Privacy Policy

What types of patients’ Personal Information do we hold?

The practice holds patients’ Personal Information in the following categories:

• Name, identity, (e.g. date of birth) and contact details.
• Family details including anyone who may need to give consent for your care.
• Medical history, your GP’s details, (your NHS number)
• Dental history, records of treatment provided, x-rays and photographs.
• Information from other providers involved in your care.
• Dates of you appointments including any that are cancelled or that you have not attended.
• Payment details and financial information in connection with your care.
• Correspondence relating to your care with you or with other healthcare professionals.
• Details of any complaints that you have made and how we dealt with them.

Why do we process patients’ Personal Information? 

“Process” means we obtain, store, update and archive your Information.

Patients’ Personal Information is held for the purpose of providing patients with appropriate, high quality, safe and effective dental care and treatment and the maintenance of accurate records.

Other reasons for storing your information:

• Research or educational purposes: We may also use your information for research or educational purposes. If we wish to do this we will discuss the details with you and seek your consent. Whenever possible this information will be anonymised.
• Direct Marketing: We may use your contact details to inform you of products and services available at the practice. If you would like to opt out of this, please inform reception.
• CCTV: We do not have CCTV at the practice.

What is the Lawful Basis for processing your Personal Information?
The Law says we must tell you this. We hold patients’ Personal Information because it is in our Legitimate Interest to do so. Without holding the Information we cannot provide your care and treatment effectively. (Also, we must hold information on NHS care and treatment as it is a Public Task required by law).

What do we do with your Information?
We will only share your information if it is done securely and it is necessary for us to do so.

• Your personal information may be securely shared with other healthcare professionals who need to be involved in your care (for example if we refer you to a specialist, need laboratory work undertaken or need to consult with your doctor)
• There may be times when we are need to disclose relevant information to third parties not involved in your care for example:
  – A debt collection agency (if fees owing remain unpaid)
  – HMRC.
  – Other Law inforcement or government agencies.
• We may also share your personal information securely to third parties where we are required by law or regulation to do so. This may include:
  – The General Dental Council
  – The Care Quality Commission
  – Dental payment plans or insurers
  – (NHS Bodies if NHS dental care and treatment is provided)

How do we store your Information?
Your Information is stored securely at the practice (in paper form and on protected computer systems). Computer information is backed up regularly and may be securely stored away from our premises (or overseas).

If you use cloud computing for processing or storing patient information explain here how their data is protected.

We will keep your Information for as long as you are having dental care and treatment from us or ask us to remind you or send you future appointments. Otherwise we will archive it (that is, store your Information without processing it for as long as the NHS or other trusted experts advise. For eleven years from your last contact with us, or until you are age 25 if you are 16 and under, or age 26, if aged 17 when treatment finished).

What are your data protection rights?
Under data protection law you have the right to:

• Be informed about the personal information we hold and why we hold it.
• Have a copy of your data that we hold by contacting us directly: we will acknowledge your request and supply a response within one month or sooner, without charge.
• Check the information we hold about you is correct and if not to make corrections.
• Have some of your data erased in certain circumstances.
• Transfer your information to someone else, if you tell us to do so and it is safe and legal to do so.
• Tell us not to actively process or update your information in certain circumstances.

What if you are not happy or wish to raise a concern about our processing of your Information?
You can complain in the first instance to Mr John Lewis our Data Protection Officer, we will do our best to resolve the matter.
If you do not agree to the use of your information as described, it may not be possible for us to continue to provide your dental care.

If this fails, you can complain to the Information Commissioner at: www.ico.org.uk/concerns, by calling 0303 123 1113, or by writing to: The Information Commissioner’s Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AF