Policies Galore

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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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