These Terms and Conditions relate to the engagement between The Practical Doctor (TPD) and the users of its Services.

These Terms and Conditions (“Terms”) will apply to our supply of the Service (as defined in paragraph 1 below) to persons who register through the TPD online Platform (“the Platform”) (“User”, “you”).

It is important that you read these Terms carefully and make sure that you understand them.

It is a requirement of registering with TPD that you accept and agree to these terms and you will only be able to register with our platform to access our services  (“ the Services “ ) on confirmation of this.

These Terms should be read in conjunction with the Privacy Policy which is available on the website. We may amend these Terms from time to time as set out in the General Terms and Conditions.

We are committed to the security and privacy of your information. Our Privacy Policy explains in more detail what information we collect from you and how we use it. Confidentiality is extremely important to us and we only treat your   information the way we wish our own to be treated.

For the purposes of these Terms, we have used the following phrases:

“Data Protection Laws” means the General Data Protection Regulation 2018 (GDPR) and any national implementing laws, regulations and secondary legislation, as amended or updated from time to time, in the UK, including the Data Protection Act 2018; and then any successor legislation to the GDPR or the Data Protection Act 1998.

TPD Clinical Services

TPD provides health care services and intends to provide consultations to patients via an online portal (“the Platform”) and in person through the expertise of trained health care professionals. The following are details about TPD , and the scope of Services provided by it.

1)    TPD  delivers the Services from the website www.thepracticaldoctor.co uk (the “Website” ) and uses “Clinic You” a fully integrated and cloud-based system as the Electronic Patient record.

2)    Your use of the Services will be subject to these Terms and your use of our Services shall be construed as your consent to be legally bound by these Terms.

3)    The Practical Doctor does not provide any emergency services or care for acute medical conditions.

4)    The Practical Doctor does not prescribe any “controlled” medication.

5)    The Service is in no way designed to replace the services of your in-person NHS or private General Practitioner (“GP”), other NHS care provider or hospital.

6)    You agree that the Services provided by TPD are only supplementary to any medical advice or treatment that you are receiving or should receive from your in-person NHS or private General Practitioner and/or any NHS care provider.

7)    For our online services, it is not possible to physically examine patients. It is therefore crucial that you provide accurate information when requested e.g self reported weight, blood pressure etc and any reports, diagnoses if any and medical history relating to you (“Your Records”). We shall not be liable for any medical advice received through the TPD  platform if the information and/or medical history and records that you have provided are incomplete and/or inaccurate or false.

8)    The Practical Doctor has been granted registration with the Care Quality Commission (“CQC”). Further details of our registration and any future inspections can be found on the Website as well as the Care Quality Commission website.

9)    The identity of any individual will be validated by a member of TPD before they have an appointment. Details of the data collected by us for the purposes of due diligence have been outlined in our Privacy Policy.  In relation to identity verification, validate means the confirmation of an individual’s identity through the verification against an acceptable photographic identification document: passport; driving licence; or national identity card

10)                   Please note that our Services can only be used by all independent adults who are 18 years of age and over.

11)                   The Services are designed and registered by the CQC to be used by independent adults who are 18 (eighteen) years of age and above. The Services cannot be used by those who are below 18 (eighteen) years of age (“Minors”).

Healthcare professionals

1)    TPD doctors/healthcare professionals are fully qualified to work in the United Kingdom (UK) and are registered with the General Medical Council (GMC) or other appropriate regulatory bodies. They undergo external appraisals and specific TPD staff induction and training in accordance with standard practice for health professionals practising in the UK and as regulated by the CQC. They receive bespoke training in virtual consultation skills and are monitored and appraised internally by the TPD.

2)    TPD is covered with the requisite, adequate and appropriate medical/professional indemnity insurance, as required by the
General Medical Council and/or any other relevant regulatory body.

Payment structure

1)    Where you are a Self-Paying, you may purchase Appointments on a per appointment basis as set out in our service and fee structures.

2)    The cost of an appointment and any additional services such as diagnostic tests is set out clearly on our Website and may be subject to change at any time.

3)    The price of an appointment will be quoted on the Platform. Prices include any applicable taxes which might apply and are liable to change at any time.

4)    Changes, if any, will not affect any existing appointment already booked.

5)    Payments for all appointments must be made in full at the time of booking to TPD by credit or debit card using ‘Stripe’ on the checkout page. TPD accepts most major credit and debit cards.

6)    You should be aware that online payment transactions are subject to validation checks by your card issuer and TPD is not responsible if your card issuer declines to authorise payment for any reason. If such payment is not authorised, your right to the booked Appointment shall be cancelled. Please note, it is possible that your card issuer may charge you an online handling fee or processing fee. TPD is not responsible for this.

7)    TPD does not accept cash payments.

8)    Currently TPD does not collaborate with any insurance companies that may cover a patient’s medical costs including the Fee payable to TPD.

