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.
- Allergy Protocol
- Business Plan
- Chaperone Policy
- Clinical Correspondence Procedure
- Confidentiality Policy
- Continuity Plan, (Disaster, Contingency)
- Information Governance Policy
- Patient Survey Policy (Friends and Family)
- Patient Participation Group (Constitution)
- Record Keeping Policy
- Practice Leaflet (Content)
- Surgery Web Site (Content)
- NHS Choices & CQC Web sites (Content)
- Lifestyle Information Protocol
- Significant Events Procedure
- New Patient Health Checks Protocol
- Patient Care Plans Protocol
- Incident Reporting Procedure
- Palliative Care Policy
- Safety Alerts Procedure
- Life Saving Skills Training Policy
- Dietary Advice Protocol
- Quality of Correspondence Policy
- Medical Records Transfer Procedure
- Carers Policy
- Safeguarding – Children and Vulnerable Adults
- Emergency Plan
- Criminal Records Check Policy
- Abuse Leaflet
- Infection Control Policy (Decontamination)
- Repeat Prescriptions Policy
- Access on Line Policy
- Controlled Drugs Policy
- Access for Disabled Policy
- Staff (Training) Induction Handbook
- Employee Handbook
- Absence Management Policy
- Breast Feeding Facilities Policy
- Emergency Equipment Policy
- Staff Recruitment Policy
- Personnel Policies
- Staffing (levels) Policy
- Staff Immunisation Policy
- Patient Registration Policy
- Zero Tolerance Policy
- Practice Complaints Procedure
- Clinical and Administrative Audits Policy
- Risk Assessments (various)
- Sepsis Policy
- Financial Viability Statement
- Standing Financial Instructions
- Partnership Agreement
- Model Staff Contract (including Salaried GP, Trainees and Apprenticeship
- Practice Managers Manual
- Practice Managers Handover Manual
- Death Reporting Procedure
- COSSH Manual (Hazard Data Sheets)
- Practice Drug Formulary
- Health and Safety Policy
Policy Documents
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