Freedom of Information

The Freedom of Information Act 2000 obliges the practice to produce a Publication Scheme. A Publication Scheme is a guide to the ‘classes’ of information the practice intends to routinely make available.

This scheme is available from reception or you can read it below

Queensbridge Group Practice Publication Scheme

This Publication Scheme gives a guide to the information made available by the general practitioners and the staff of the Queensbridge Group Practice, as required by the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act 2000.

It has been adapted from the model Publication Scheme for General Practitioners, developed by the British Medical Association and the NHS Freedom of Information Project Board 2003, and in partnership with the Cambridgeshire LMC.

Queensbridge Group Practice has always believed in openness, and most of the information we are now required to publish we have done so for years in our Practice Leaflet. For this reason this publication scheme will often refer you to our Practice Leaflet. Copies are available from Reception.

Part 1: Introduction

Your rights to information

• The Freedom of Information Act 2000 recognises that members of the public have the right to know how public services are organised and run, how much they cost and how decisions are made. From January 1st 2005 the FOI Act obliges General Practices to respond to requests about information that they hold. These rights are subject to exemptions that will have to be taken into consideration before deciding what information can be released.   In addition to accessing the information identified in the Publication Scheme, you are entitled to request information about Queensbridge Group Practice under the NHS Openness Code 1995. 
• This document sets out where this information is available from. The publications are all free unless otherwise indicated. Where information is provided at a cost the charges will be available via the Practice Manager.
• Under the Data Protection Act 1998, you are also entitled to access your clinical records or any other personal information held about you. For this, please contact: the reception team at the Practice.  If you have any comments about the operation of the Publication Scheme, or how we have dealt with your request for information from the Scheme, please contact the Practice Manager

Part 2: Classes Of Information

All information at Queensbridge Group General Practice is held, retained and destroyed in accordance with NHS guidelines. 

Our commitment to publish information excludes any information that can be legitimately withheld under the exemptions set out in the NHS Openness Code or Freedom of Information Act 2000. Where individual Classes are subject to exemptions, the main reasons are the protection of commercial interests and the protection of confidential personal information under the Data Protection Act 1998. This applies to all Classes within the Publication Scheme. 

The information on this Scheme is grouped into the following 7 broad categories:

Class 1 Information: Details of the practice, organisational structures, key personnel and how we fit into the NHS 
Information in this class is contained in the Practice Leaflet available from Reception

Class 2 Information: What we spend and how we spend it
Information in this class is available from the Practice Manager on application, though some frequently used charges are displayed at Reception.

Class 3 Information: What our priorities are and how we are doing
Information in this class is available from the Practice Manager on application, though some information is available on our website.

Class 4 Information: How we make decisions
Records of decisions made in the practice affecting the provision of NHS services are available on application to the Practice Manager.

Class 5 Information: Our policies, procedures and contacts for complaints
Our policies and procedures include (but are not restricted to) complaints, confidentiality, data protection, prescribing, zero tolerance and health and safety. 

Information in this class is available from the Practice Manager on application.

This practice follows the NHS complaints procedure and follows a strict protocol when dealing with all complaints.  The procedure is available by request from the Practice Manager, who is the first point of contact if you wish to comment on any aspect of the practice's service.

Class 6 Information: Lists and registers
Publicly available lists and registers are available on application to the Practice Manager.

Class 7 Information: The services we offer
The Practice Leaflet, and information leaflets relating to the clinical services and health services that we provide for our patients, and our range of regular publications, are freely available at the surgery in the reception and waiting areas. Alternatively, please contact the Practice Manager.

Changes in our practice arrangements are always detailed through the Practice Leaflet. Enquiries about any of the information we publish, or information arrangement generally, should be made to the Practice Manager. 

Publications are free of charge unless otherwise indicated.