Appointments

1)    The information and advice provided by a healthcare professional during an appointment should be used to increase your awareness of the options you may have available to you.

2)    By its nature, a virtual Appointment may not be sufficient in certain circumstances for your needs and is unlikely to be appropriate or sufficient for emergency conditions, where a physical examination or intervention must be/ is likely to be required or where the issue is not suited to remote appointment.

3)    We strongly recommend you share and/or discuss the information from your Appointment with your local doctor/GP and that you return to your local doctor/GP to discuss any significant differences in recommended medical treatment and your concerns about previous medical treatments by your local doctor/GP.

4)    The information and advice provided by TPD during an Appointment is based on the information you have supplied to TPD. It is your responsibility to ensure that this information is correct and complete and you accept that failure to do so (whether intentionally or not) may affect the information and advice that TPD can give to you and, as such, may have consequences for which we are not responsible.

5)    In the event that you do not fully understand any information given during your Appointment, it is your responsibility to raise this during your Appointment and TPD will seek to clarify matters for you.

6)    By making an Appointment you give TPD express consent to provide the Service(s) to you in your chosen time slot and within any cancellation period provided by any English laws or regulations.

7)    You may book an Appointment with a TPD doctor via the Website/Platform. A Video Appointment will occur via video call, the details of which/link to which will be communicated to you at the time of your Appointment.

8)    When booking your Appointment, you will be required to provide details about your health concerns and medical history and location. You will be prompted to select a time slot in which you would like to attend your Appointment. All times will be in GMT/BST as applicable.

9)    The day before your Appointment you will receive a reminder email notification that your Appointment is coming up.

10)  It is your responsibility to be available to speak to the healthcare professional by your chosen method at the time of the Appointment

11)   For video Appointments, it is your responsibility to ensure that you are ready and available ahead of your Appointment, and ensure that both video and voice are functioning.

12)   For in person appointments, it is your responsibility to attend on time.  TPDmay not be able to see you if you are late. Refunds will not be issued for late attendances and will follow the same procedures as for short notice cancellations.

13)   TPD reserves the right to deny any person access to the Platform or the Services.

14)   TPD reserves the right to deny any person access for any inappropriate acts which may include but are not limited to inappropriate, abusive, offensive behaviour or remarks

15)   TPD may advise that a follow up appointment may be necessary. TPD advises patients to book and attend a follow-up Appointment within 6 ( six ) – 12 ( twelve) weeks of their first appointment. This will enable TPD as well as you, as the patient, to assess the results of the treatment and/or to address any queries you may have in relation to your treatment.

16)  The healthcare professional treating you will assist in the booking of a follow-up appointment. TPD will remind you by email and text message if the follow up appointment is not booked, up to and including the last day of the period. However, the booking of follow-up appointments lies completely at the sole discretion of our patients.

Amending and cancelling Appointments

1)    You may cancel an Appointment at any time up to 48 hours prior to the time at which your Appointment is due to begin and you may amend an Appointment at any time up to 48 hours prior to the time at which your Appointment is due to begin.

2)    If you have amended the Appointment the fee for Services ( “Fee”) will be credited/adjusted towards the rescheduled Appointment.

3)    If you have cancelled the Appointment, you will receive a full refund of the Fee that you have paid, provided all such cancellations/amendments are carried out within the above-mentioned time frame.

4)    If you cancel within 48 hours of the Appointment or once the Appointment has begun, TPD will not refund the Fees paid and you agree that in such circumstances all Fees paid by you will be forfeited.

5)    If you amend the time slot within less than 48 hours of your Appointment, this will be deemed a cancellation and there is no refund of any Fees paid.

6)    If you are late for an Appointment, TPD reserves the right to either cancel or to continue with the Appointment. In the case of cancellation, there will be no refund and you may be asked to rebook for another Appointment. Should the Appointment continue, it will be deemed as the completion of the entire Appointment, notwithstanding the time that was lost on account of your delay in attending the Appointment.

7)    If you have not been able to attend the Appointment because the Platform is
unavailable due to a technical fault caused by TPD then TPD will give you an option between a refund of the full Fee of your Appointment or crediting/adjusting the Fee towards a rescheduled appointment.

8)    While TPD will be responsible for the functioning of the Platform it is your responsibility to ensure that your equipment (computer, laptop, netbook, tablet or other mobile device) meets the necessary technical specifications to enable you to access and use the Platform and the Services.

9)    Any failure by you to attend an Appointment because your equipment does not meet the necessary technical specifications will not lead to TPD providing you with a refund.

10)   If a refund is due, TPD will make the refund to you using the same method used by you to purchase the Appointment, unless agreed otherwise.

Private Prescriptions

1)    You may be issued with a prescription for medicine by a Practical Doctor GP.  The doctor will use all reasonable efforts, based on the medical history, the Records that you have provided and the symptoms you describe, to prescribe medicine appropriate for your condition.

