Freedom of Information

Freedom of Information

Welcome to Hay-on-Wye and Talgarth Medical Centres (Haygarth Doctors) Publication Scheme.

This is a guide to the Publication Scheme as required by the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

Introduction

This publication scheme is a guide to the information routinely made available to the public by the partners of Haygarth Doctors:

  • Dr Antonia Bradley
  • Dr Steven Epstein
  • Dr Jamie Bingham
  • Dr Rebecca Thomas
  • Dr Luke Shutts
  • Dr Bethan Pritchard

Freedom of Information Lead: Dr Steven Epstein

It is a description of the information regarding Haygarth Doctors Medical Practice made publicly available. Information covered by this scheme is only about the primary, general and personal medical services we provide under contract to the National Health Service. It will be reviewed at regular intervals and its effectiveness monitored.

How the Information Can be Obtained

The information is available in hard copy from:

Practice Manager
The Medical Centre
Forest Road, Hay-On-Wye
Hereford, HR3 5DS

Requests must be made in writing.

Charges may be made for printing, photocopying and postage as well as information that the GP is legally authorised to charge for. Any charge will be notified before the information is provided. Payment is required before the information is provided. Any charges will be justifiable, clear and kept to a minimum.

Some information will be withheld, including personal and confidential information about individuals which is protected by the Data Protection Act 2018.

All information at Hay-On-Wye and Talgarth Medical Centres is held, retained and destroyed in accordance with NHS Wales guidelines.

Who We Are and What We Do

The Haygarth Medical Practice provides general medical services for the geographical area of Hay-on-Wye, Talgarth and the surrounding areas within the designated practice area.

The full names of the GP Partners at the Practice are listed in the introduction to this publication scheme.

Also employed are:

  • Administrative Staff (Admin Assistants/Coders/Finance Officer/Scanners/Secretaries)
  • Assistant Practice Manager
  • Cleaners
  • Dispensary Staff
  • Healthcare Assistants
  • Phlebotomists
  • Practice Manager
  • Practice Nurses
  • Reception Staff
  • Salaried GP: Dr Lisa Knight
  • Dr Miranda Young

Haygarth Doctors is part of a cluster group along with three other practices in South Powys, named Red Kite Health Solutions CIC. This allows the practice to benefit from further attached staff such as in-house pharmacists, a pharmacy technician, physiotherapist and MIND counsellors.

The general practitioners adhere to the National General Medical Services Contract. Their contracts are with Powys Teaching Health Board, Neuadd Brycheiniog, Brecon, Powys, LD3 7HR.

The practice aims to follow current published good practice guidance examples of which can be found on the NICE website www.nice.org.uk or the Department of Health website www.doh.gov.uk.

The NHS is a very large part of the public sector. It is possible to find out information about our practice, Powys Teaching Health Board and other NHS services in your area by using www.nhs.uk.

More information on the NHS, how the NHS is changing and how all the different parts function and work together can be found on the Department of Health website www.doh.gov.uk.

Financial Information

Haygarth Doctors receive money from NHS Wales/Powys Teaching Health Board according to its contract in exchange for services provided for patients. GMS income is received on a monthly basis. We submit Enhanced Service claims on a quarterly basis.

Our financial year runs from 1st July to 30th June. (from 2024 this will change to 1st April to 31st March) We use the IRIS GP Accounts software. We employ 40 members of staff (December 2023). They are paid monthly by BACS. We use the IRIS GP Payroll software. Staff expenses are paid via the monthly payroll in line with our Travel and Subsistence Expenses Policy and Reimbursement of Eyesight Tests/Corrective Appliances for Display Screen Equipment Users Policy.

There may be circumstances where material cannot be released because it is confidential or commercial information or the appropriate officer designated for these purposes under the act has taken the view that it may be prejudicial to the conduct of the practice’s affairs.

Our Priorities and How We Are Doing

Haygarth Doctors’ Mission Statement:

“We aim to take care of our patients and at the same time look after our staff and ourselves”. “Perfect planning prevents poor performance”.

We were inspected by Health Inspectorate Wales (HIW) in November 2015 – we received an excellent report.

How We Make Decisions

We are a partnership, all decisions are made following discussion between the seven partners and, when appropriate, the practice manager.

Business Meetings take place on a monthly basis.

Our Policies and Procedures

We have various current written protocols, policies and procedures for delivering our services and responsibilities. These include (but are not restricted to) data protection, employment, prescribing and dispensing, zero tolerance and health and safety.

We have policies available on the following:

  • Access to Medical Records
  • Complaints
  • Freedom of Information
  • Health and Safety
  • Information, I.T. Security and Acceptable Use
  • Records Management
  • Violence and Aggression
  • We have an Employee Handbook.

Complaints

If you wish to make a complaint about any aspect of our services, you should firstly contact:

Mrs Gwyneth Gore
Practice Manager
The Medical Centre
Forest Road
Hay-On-Wye
Hereford, HR3 5DS

Telephone Number: 01497 822100

Lists and Registers

We do not have registers available for public inspection.

The Services We Offer

This is the range of services we provide under contract to NHS Wales:

  • Cervical cytology
  • Child health surveillance
  • Chronic disease management clinics
  • Contraceptive services
  • Health promotion
  • Immunisations
  • Maternity medical services
  • Medical diagnosis and treatment
  • Minor injury services

Some of these services are provided in partnership with other agencies, namely, Powys Teaching Health Board.

Included in our practice leaflet and on our practice website is information on the following:

Our practice leaflet is available free of charge from:

The Medical Centre
Forest Road
Hay-On-Wye
Hereford
HR3 5DS  or

The Medical Centre
Hay Road
Talgarth
Powys
LD3 0AW

Translation services can be arranged as and when necessary – prior notice is required.