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Legal Notices

Cookie Policy
Freedom of Information Act Statement
Data Protection Policy and procedure

Cookie Policy

Cookies are tiny text files stored on your computer when you visit certain web pages. If you’re happy for us to use cookies as described below, all you have to do is continue to use our websites as normal. If you would like to block cookies, please read on to find out how to do this.

Here are the names of the cookies that we use on our websites:

Google tools: GA and Maps

Managing cookies

If you would like to block the cookies that are used by our websites, or other websites, you can do this through your browser settings. The Help function within your browser should tell you how. This handy website contains comprehensive information on how to do this on a wide variety of browsers. You will also find details on how to delete cookies from your computer as well as more general information about them. To find out how to do this on the browser of your mobile phone you will need to refer to your handset manual. This may mean you will not experience our website in its full glory.

Freedom of Information Act Statement

This document complies with the requirements of the Information Commissioner’s Model Publication Scheme for Burgess Opticians in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and fulfils the obligations on opticians’ practices under the Act.

Introduction

This is a complete guide to the information routinely made available to the public by A C Optics. It is a description of the information about our NHS services that we make publicly available. It will be reviewed at regular intervals.

This guide information

We will publish any changes we make to this guide or relevant information. We will also publish any proposed changes or additions to publications already available.

As the Freedom of Information Act applies to the provision of information, a request for multiple hard copies does not fall within the provisions of the Act and will attract a charge for retrieval, photocopying and postage. We will inform you of the cost of these charges that will have to be paid in advance. E-mail will be free of charge.

Classes of Information

All NHS information at Burgess Opticians is held, retained and destroyed within NHS guidelines. Our commitment to publish information excludes any information that can be legitimately withheld under the exemptions set out in the NHS Openness Code or Freedom of Information Act 2000, the main reasons being the protection of commercial interests and personal information under the Data Protection Act 1998. This scheme has been written in accordance with those exemptions. The information on this Scheme is grouped into the following categories:

Who we are and what we do

1) Burgess Opticians is an independent optician who has been providing optical healthcare services since 1979. Our philosophy has always been to provide a high quality, clinically biased service and our continued investment in new technology and training brings us ever closer to achieving our goals.

Details of the optometrists we employ can be found in the practice or can be obtained by contacting the practice directly. Alternatively details of all opticians and optometrists registered in the UK are available from the General Optical Council telephone 020 7580 3898 or via their website

2) Financial and funding information: what we spend and how we spend it

For every sight test performed on behalf of the NHS the practice receives a set fee, which is fixed nationally. Some of our practices also carry out the following enhanced services on behalf of the NHS: IOP Referral Refinement Service, Diabetic Retinal Screening, Glaucoma screening. The fees paid by the NHS for each service are available from the practice on request. They include a contribution towards optometrists’ and staff salaries, equipment costs and other practice overheads. Information in this class will be published only where it is unlikely adversely to affect the commercial position of the firm or practice

3)Our Priorities

To provide our patients with high quality optical healthcare

4)Decision Making

Any decisions made about the provision of NHS-funded services will be reflected in the services we provide and in the contract(s) held with the NHS.

Complaints

If you have a complaint about any of our products or services, please initially discuss this with the Team Leader at the practice concerned. We find that most issues can be put right at this stage. If the matter cannot be resolved or you are unsatisfied with the response you receive please contact via e-mail . A full copy of our complaints policy is available on request.

6)Lists and Registers

We don’t keep lists and registers. Our patient records are confidential.

7)The Services We Offer

The practice provides NHS-funded sight tests for those who are eligible. Patients may also be entitled to NHS vouchers that can be used against the purchase of spectacles or contact lenses as required.

Appointments for sight tests can be booked over the phone, or by dropping into the practice/one of our practices.

Useful Resources

Websites:

Information Commissioner

Ministry of Justice

Publications:

NHS Openness Code

Freedom of Information Act 2000

Copyright:

All content used on this site is copyrighted unless otherwise indicated. Unless expressly indicated to the contrary, content cannot not be copied or reproduced in any format or medium. Imagery is either copyrighted by us, royalty paid for and licenced through or used under licence courteously of one of our suppliers.

