Practice Policies & Patient Information
Chaperone Policy
Cruddas Park and Hillsview surgeries are committed to providing a safe, comfortable environment where patients and staff can be confident that best practice is being followed at all times and the safety of everyone is of paramount importance.
All patients are entitled to have a chaperone present at any consultation, examination or procedure. The chaperone may be a family member or friend or if you prefer a formal chaperone to be present you can request a trained member of our staff.
Wherever possible we would ask you to make this request at the time of booking your appointment so that your appointment is not delayed in any way.
Your healthcare professional may also require a chaperone to be present for certain consultations in accordance with our chaperone policy.
Comments and Suggestions
We are happy to accept and consider comments and suggestions from our patients. Please present your views in writing and put it in our suggestion box at the reception.
Complaints Procedure
We welcome feedback about our service. We work hard to give the best possible service to our patients. However, we are aware that sometimes we may not get everything right, and if you tell us about a problem you have encountered in your care, we will investigate this and aim to improve our service in any way we can.
If you wish to make a complaint, you can do this verbally or in writing. Please speak to Reception if you would like to arrange to speak to our Practice Manager, Susan Wheatley, or you can submit a complaint in writing to Reception, or by email to nencicb-ng.cruddaspark-surgery@nhs.net
Named Accountable GP
As part of our GMS contract, we are required to allocate a named, accountable GP to all of our patients, including children. All patients at this practice are allocated a named, accountable GP. When you are next at reception or contact us by telephone please ask who your named GP is, the receptionist will be able to give you this information. If you wish to change the name of your named, accountable GP to another GP we will do our best to accommodate your request. Please be aware that this does not restrict you to that named GP, you are free to see whichever GP you wish.
Publication of GP Net Earnings
NHS England requires that the net earnings of doctors engaged in the practice is publicised, and the required disclosure is shown below. However 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.
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 working in this practice in the last full financial year was £73,002.92 before Tax and National Insurance. This is for 4 full time GPs, 3 part time GPs and one locum GP who worked in the practice for more than six months.
Teaching and training
Medical student teaching
We are involved in teaching medical students who are studying their undergraduate degree in Medicine at Newcastle University Medical School.
Sometimes we ask patients if they would be willing to kindly speak to students about their experience of their health conditions. This is a very valuable learning experience for students and helps them to develop as future doctors, but it is entirely optional and there is no expectation on you to agree to this.
Sometimes students sit in with GPs during their surgery. You will be told if a GP has a student sitting in with them, and you have the right to ask for the student not to be present for your consultation. Simply inform the receptionist of this before your appointment – this will not affect your care in any way.
GP Registrar Training
We usually have one or two GP registrars working on placement at the practice. GP registrars are qualified doctors who are undergoing further training under the supervision of a GP trainer, to prepare for a career as an independent GP. Occasionally, GP registrars may request your permission to video their consultation with you for training purposes or for them to have assessment of their skills. You have the right to refuse permission at any time and this will not affect your care in any way. These videos remain strictly confidential and are only viewed by GPs within the practice or by examiners, and are destroyed after use.