Not quite sure what you mean Stuart by medical laws - however this is not
good practice at all.  In fact a similar scenario is illustrated in a
training/awareness video being issued to the NHS, where the banner message
also includes where the patient is being called too! (i.e. chiropody etc).
It is illustrated in the video as bad practice...

In fact the accompanying training guide talks about the possibility of
implementing call systems without the use of names - however I cannot see
us all being issued with 'pagers' or alike when we arrive at the surgery
for an appointment...  Most people at the surgery who would recognise your
name would probably also recognise your face... and when you 'check in' you
usually declare who you are to at least a few people.

Clearly in General Practice a call system of some description is needed,
whether this is a message board or vocal - however data transmitted should
be limited to the minimum necessary and  can see little need to include any
more than name of the patient and some way of calling them to a specific
room, i.e. Mr X - Surgery 4 (ensuring that the room identification does not
give away any more information than necessary!)

The chances of having two people in the surgery with the same name at the
same time (the only reason I can see to flash your DOB and/or address on a
message system) is very unlikely.  Also the chance of you actually knowing
your NHS number are probably even less...

I would suggest pointing this out to your new surgery!

Adam

Adam Tuckett
NHS South West Regional Office (Confidentiality Lead)





[log in to unmask] on 26/11/2001 13:09:00

Please respond to [log in to unmask]
Sent by:  [log in to unmask]

To:   [log in to unmask]
cc:    (bcc: Adam Tuckett/SWRO-FINAN/DOH/GB)

Subject:  Drug companies/ doctors surgerie





Date: 26 November 2001
  To: internet                             EXTERNAL
From: Stuart Roderick                      GBSAFE00     Retail Training

Subject: Drug companies/ doctors surgeries

/internet
to:[log in to unmask]

***************************************************************************
*
***

Following on from the last posting, I recently had to visit my own GP who
has
just had a new practice built.  Whilst in there I happened to notice one of
the
scrolling boards, the type with the red text which flows accross it, I
asked
the receptionist what it was for.  Her response suprised me it was, 'oh
thats
going to have your name, address and maybe your nhs number or date of
birth'

  I would be interested to hear your views on whether this is legal as is
this
sensitive data?

Can anyone advise whether the medical laws will allow this?

Many thanks

Stuart




      Stuart Roderick
      P@S Training Co-ord



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