PRACTICE CHARTER

Your Rights And Responsibilities

We will treat you with respect, care and courtesy and we ask that you do the same. Please be on time for appointments and cancel appointments you cannot attend. It is important that you inform us promptly if you change address or telephone number. If you are under the care of a hospital, or awaiting an appointment, please notify them too. Patients who are abusive or violent will be removed from our list and NHS Leeds will make alternative arrangements for their healthcare. As a patient registered with this Practice, you have a right to express a preference for a particular health professional. You may, however, have to wait longer to see the professional of your choice.

Prescriptions Charge Exemption

You do not have to pay for prescriptions if you fall into one of the following categories:

•	Under 16 years of age.
•	16, 17 or 18 and in full-time education.
•	Over 60 years of age.
•	Have a valid maternity exemption certificate.
•	Have a valid medical exemption certificate.
•	Have a valid prescription pre-payment certificate.
•	Have been prescribed free-of charge contraceptives.
•	In receipt of Income Support.
•	In receipt of income-based Jobseeker's Allowance.
•	Are entitled to, or named on, a valid NHS Tax Credit Exemption Certificate.
•	Have a partner who gets Pension Credit guarantee credit.
•	You suffer from any of the following medical conditions:

•	Permanent fistula (for example caecostomy, colostomy, laryngostomy or ileostomy) requiring continuous surgical dressing or requiring an appliance.
•	Epilepsy for which you need continuous anti-convulsive therapy.
•	Diabetes mellitus which is not just treated by diet alone.
•	Myxoedema or other conditions which require supplemental thyroid hormone.
•	Hypoparathyroidism.
•	Diabetes insipidus or other forms of hypopituitarism.
•	Forms of hypoadrenalism (including Addison's disease) for which specific substitution therapy is available.
•	Myasthenia gravis.
•	A continuing physical disability which means you cannot go out without the help of another person. (Temporary disabilities do not count even if they last for several months.)

Complaints And Comments

We are happy to accept and consider comments and suggestions from our patients. Please address these to the practice manager or use the prescription box. We have a formal complaints procedure which accords with national guidelines. A leaflet is available at reception.

Confidentiality

All information you give to anyone in this Practice is considered to be confidential. Where personal data is stored electronically we comply with the Data Protection Act. In the course of everyday patient care and administration, your data may be shared (in confidence) with specific NHS organisations. All employees have signed a confidentiality agreement.

Freedom Of Information - Publication Scheme

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.