- Your rights and responsibilities as a patient
- Get involved with your practice
The publication is part of a push by the NHS as a whole to encourage you to understand how you can get the most out of primary care – which also includes how you can become more involved in monitoring your own health.
Privacy Notices
Summary Care Record
Summary Care Records (SCR) are an electronic record of important patient information, created from GP medical records. They can be seen and used by authorised staff in other areas of the health and care system involved in the patient’s direct care.
Access to SCR information means that care in other settings is safer, reducing the risk of prescribing errors. It also helps avoid delays to urgent care.
At a minimum, the SCR holds important information about:
● current medication
● allergies and details of any previous bad reactions to medicines
● the name, address, date of birth and NHS number of the patient
Additional Information in the SCR, such as details of long-term conditions, significant medical history, or specific communications needs, is now included by default for patients with an SCR, unless they have previously told the NHS that they did not want this information to be shared. There will also be a temporary change to include COVID-19 specific codes in relation to suspected, confirmed, Shielded Patient List and other COVID-19 related information within the Additional Information.
If you do not want to have a Summary Care Record, please complete this form.
Summary Care Record Opt Out
Your Summary Care Record contains important information from the record held by your GP practice and includes details of any medicines you are taking, any allergies you suffer from and any bad reactions to medicines that you have previously experienced. Your Summary Care Record also includes your name, address, date of birth and your unique NHS Number to help identify you correctly. As part of a mandatory national programme each GP Practice had to make a summary care record for each patient by March 2015 (unless the patient has already opted out). You can choose to opt out of this scheme at any time. If you wish to opt out of the Summary Care Record scheme please complete this form.