The Beacon Health Group DANBURY MEDICAL CENTRE 52 Maldon Road The Partnership of: Danbury Chelmsford Drs McAllister, Plate, Hunt, Frankel, Brock, Brasse, Mrs L Hunt Essex CM3 4QL Managing Partner Mrs S Young Tel: 221777 Fax: 01245 221779 Dispensary Fax: 01245 222638 Correspondence to your usual branch MOUNTBATTEN HOUSE SURGERY 1 Montgomery Close Chelmsford Essex CM1 6FF Tel: 01245 467750 Fax: 01245 466192 Practice Code: F81100 Monday, 09 July 2018 Re: Patients aged 11 to 15 with access to Online Services and SMS Text Service If your child is currently registered for SMS messaging or online services via Patient Access that affords you access to one or both of the following services: booking appointments or requesting repeat medications there will be changes to our policy. Due to the new GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) which came into force on 25th May 2018 this service has to cease for children aged 11 to 15 years of age inclusive. In the eyes of the law a child is a child until they reach their 18th birthday. For the purposes of medical treatment the boundaries are different and in some circumstances a child aged younger than 16 years could access medical services without the knowledge of their parents. In those cases the patient is entitled to retain their confidentiality. It is not for the practice to become embroiled in an ethical argument and so in all cases online access will be withdrawn once the patient reaches their 11th birthday. Text reminders of forthcoming appointments will also cease at that time as it is common for parents/guardians to list their mobile number on their child’s medical record so we have removed them. In some it may be appropriate for parents/guardians to continue to access their child’s medical record, in cases such as those involving learning disabilities or complex repeat medications for example. If you think you might have such a justification to continue to access your child’s record via Patient Access please contact the surgery for a telephone consultation with your child’s usual GP to discuss. In all other cases the patient will be entitled to request access in their own right and to restore text reminders once they reach the age of 16 years. There is additional guidance available online in this subject area, please ask if you need further assistance. Yours sincerely, Samantha Young Managing Partner, Head of Operations The Beacon Health Group
The Beacon Health Group The Partnership of: Drs McAllister, Plate, Hunt, Frankel, Brock, Brasse, Mrs L Hunt Managing Partner Mrs S Young Correspondence to your usual branch DANBURY MEDICAL CENTRE 52 Maldon Road Danbury Chelmsford Essex CM3 4QL Tel: 221777 Fax: 01245 221779 Dispensary Fax: 01245 222638 MOUNTBATTEN HOUSE SURGERY 1 Montgomery Close Chelmsford Essex CM1 6FF Tel: 01245 467750 Fax: 01245 466192 Practice Code: F81100 Monday, 09 July 2018 Re: Patients aged 11 to 15 with access to Online Services and SMS Text Service If your child is currently registered for SMS messaging or online services via Patient Access that affords you access to one or both of the following services: booking appointments or requesting repeat medications there will be changes to our policy. Due to the new GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) which came into force on 25th May 2018 this service has to cease for children aged 11 to 15 years of age inclusive. In the eyes of the law a child is a child until they reach their 18th birthday. For the purposes of medical treatment the boundaries are different and in some circumstances a child aged younger than 16 years could access medical services without the knowledge of their parents. In those cases the patient is entitled to retain their confidentiality. It is not for the practice to become embroiled in an ethical argument and so in all cases online access will be withdrawn once the patient reaches their 11th birthday. Text reminders of forthcoming appointments will also cease at that time as it is common for parents/guardians to list their mobile number on their child’s medical record so we have removed them. In some it may be appropriate for parents/guardians to continue to access their child’s medical record, in cases such as those involving learning disabilities or complex repeat medications for example. If you think you might have such a justification to continue to access your child’s record via Patient Access please contact the surgery for a telephone consultation with your child’s usual GP to discuss. In all other cases the patient will be entitled to request access in their own right and to restore text reminders once they reach the age of 16 years. There is additional guidance available online in this subject area, please ask if you need further assistance. Yours sincerely, Samantha Young Managing Partner, Head of Operations The Beacon Health Group
11-15%20year%20olds%20NOTE%20ON%20WEBSITE.docx