PATIENT INFORMATION

INTOUCH with Health is a touchscreen interactive patient information service that is situated in the main Phoenix surgery waiting room. The service brings together the country's leading health information databases and allows you, the patient, to access this information at the touch of the screen. Printouts are available.

On-line health information is also available on www.nhschoices.org and www.patients.co.uk

THE PHOENIX TRUST - CIRENCESTER AND DISTRICT

Established in 1992, the Trust provides services to people commensurate with its stated aim to "advance education and services in the preservation and protection of health" but outside the normal provision of the NHS. At present it supports our volunteer visiting programme, some complementary therapy sessions such as stress management; self support groups with education for diabetes and asthma; and parentlink courses. Your ideas on future initiatives will be welcomed by the chairman or manager of the Trust.

FINANCIAL SUPERVISION

In order to ensure that the NHS receives value for money and to avoid fraud, the government requires the Primary Care Trust to check that we have done the work for which we claim fees. This may involve officers from the Primary Care Trust looking at medical records. If you do not agree to let this happen, please inform the practice manager.

RESEARCH

Among the many changes occuring within the NHS, one that has recieved less publicity than others has been that high quality research is being given higher priority. The White Paper which emerged in July 2010 emphasised the government's commitment to "the promotion and conduct of research as a core NHS role". As part of its shared decision-making agenda - "No decision about me without me" - the government plans to "give patients more information on research studies that are relevant to them, and more scope to join in if they wish". In the future, the idea is that it should be normal rather than exceptional for patients to be involved in research during their care.

We welcome this change of emphasis at Phoenix Surgery. We are a member of the Primary Care Research Network (South West). This will allow us to contribute to studies. Most of these studies will be large projects, involving many different practices around the South West, the UK or internationally. All projects have been through extensive peer review, as well as having received NHS R&D approval and Research Ethics Committee approval.

Patients who are invited to become involved in reseach should expect to have all appropriate information given to them, and the opportunity to ask questions and have them answered. There will never be any obligation to participate in research, and patients will not be put under any pressure to agree.

We are very conscious that our main role is in the provision of health care to our patients, and that this is something that keeps us very busy. We intend to ensure that projects with which we are involved will include sufficient resourses to prevent them being undertaken to the detriment of the core business of Phoenix Surgery.

The Research lead for Phoenix Surgery is Dr Chris Goldie.

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