Pilning Surgery publishes and responds to requests for information in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act 2000. To assist you, we have produced this "Guide to Information" in accordance with requirements issued by the Information Commissioner’s Office.

Who we are and what we do »
What we spend and how we spend it »
What are our priorities and how are we doing »
How we make decisions »
Our Policies and Procedures »
Lists and registers »
The services we offer »

We are continually adding documents to our website. Where no link exists for the document you require, please write to Freedom of Information Lead, Pilning Surgery Northwick Road, Pilning, Bristol, BS35 4JF.

How to make a request
If you cannot find what you are looking for in this part of our website you can send your request in writing to Freedom of Information Lead, Pilning Surgery Northwick Road Pilning Bristol BS35 4JF Please note that in accordance with the Act we cannot take verbal requests.

How we deal with requests
We aim to provide you with the information you need within twenty working days. If this is not possible, we will tell you why.

Although most of the information can usually be provided free of charge, in some instances there may be a charge. In line with the ‘Appropriate Limit & Fees’ regulations 2007, we will charge a fee if the cost of collating the information is £450 or over. Where this is the case, we will correspond with you to either reduce the requirement below the threshold or to agree a fee. Payment must be received before the information can be retrieved.

Environmental Regulations and public access to environmental information
The environmental information regulations give the public, in most cases, the right to access environmental information held by a public authority, or organisation carrying out a public environmental function.

Environmental Information includes, but is not limited to, any information about the impact on the elements (air, water etc), substances released into the environment, measures including policies and plans that might affect the environment and the state of human health and safety.

Statement on Re-use of Public Sector Information (PSI)
Information routinely published by this organisation may be re-used by any individual or organisation. There is no charge for re-use of routinely published information, but in line with the ‘re-use of public sector information regulations (2005)’, we ask that if you do re-use any information that you quote the document title and acknowledge that it was published by this organisation and remains our copyright.

If there is specific information you require that is not published, you may make a written request under the terms of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.’

Charging Policy for Re-use of Information
If you wish to re-use the information you have requested, in whole or in part, please write to please write to Freedom of Information Lead, Pilning Surgery, Northwick Road, Pilning, Bristol, BS35 4JF stating the purpose(s) you wish to re-use the information for. We will respond within 20 working days of receiving your request with any conditions and charges that relate to the re-use of the information. These will be determined in line with the ‘Re-use of Public Sector Information Regulations 2005 (SI 2005 No. 1515).

Information Commissioner
Responsibility for overseeing the operation of the Act rests with the Information Commissioner who is an independent public official responsible directly to Parliament. As well as approving Publication Schemes and promoting compliance with the Act, the Commissioner has powers of enforcement.

Who we are and what we do
Pilning Surgery is an NHS primary care organisation whose aim is to provide the best possible quality medical care to our patients, whilst promoting better physical and mental health by offering health promotion programmes, in line with national guidance. Our staff are committed to providing a caring professional service.

What we spend and how we spend it
We work to provide and deliver our services within the resources and budgets allocated by the local primary care trust (South Gloucestershire). At a local level we are committed to offering a primary care facility that meets the needs of our local population. We are working hard to realise the governments future plans for the NHS as outlined in the Health and Social Care bill. We work with other practices in this locality to meet our statutory duties and the requirement to work as a consortia.

What are our priorities and how are we doing
Our first priority is to our patients. We must deliver a service that achieves financial balance and we work within challenging financial constraints . Our plan for the future is to ensure the legacy of national health service is there for generations to come. We aim to address local health needs and bring service provision that is timely, appropriate and closer to the patient. We are also ensuring that preventative medicine and education is widely available improving the future health of our patients.

How we make decisions
At a grass root level we are a close and cohesive team with a common approach to healthcare where the patient comes first. Locally we make decisions in consultation with others. We make decisions with our colleagues in primary and secondary care and work together in consortia under the rules and regulations laid down by the current government.Some decisions are based on local health needs as well as national prevalence and morbidity. As a smaller organisation we believe we are ideally placed to deliver the health care determined by our patients.

Our Policies and Procedures
We aim to meet all legislative law requirements and we hope that our policies and procedures enhance the environment in which we practice . Our policies are broadly under the following headings, Information Governance, Human Resources, Health and Safety, Clinical and Non Clinical and infection Control. They are stored locally on our practice intranet and available on request for an administrative charge.
*Our plan is to make them more widely available on this website in the future*.

Lists and registers
Our annual business reports and business plans including strategic direction are available on request. Past publications pre 2005 may not be available.

The services we offer
The core services we offer are stated on this website. We offer some Non NHS Services and charges for these services are available on request and published in the main reception area of the practice.