GDPR

Data Protection Code of Practice
INFORMATION FOR PATIENTS AND STAFF MEMBERS
We will keep your records secure

 

This practice complies with the Data Protection Act (1998) and General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) 2018. This means that we will ensure that your information is processed fairly and lawfully.

 

What personal information do we hold?
Your past and current medical and dental condition; personal details such as your age, national insurance number/NHS number, address, telephone number and your general medical practitioner
Radiographs, clinical photographs and study models
Information about the treatment that we have provided or propose and its cost
Notes of conversations or incidents that might occur for which a record needs to be kept
Records of consent to treatment
Any correspondence relating to you with other health care professionals, e.g hospital or community services.
Employment/Training records
EDBS Disclosure Numbers

Why do we hold this information? 
We need to keep accurate personal data about patients and staff member in order to provide you with safe and appropriate dental care and services. We also need to process personal data about you if we are providing care under NHS arrangements and to ensure the proper management and administration of the NHS.

 

Retaining information
We are required to retain your dental records, X rays and study models while you are a patient or staff member of this practice and after you cease to be a patient/employee, for at least eleven years, or for children until age 25, whichever is the longer. For staff members we need to keep records for up to 5 years.

 

Security 
Your information is held in the Practice’s computer system. The information is only accessible to authorised team members and Care Quality Commission Inspectors. Our computer system has been secured with audit trails and information is regularly backed up to ensure it is not lost.

We may need to disclose your information
In order to provide proper and safe dental care to:
Your general medical practitioner
The hospital or community dental services
Other health professionals caring for you
NHS payment authorities
The Inland Revenue
The Benefits Agency, where you are claiming exemption or remission from NHS charges
Private dental schemes of which you are a member.
Disclosure will take place on a ‘need-to-know’ basis, so that only those individuals/organisations who need to know in order to provide care to you and for the proper administration of Government (whose personnel are covered by strict confidentiality rules) will be given the information. Only that information that the recipient needs to know will be disclosed.
In very limited circumstances or when required by law or a court order, personal data may have to be disclosed to a third party not connected with your health care. In all other situations, disclosure that is not covered by this Code of Practice will only occur when we have your specific consent. Where possible you will be informed of these requests for disclosure.

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John-James Colvin, Practice Manager, Data Protection Officer for Bellsquarry Dentistry
Updated Feb, 2020

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