USEFUL CONTACTS Patient Advice and Liaison Service PALS Patient

							                                                     Patient Information
USEFUL CONTACTS:




Patient Advice and Liaison Service
(PALS)


                                                                           Copying letters
                                                                              to patients
                                                                              how to obtain a copy of
                                                                             letters written about you
  Contact our PALS Co-ordinator on:
            01377 208823

    If your preferred language is not English, or
     for those who are blind or partially sighted,
    we can make arrangements to help you with
                    this document.
    Please contact your healthcare professional.

    Nëse dëshironi ndihmë me këtë dokument, ju
          lutemi telefononi 01430 457351




       Eğer bu döküman ile ilgili olarak yardım
     istiyorsanız, lütfen 01430 457353 numaralı
                   telefonu arayınız.                                                  Published: April 2004
INTRODUCTION                                  giving you a copy of the letter so that       are used. However, if you require
                                              they can explain what it means.               more information about the meaning
The NHS Plan made a commitment that           Occasionally the clinician may decide         of such terms you may like to
from April 2004, patients should be able      not to copy a letter to you. This may be      contact NHS Direct on 0845 46 47.
to receive copies of letters written about    where the letter contains information
them by clinicians, e.g. doctors, nurses,     about other people, or it is felt you could   I AM A CARER, CAN I RECEIVE A
therapists, as a right. Some patients         be caused serious harm. Ask if you            COPY?
find copies of such letters help them to      think you have not received a copy for
understand the information given to           this reason. If you want to see a copy        The letter will normally be copied to
them during a consultation. However,          of this letter you can apply to see it and    the patient, but the patient can ask
we understand that others may not want        all your records under provisions of the      for you as a carer to have a copy. If
to take up this offer. Therefore, if you      Data Protection Act.                          the patient asks for you not to be
wish to receive a copy of a letter, it is                                                   sent a copy, the clinician will not be
important that you let us know.               WHAT HAPPENS IF THE LETTER IS                 able to provide you with one. If you
                                              SENT TO THE WRONG ADDRESS,                    are worried, discuss this with the
WHY DO I NEED TO SEE COPIES OF                OR SOMEONE ELSE SEES IT?                      clinician concerned.
LETTERS?
                                              It is your responsibility to make sure        HOW DO I INFORM YOU THAT I
The letter will tell you what                 that we have your correct address. If         WISH TO RECEIVE COPIES OF
arrangements have been made from              there is someone else in your home            LETTERS?
the results of tests and may give you         with the same initials, tell us how you
advice on how to manage your                  would like the letter addressed to make       You will need to inform us each time
condition. Though your clinician may          sure you receive it. If you are worried       you want a copy letter. For
have explained these to you, it is often      about someone else seeing the letter,         example, if your treatment has
useful to have this information to refer      you may prefer to pick it up in person,       changed or plans are being made
to and also share with your family. It is     have it delivered to a different address      for further investigations, a copy of a
not always easy to remember all the           or look at it at the hospital or GP           letter outlining this may be helpful.
information you are given in a brief          practice.                                     However, if you have attended clinic
consultation.                                                                               for a routine check-up, and no
                                              WHAT IF I DO NOT UNDERSTAND                   changes have been recommended,
WILL I RECEIVE COPIES OF ALL                  THE MEDICAL TERMS THAT MAY BE                 you may not wish to receive a copy
LETTERS WRITTEN ABOUT ME?                     USED IN THE LETTER?                           of this information.

Yes, if you want to. If the letter contains   Wherever possible we will ensure that         Please note that it can take up to
new information the clinician may prefer      medical terms are kept to a minimum           three weeks for you to receive a
to discuss it with you personally before      and explain what they mean when they          copy of the letter.