We try hard to provide a good service to all our patients.

If you have any concerns about your experience of the practice or have any comments you would like to make we are always keen to hear from you. There is a comments box in reception for you to use.

If you would like to speak to someone about your concern please ask to speak to a member of our management team.

• Click here for our Complaints Handling Procedure Patient Leaflet
• Complaints, Suggestions and Feedback Form
• Complaints, Suggestions and Feedback Guide

The practice complies with data protection and access to medical records legislation. Identifiable information about you will be shared with others in the following circumstances:

• To provide further medical treatment for you e.g. from district nurses and hospital services.
• To help you get other services e.g. from the social work department. This requires your consent.
• When we have a duty to others e.g. in child protection cases anonymised patient information will also be used at local and national level to help the Health Board and Government plan services e.g. for diabetic care.

If you do not wish anonymous information about you to be used in such a way, please let us know.

Reception and administration staff require access to your medical records in order to do their jobs. These members of staff are bound by the same rules of confidentiality as the medical staff.

Freedom of Information

Information about the General Practioners and the practice required for disclosure under this act can be made available to the public. All requests for such information should be made to the practice manager.

Access to Records

In accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998 and Access to Health Records Act, patients may request to see their medical records. Such requests should be made through the practice manager. No information will be released without the patient consent unless we are legally obliged to do so.

Your Data Matters to the NHS

Information about your health and care helps us to improve your individual care, speed up diagnosis, plan your local services and research new treatments. The NHS is committed to keeping patient information safe and always being clear about how it is used.

How your data is used

Information about your individual care such as treatment and diagnoses is collected about you whenever you use health and care services. It is also used to help us and other organisations for research and planning such as research into new treatments, deciding where to put GP clinics and planning for the number of doctors and nurses in your local hospital.  It is only used in this way when there is a clear legal basis to use the information to help improve health and care for you, your family and future generations.

Wherever possible we try to use data that does not identify you, but sometimes it is necessary to use your confidential patient information.

You have a choice

You do not need to do anything if you are happy about how your information is used. If you do not want your confidential patient information to be used for research and planning, you can choose to opt out securely online or through a telephone service. You can change your mind about your choice at any time.

Will choosing this opt-out affect your care and treatment?

No, choosing to opt out will not affect how information is used to support your care and treatment. You will still be invited for screening services, such as screenings for bowel cancer.

What do you need to do?

If you are happy for your confidential patient information to be used for research and planning, you do not need to do anything.

To find out more about the benefits of data sharing, how data is protected, or to make/change your opt-out choice visit www.nhs.uk/your-nhs-data-matters

Your Data Matters Leaflet

Important information for patients

• This practice handles medical records in-line with laws on data protection and confidentiality.
• We share medical records with those who are involved in providing you with care and treatment.
• In some circumstances we will also share anonymous medical record data for medical research, for example to find out more about why people get ill.
• We share information when the law requires us to do so, for example, to prevent infectious diseases from spreading or to check the care being provided to you is safe.
• You have the right to be given a copy of your medical record.
• You have the right to object to your medical records being shared with those who provide you with care.
• You have the right to object to your information being used for medical research and to plan health services.
• You have the right to have any mistakes corrected and to complain to the Information Commissioner’s Office. Please see the practice privacy notice on the website or speak to a member of staff for more information about your rights.

For more information ask at reception for a leaflet

Click here to view our Privacy Policy

Practice Nurse

 
NHG Policy on prescribing Benzodiazepines for Flight Anxiety
 
Nairn Healthcare Group has reviewed its Benzodiazepine prescribing in keeping with the Civil Aviation Authority and established this new policy not to prescribe Benzodiazepines or Sedatives (such as Diazepam) to patients for fear of flying.  Many other GP practices have a similar policy.
 
