Data Protection
Data Protection has been obtained so that any personal data processed by the practice, such as Staff Administration; Accounts; Records and Health Administration, is controlled within the Data protection Guidelines.
Your Rights, Our Responsibilities
It is not possible to provide the best possible standard of care without keeping information about you. This will include your name, address, date of birth and detail about your examinations. This information is held solely for the purposes of caring for your eyesight. These records are stored both on paper and on computer.
We have a legal responsibility to keep confidential all of the information held about you. The obligations that the practice has, together with the rights that every individual enjoys, are set out in the Data Protection Act 1998.
- Information about you may need to be shared with others involved in your care from time to time. The sharing of medical information is specifically covered by the Act. It says that the sharing of sensitive, patient related, information is permissible provided that it is processed by:
- A health professional - i.e. one of the practice's optometrists or dispensing opticians.
- A person who, though not a health professional, has responsibility to preserve confidentiality - i.e. one of the receptionists.
- This condition will always be met by our services.
You do have the right to prevent processing and sharing of your information. However, those involved in your care may encounter difficulties and delays if they are unable to share important information.
- Your Rights
The Data Protection Act 1998 gives every individual a number of rights. In brief, you have the right to:
Access information held about you - please note: In accordance with the Act a fee may be charged for this service.
Prevent processing of information likely to cause distress.
Prevent use of information about you for direct marketing.
Correct an inaccurate record.
Seek compensation if you suffer damage.
Have an assessment made if you think the Act has been contravened.
We undertake to respect these rights.- Our Responsibilities
The Data Protection Act 1998 imposes a number of obligations on our services. In brief, these are:
Information about you will be processed fairly and lawfully.
Information will be used solely for planning and delivering your care and will not be used in an inappropriate way.
The information recorded about you will be adequate and relevant, but not excessive.
The information will be accurate and up to date.
Information will be kept no longer than necessary.
All of the information will be processed within the service and in accordance with your rights.
We will take all necessary measures to prevent unlawful processing, accidental loss, damage or destruction
Information will not be transferred to a country outside of the European Economic Area, unless the country provides adequate protection of your rights as regards the processing of information
We undertake to fulfil these obligations.