There is much debate about the need for and the extent to which Medical Practices develop policies, protocols, procedures and plans.

Perhaps you need to consider whether there is a real useful purpose for a ‘document’. Is it needed for training purposes or is it a legal requirement? Are you just meeting the apparent requirements of the Care Quality Commission. Is it required to meet a legal necessity or is it required because something is not quite right and you need to document your Practices correct approach to a subject. Do all staff need to read the ‘documents’?

All in all it is a bit of a nightmare. Modern management has created almost a duty to document everything that moves and if not produce a risk assessment as to why you have not.

So in the face of all this bureaucracy keep it simple, make it readable, and limit the number of words and pages. One document I found as a model had 60 pages. Stick to key points. Be careful not to use as a model a document prepared by someone else without reading it and making sure it fits the bill.

Here is a list of the sort of documents you might prepare but be careful to choose those that are essential to your Practice and not just desirable.

1. Allergy Protocol 
2. Business Plan 
3. Chaperone Policy
4. Clinical Correspondence Procedure 
5. Confidentiality Policy 
6. Continuity Plan, (Disaster, Contingency)
7. Information Governance Policy
8. Patient Survey Policy (Friends and Family)
9. Patient Participation Group (Constitution)
10. Record Keeping Policy 
11. Practice Leaflet (Content) 
12. Surgery Web Site (Content) 
13. NHS Choices & CQC Web sites (Content)
14. Lifestyle Information Protocol 
15. Significant Events Procedure 
16. New Patient Health Checks Protocol 
17. Patient Care Plans Protocol 
18. Incident Reporting Procedure 
19. Palliative Care Policy  
20. Safety Alerts Procedure  
21. Life Saving Skills Training Policy
22. Dietary Advice Protocol 
23. Quality of Correspondence Policy 
24. Medical Records Transfer Procedure 
25. Carers Policy 
26. Safeguarding – Children and Vulnerable Adults
27. Emergency Plan
28. Criminal Records Check Policy
29. Abuse Leaflet
30. Infection Control Policy (Decontamination)
31. Repeat Prescriptions Policy
32. Access on Line Policy 
33. Controlled Drugs Policy 
34. Access for Disabled Policy
35. Staff (Training) Induction Handbook
36. Employee Handbook
37. Absence Management Policy
38. Breast Feeding Facilities Policy
39. Emergency Equipment Policy
40. Staff Recruitment Policy
41. Personnel Policies 
42. Staffing (levels) Policy 
43. Staff Immunisation Policy
44. Patient Registration Policy
45. Zero Tolerance Policy
46. Practice Complaints Procedure
47. Clinical and Administrative Audits Policy
48. Risk Assessments (various)
49. Sepsis Policy
50. Financial Viability Statement 
51. Standing Financial Instructions
52. Partnership Agreement
53. Model Staff Contract (including Salaried GP, Trainees and Apprenticeship
54. Practice Managers Manual 
55. Practice Managers Handover Manual
56. Death Reporting Procedure 
57. COSSH Manual (Hazard Data Sheets)
58. Practice Drug Formulary
59. Health and Safety Policy

Policy Documents 

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