Patient information and policy guide
Protecting your information
We aim to provide you with the highest quality of dental care. To do this we need to keep records about you, your health and the care we have provided or plan to provide to you. We know that you value your privacy and the security of personal information held about you.
Information recorded
Information recorded about you may include:
Basic details, such as address, date of birth, next of kin
Details and clinical records about your dental treatment, health history and medical treatment
Records of medicines you have been prescribed by your dentist or another qualified prescriber
Information relevant to your continued care from other people who care for you and know you well, such as other health professionals and relatives
Sharing information
The information held about you will not be shared for any reason, unless: You ask us to do so
We ask and you give us specific permission
We are required by law, for example prescribers must be notified where a patient presents a repeat prescription and the pharmacist becomes aware of clinically significant issues arising in connection with that prescription
We are permitted by law, for example where public interest overrides the need to keep the information confidential
Anyone who receives information from us also has a legal duty to keep this information confidential, subject to recognised exceptions of the types
listed above
Your right to view your clinical records
You have the right to view the original of your clinical records free of charge. If you request a copy, a charge will be due in accordance with the Data Protection Policy. Your request must be made in writing to the Practice Manager and the payment enclosed. A copy will be provided within 40 working days.
Confidentiality
You have the right to confidentiality. Dental healthcare personnel have a requirement under their professional code of ethics to keep records about you confidential, secure and accurate.
All of our staff contracts of employment contain a requirement to keep patient information confidential.
Responding to requests
All requests for information will be responded to within 20 working days. A fee can be charged when dealing with a request. This will be calculated in accordance with the Act. If a fee is required for information requested, the 20 day timescale can be extended to up to three months.
Should the request for information exceed the charges set by the Secretary of State, this practice does not have to action the request.
The practice is not obliged to comply with vexatious requests or repeated or substantially similar requests from the same person other than at reasonable intervals.
Exemptions
There is a range of exemptions covering personal data, security, formulation of government policy, commercial and individual confidentiality. A further absolute exemption is where information is accessible by other means or if the information has been provided in confidence. Other exemptions include information relating to commercial interests and audit functions.
Policies and procedures
The practice has a number of important policies that detail how we provide care and service to our patients. Please ask the Practice Manager if you would like to see copies of the following policies:
Confidentiality policy
Data protection policy
Information governance policy
Health and safety policy
Complaints policy
Complaints
We welcome comments, suggestions and complaints so that we can continually improve our service to you. Please contact the Practice Manager in person or by phone, letter or email if you have a comment, suggestion or complaint.
We take complaints very seriously and have an effective procedure to resolve any problems in the shortest possible time. You can read more about our procedure in our complaints policy. We always want to have satisfied patients.
The Information Commissioner
The Information Commissioner is an independent public body and reports directly to Parliament. Further information is available at: www.ico.gov.uk
Our dentist and practice owner is:
Dr Patrick Tarrant BDS
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