2)    TPD  will endeavour to but shall not be responsible for ensuring that you receive the medicine you are prescribed or that the medicine you receive is the same as that prescribed by the doctor.

3)    TPD is also not responsible for any instructions in relation to the medication provided by a pharmacist or anyone else associated with the provision of medication you have been prescribed.

4)    TPD may issue private prescriptions for medicines only,

5)    when in their professional judgement it is in your best interests to receive the medicine in accordance with TPD prescribing guidelines that comply with General Medical Council Guidelines on remote prescribing and essential standards of quality and safety as interpreted by the Care Quality Commission.

6)    TPD will refuse to prescribe medicines where you do not consent to share this information with your GP or when they believe it is not in your best interests to receive medicines without the benefit of an in-person consultation. TPD strongly advises you to share information with your regular doctor/GP about any private prescriptions you receive.

7)    Certain classes of medications such as specialist drugs, medications requiring close monitoring or controlled drugs and other classes of strong painkillers are not suitable for online prescribing and will not be prescribed by TPD.

8)    TPD may advise you that a particular medication may not be suitable for a prescription at the time of the Appointment.

9)    If a TPD healthcare professional issues you a prescription, depending on a number of factors including your location and the medication you have been prescribed, a prescription may be fulfilled in the following way:

10)  over the counter (where a prescription is not required for your prescribed medication); or

11)  sent securely and electronically by TPD to a private pharmacy should the patient want us to do so.

12)  In all instances you or an adult at your delivery address may be required to present photographic ID to collect your prescription to ensure safe dispensing of your medication

13)  Where TPD issues you a prescription of any kind:

a)    You authorise TPD to share basic identification data with the pharmacy, taking all reasonable steps to protect your personal information, for the purposes of verifying your identification on collection of your prescription. The pharmacy may contact you directly to process the prescription including confirmation of your details and taking payment from you.

b)    You acknowledge that you and the dispensing pharmacies are solely responsible for arranging to receive medication and paying for such medication and delivery (if/where a delivery service is used) on such terms that,

c)    You agree with the pharmacy that dispenses the medication.

d)    You are under no obligation to purchase any prescribed medication, i.e. medication prescribed by TPD

e)    You will comply with any and all instructions given in relation to any prescription provided to you including in particular, route, timing and dosages; You will promptly report any side effects of any prescription to a doctor either affiliated with TPD or your GP/NHS practitioner

f)     You will protect anything prescribed to you and not permit any other person access to the prescribed medication; you will not use any prescription after its expiry date.

g)    You agree that the medication prescribed to a patient is for the exclusive use and reference by the patient.

h)    You cannot use the prescription as a reference to prescribe medication to any other person who you believe shows similar symptoms as the patient and for which the TPD healthcare professional had prescribed the medication.

17.  Diagnostic tests

      I.          The Lifestyle Health Clinic can make referrals for private tests by a third party provider (“Provider”). You acknowledge that you are solely responsible for

    II.          arranging, undertaking and paying for such tests, if you choose to undertake

   III.          them with the appropriate Provider of these tests.

  IV.          You agree to comply with any instructions provided in relation to the testing services including (without limitation) in relation to the booking and administration of investigation, payment and results management via the Platform, again using ‘Stripe’.

    V.          The processing time of tests may vary according to the Provider and TPD cannot influence this directly

  VI.          TPD cannot guarantee the availability of services from test Providers and shall not be liable for any acts or omissions of the test Providers.

VII.          By requesting a referral to a Provider, you authorise TPD to share your basic identification data with the selected Provider for the purposes of verifying your identification on arrival for your referral appointment.

VIII.          TPD will take all reasonable steps to protect your personal information in accordance with our Privacy Policy.

  IX.          If your pathology tests are completed using a TPD third

    X.          party provider, your results will be uploaded securely onto your individual secure profile, and you explicitly consent to that by agreeing to undergo an the investigation. Your results will be shared with you directly by secure electronic

  XI.          format and you will be required to input your date of birth to be able to see your results. You may be required to book a follow up appointment with TPD for a review of your investigation results.

16.  Referrals

      I.          Subject to your agreement, TPD can suggest or provide

    II.          referrals to specialists where clinically appropriate and suitable. TPD will always make best efforts to ensure the most appropriate referral and recommendation is made where necessary.

   III.          TPD referrals may not always specify a named individual consultant and may be made on an ‘open referral’ basis specifying the appropriate medical specialty.  Where a patient has a specific clinician in mind, a named referral can be written.

  IV.          Any referrals made by TPD will be to serve our patients’ best interests and to prioritise our patients’ health.

20.  Contact

Please submit any questions you have about these Terms or your Appointment by emailing us at info@thepracticaldoctor.co.uk or write to The Practical Doctor, The Bakery, Brindhurst Farm, Sutton, Macclesfield, SK11 0NA