General Data Protection Regulations

As healthcare providers we are required to process and retain a certain amount of essential data about you in relation to providing legitimate optical healthcare, NHS healthcare and related services to you.

This data can include your name, address, date of birth, contact details, payment information and clinical information relating to your general health, ocular health, your spectacle and /or contact lens prescription, imaging, scans and copies of any letters we have written about you or received from other professionals, such as your doctor or a hospital consultant.

How do we process your data?

Your data is used by us to provide optical healthcare services to you either directly or as part of an NHS funded service. This data is generally retained by us for as long as is reasonably necessary (or as defined under applicable healthcare laws, regulations, legal and regulatory requirements) to provide follow-up services, aftercare and repeat services and/or supply of optical products.

Within our practices we may use your personal information to analyse trends, or to audit our performance. This enables us to monitor and improve the quality of care that we offer you. We will only analyse trends from anonymised information.

Your data may also be used to send you information about healthcare services, optical products and special offers from us that we think you may be interested in. Prior to May 25th 2018 you would have needed to Opt-Out of receiving such information. From May 25th 2018, for all newly registered patients, you will need to Opt-In to receive such information. Existing patients will be asked at their next visit to confirm their preferences. You can amend your communication preferences at any time by contacting your practice.

Who do we share your data with?

We will only share your personal information with a third party when it relates to the legitimate provision of optical healthcare such as providing NHS funded services, referrals to and from: your GP, hospital eyecare service or a private medical practitioner that you have given us authority to contact. We will not pass any of your personal information to any other third party without your consent unless there is a clear public interest duty to do so. You will need to provide us with your consent if you wish us to pass any of your personal information to another Optometrist.

If you are an NHS patient, we are obliged to provide the portion of your personal information that relates to NHS services to authorised persons within the NHS (who are in turn subject to a duty of confidentiality) if they request this. This is usually to confirm that we have provided the NHS services that we have been paid for, and to improve quality of care. It is also possible that the NHS may contact you to ask if you have received services (such as a sight test or spectacles) as part of this monitoring.

Who else might handle your data?

As defined under applicable healthcare laws, regulations, legal and regulatory requirements, back-ups of your personal information are retained and securely stored off-site using a number of specialist contractors who do not have direct access to your personal information. We take all reasonable steps to ensure these contractors meet or exceed EEA data protection laws. Where you have Opted-In to receive information about healthcare services, optical products and special offers from us, we may use external direct-mail or email specialists to handle bulk correspondence on our behalf. Where these specialists fall outside of the EEA, we take all necessary steps to ensure they fully comply with local data protection laws that meet or exceed GDPR.

How do I update or amend my personal data?

If you would like to amend the personal information that we hold about you, please get in touch with your practice.

What rights do I have?

Under GDPR you have the following rights:

1) To access the personal information, we hold about you (we may charge a fee where we are permitted to do so by law)

2) All personal information we hold about you is accurate and up-to-date

3) Have your personal information erased (except where it conflicts with healthcare laws, regulations, legal and regulatory requirements)

4) Restrict how we process your personal information

5) Object about how we process your personal information

6) Not to be subject to decision-making based on automated profiling

If you would like a copy of the personal information, we hold about you please contact the practice directly we will respond as quickly as possible to you request.

Important Notice – Prescriptions

Following an Eye Examination (or on completion of a contact lens fitting) patients will be given a copy of their prescription (specification). Should either of these documents be misplaced or a duplicate required, a copy may be obtained by collecting it in person from the relevant practice. For the safeguard of our patients the following should be noted: The document will need to be signed by the prescribing Optician. If he or she is not be available there may be a delay until the Optician is next in the practice.

Details will not be given out over the phone; this is both for security and the elimination of transcription errors.

Under no circumstances will patient details be given out to a 3rd party unless under strict written authorization from the patient concerned.