Mid-Nottinghamshire Collaboration Group

Memorandum of Understanding (“MOU”) - Inter-Practice Referrals

PARTIES

1)

2)

3)

4)

5)

6)All “parties” named in Appendix 1

This Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) sets the terms and understanding between the parties to provide agreed treatments to registered patients on behalf of each other, where service specific requirements are met.

BACKGROUND

There is variation in services offered to patients by GP Practices. Many practices are able to offer services (due to special interests or skills) which are unavailable at neighbouring practices. This disparity necessitates referral into secondary care for practices which are not able to offer the service themselves. Referring between GP practices negates the need to refer into secondary care for services not available in a patient’s registered practice but available elsewhere locally. In order for GPs to provide treatment for non-registered patients, certain criteria must be met to satisfy indemnity provider requirements. This includes the existence of an MoU.

All parties are SystmOne GP units with the capability to refer the full patient record from one unit to another (using an existing sharing model) for the purpose of an episode of care. The sharing model is called EDSM and is currently in use by a number of community services. The process does not require any external system. The listing of practices accepting referrals and the method of referring is managed entirely within SystmOne.

Making inter practice referrals via SystmOne using EDSM (with consent) has advantages including a single shared patient record; universal availability to refer within SystmOne users; no additional IG procedures; meeting medicolegal requirements for usual care.

Data Processor (provider practice) to provide assurance as specified in the data processor contract that all processing of a data controller’s (referring practice) personal data has complied with this requirement and that no processing has been undertaken without instruction.

AGREEMENT

Service provider practices/parties agree to:

  • Meet the requirements of their individual medicolegal indemnity provider to provide planned (prebooked) care for non-registered patients.
  • Abide by TPP Code of Conduct to support Data Sharing within SystmOne – Appendix 2.
  • Be adequately qualified to provide the service as described in the individual service specifications, and work within their scope of practice.
  • Meet the service standards and quality requirements within the individual service specifications.
  • Consent the patient for procedures.
  • Provide only the treatmentreferred for by the referring GP and as described within the individual service specifications.
  • Note that no payment will be claimable if the treatment referred for is not provided.
  • Provide only the number of episodes of care outlined in the individual service specifications before either discharging the record or communicating with the referring GP.
  • Ensure that the patient record data is accurate, timely and complete.
  • Accurately record each episode of care in the patient’sSystmOne record, ensuring that the standard of recording is adequateincluding any problems with the procedure, any type or batch numbers of products, any specimens sent to the Pathology laboratory.
  • Ensure confidentiality of patient data is maintained. Any data breaches must be reported to the patients registered GP Practice immediately.
  • Discharge thepatient if they fail to attend an appointment or the practice has been unable to contact the patient to make an appointment.
  • Co-operate with referring practice in response to complications, complaints and significant events.

Referring practices/parties agree to:

  • Ensure the patient meets the criteria for referral as outlined in the individual service specifications.
  • Complete any pre-referral requirements with regard to patient care.
  • Provide an accurate referral note for the treatment requested in the patient record.
  • Provide information to patients regarding EDSM,making clear the advantages and risks of record sharing.
  • Record patient consent to share, implied or explicit.
  • Provide written information regarding treatment or procedure the patient is being referred for.
  • Co-operate with the providing practice in response to complications, complaints and significant events.

STATUS

The MOU is not intended to be legally binding, and no legal obligations or legal rights will arise between the Parties from this MOU. The Parties enter into the MOU intending to honour the “Agreement”.

Nothing in this MOU is intended to, or shall be deemed to, establish any partnership or joint venture between the Parties, constitute either Party as the agent of the other Party, nor authorise either of the Parties to make or enter into any commitments for or on behalf of the other Party.

CONFIDENTIALITY

Access to shared information must be limited to those that have a legitimate and appropriately approved need to see the data. All staff that access patient records will have appropriate information governance training and will adhere to confidentiality policy.

Separate signature sheets for each of the Parties listed to be signed and attached.

Appendix 1

“Parties”

Mansfield and Ashfield CCG

Practice Name

Ashfield House

Bull Farm Primary Care Resource Centre

Family Medical Centre (Kirkby)

Kirkby Health Centre

LowmoorRoad Surgery

Selston Surgery

Health Care Complex (Kirkby)

Jacksdale Medical Centre

Kirkby Community Primary Care Centre

Willowbrook Medical Practice

Woodlands Medical Practice

Harwood Close Surgery

Brierley Park Medical Centre

Skegby Family Medical Centre

Ashfield Medical Centre

Churchside Medical Practice

Acorn Medical Practice

St. Peter’sMedical Practice

Orchard Medical Practice

Pleasley Surgery

Sandy Lane Surgery

Bull Farm Primary Care Resource Centre

Meden Medical Services

Oakwood Surgery

Mill View Surgery

Roundwood Surgery

Forest Medical

Riverbank Medical Services

Newark and Sherwood CCG

Abbey Medical Group

Southwell Medical Centre

Rainworth Health Centre

Bilsthorpe Surgery

Hill View Surgery

Middleton Lodge Practice

Sherwood Medical Partnership

Major Oak Medical Practice

BarnbyGate Surgery

Fountain Medical Centre

Lombard Medical Centre

Collingham Medical Centre

Balderton Primary Care Centre

Hounsfield Surgery

Appendix 2