People often come to us requesting that we prescribe Diazepam for fear of flying or to assist with sleep during flights. Initially in the 1960s Benzodiazepines including Diazepam (also known as ‘Valium’) were hailed as a wonder drug. However, it became increasingly clear that, as well as having short-term deleterious effects on memory, co-ordination, concentration and reaction times, they were also addictive, with withdrawal leading to fits, hallucinations, agitation and confusion. Furthermore, they were found to have long-term effects on cognition and balance. Unfortunately, Benzodiazepines have also become a widely used drug of abuse since they first came on the market. Because of these reasons the use of Benzodiazepines has been a lot more controlled around the world since the 1980-90s; especially in the UK. Diazepam in the UK is a Class C/Schedule IV controlled drug. The following short guide outlines the issues surrounding its use with regards to flying and why the surgery no longer prescribes such medications for this purpose. There are several very good reasons why prescribing this drug is not recommended.
 
The use of any sort of Benzodiazepines causes longer reaction times & slowed thinking, which during a flight will put the passenger at significant risk of not being able to act in a manner which could save their life, or that of a loved one or co-passenger, in the event of a safety critical incident. Incapacitation from Benzodiazepines is a risk to the lives of all on board the aircraft in the event of an emergency requiring evacuation.
The use of such sedative drugs can make you fall asleep, however when you do sleep it is an unnatural non-REM sleep. This means you won’t move around as much as during natural sleep. This can cause you to be at an increased risk of developing a blood clot (Deep Vein Thrombosis – DVT) in the leg or even the lungs. Blood clots are very dangerous and can even prove fatal. This risk is even greater if your flight is greater than 4 hours
Whilst most people find Benzodiazepines like Diazepam sedating, a small number have paradoxical agitation and in aggression. They can also cause disinhibition and lead you to behave in a way that you would not normally. This could impact on your safety as well as that of other passengers and could also get you into trouble with the law.
Benzodiazepine use added to alcohol consumption causes an increase in the risk posed by the points above
According to the prescribing guidelines doctors follow (British National Formulary) diazepam is contraindicated (not allowed) in treating phobic states. It also states that “the use of Benzodiazepines to treat short-term ‘mild’ anxiety is inappropriate.” Your doctor would be taking a significant legal risk by prescribing against these guidelines. (They are only licensed short term for a crisis in generalised anxiety. If this is the case, you should be getting proper care and support for your mental health and not going on a flight; Benzodiazepine doses used for flying previously are not likely control an acute crisis in generalised anxiety disorder.)
NICE guidelines suggest that medication should not be used for mild and self-limiting mental health disorders. In more significant anxiety related states, Benzodiazepines, sedating Antihistamines or Antipsychotics should not be prescribed
In some countries it is illegal to import these drugs, e.g., in the Middle East, and so the passenger will need to use a different strategy for the homeward bound journey and / or any subsequent legs of the journey; they may be confiscated, or you may find yourself in trouble with the police. The passenger may also need to use a different strategy for the homeward bound journey and/or other legs of the journey.
Diazepam stays in your system for quite a while. If your job requires you to submit to random drug testing, you may fail this having taken diazepam.
Benzodiazepines have been linked to the onset of dementia
A study published in 1997 from the Stanford University School of Medicine showed that there is evidence use of Benzodiazepines stops the normal adjustment response that would gradually lessen anxiety over time and therefore perpetuates and may increase anxiety in the long term, especially if used repeatedly. In an article in Clinical Psychiatry News, Shanna Treworgy, Psy.D.,of the Dartmouth Geisel Medical School, said that though there may be reduced anxiety in the moment, Benzodiazepines cause increased long-term anxiety reactions.
 
Given the above we will no longer be providing Diazepam for flight anxiety and instead suggest the below aviation industry recommended flight anxiety courses which are easily accessible for those who wish to fly & conquer their fear of flying, e.g.:
 
Easy Jet www.fearlessflyer.easyjet.com Tel 0203 8131644
British Airways www.flyingwithconfidence.com Tel 01252 793250
Virgin www.flyingwithoutfear.co.uk Tel 01423 714900
Manchester Airport – Fear of Flying guidance
Gatwick Airport – Fear of Flying guidance
 
Flight anxiety does not come under the remit of General Medical Services as defined in the GP contract and so we are not obliged to prescribe for this.
Patients who still wish to take benzodiazepines for flight anxiety are advised to consult with a private GP or travel clinic.
It is important to declare all medical conditions and medications you take to your travel insurer. If not, there is a risk of nullifying any insurance policy you may have.