Data Protection

Personal Data We Hold

In order to provide you with a high standard of dental care, we need to hold personal information about you. This personal data comprises:

• Personal details such as your name, age, address, telephone numbers, email address and your general medical practitioner
• Your past and current medical and dental condition
• Radiographs, clinical photographs and study models
• Information about the treatment we have provided or propose to provide, 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 healthcare professionals, such as referrals to specialists

How We Store and Retain Your Data

Personal data about you is held in the practice's computer system and/or in a manual filing system. The information is not accessible to the public and only authorised members of staff have access to it. Our computer system has secure audit trails and we back up information on every working day.

We will retain your dental records while you are a practice patient. If you cease to be a patient, we will continue to hold them for at least another eleven years, or in the case of children until they reach the age of 25, whichever is the longer.

Who We Share Your Data With

In order to provide proper and safe dental care, we may need to disclose personal information about you to:

• Your general medical practitioner
• The hospital or community dental services
• Other health professionals caring for you
• Dental insurance companies of which you are a member
• Private dental schemes of which you are a member

Disclosure will take place on a “need-to-know” basis only. In very limited circumstances or when required by law, personal data may have to be disclosed to a third party not connected with your dental care.

Accessing Your Records

You have the right to access the data that we hold about you and to receive a copy. Access may be obtained by making a request in writing. We will levy a fee of £10 for records that are copied. If a request is made to copy X-rays, an extra charge of £40 will be made. We will provide a copy of the record within 40 days of receipt of the request and fee.

Your Right to Object

If you do not wish personal data we hold about you to be disclosed or used in the way described in this Policy, please discuss the matter with your dentist. You have the right to object, but please be aware that this may affect our ability to provide you with dental care.