Privacy Notice

­­We are a Data Controller under the terms of the Data Protection Act 2017 and the requirements of the EU General Data Protection Regulation.

This Privacy Notice explains what Personal Data the practice holds, why we hold it and process it, who we might share it with, and your rights and freedoms under the Law.

 

Types of Personal Data

The practice holds personal data in the following categories:

  1. Patient clinical and health data and correspondence.
  2. Staff employment data.
  3. Contractors’ data.

 

Why we process Personal Data (what is the “purpose”)

“Process” means we obtain, store, update, and archive data

  1. Patient data is held for the purpose of providing patients with appropriate, high quality, safe and effective dental care and treatment.
  2. Staff employment data is held in accordance with Employment, Taxation and Pensions law.
  3. Contractors’ data is held for the purpose of managing their contracts.

 

What is the Lawful Basis for processing Personal Data?

The Law says we must tell you this:

  1. We hold patients’ data because it is in our legitimate interest to do so. Without holding the data, we cannot work effectively. Also, we must hold data on NHS care and treatment as it is a public task required by law.
  2. We hold staff employment data because it is a legal obligation for us to do so.
  3. We hold contractors’ data because it is needed to fulfil a contract with us.

 

Who might we share your data with?

We can only share data if it is done securely, and it is necessary to do so.

  1. Patient data may be shared with other healthcare professionals who need to be involved in your care (for example if we refer you to a specialist or need laboratory work undertaken).
  2. Patient data may also be stored for back-up purposes with our computer software suppliers who may also store it securely.
  3. Patient data may be shared within the practice with employees of Cudworth Dental Surgery who need to be involved in your care (for example a practitioner that may require a colleague’s second opinion)
  4. Patient data may be shared with parents/guardians/carers if the patient is under 16, lacks capacity or has an appointed person legally responsible for their care.
  5. Patient data may be shared with local safeguarding teams. For example, if any of our employees are concerned about the safety and/or welfare of a patient. This also applies to if a safeguarding team have issues raised relating to our patient, they reserve the right to request information from our practice.
  6. Patient data may be shared with local public services. For example, if the police have a warrant to access data that we hold on a patient at our practice, we are legally required to disclose this information.
  7. Patient data may be shared with legal professionals. For example, if a clinician at our practice receives a complaint that requires legal aid, the data we hold surrounding the complaint could be shared with the appointed solicitor.
  8. Patient data may be shared with governing bodies i.e., GDC, CQC, NHS England and RIDDOR.
  9. Patient and employee data may be shared with the local occupational health department, at their request, regarding medical histories.
  10. Patient data may be shared with our interpreting service to allow safe and effective communication between employees and patients.
  11. Patient data is shared with Denplan, who hold all data relating to former and current patients registered with Denplan.
  12. Confidential waste is handled by PHS dental waste.
  13. Patient data will be shared with an external agency to provide appointment reminders via text message, but only when consent has been provided.

 

You have the right to:

  1. Be informed about the personal data we hold and why we hold it.
  2. Access 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.
  3. Check the information we hold about you is correct and to make corrections if not
  4. Have your data erased in certain circumstances.
  5. Transfer your data to someone else if you tell us to do so and it is safe and legal to do so.
  6. Tell us not to actively process or update your data in certain circumstances.

 

How long is the Personal Data stored for?

  1. We will store patient data for as long as we are providing care, treatment or recalling patients for further care. We will archive (that is, store it without further action) for as long as is required for legal purposes as recommended by the NHS or other trusted experts recommend.
  2. We must store employment data for six years after an employee has left.
  3. We must store contractors’ data for seven years after the contract is ended.

 

National Data opt-out Policy

Cudworth Dental Surgery is one of many organisations working in the health and care system to improve care for patients and the public.

 

Whenever you use a health or care service (A&E or community care services, for example), personal information is collected and stored on your patient record to ensure that you receive the best and most appropriate care and treatment. The information collected can also be used by and provided to other organisations for purposes beyond your individual care, for example, to provide better health and care for you, your family and future generations by:

 

  • Improving the quality and standards of care provided
  • Research into the development of new treatments
  • Preventing illness and diseases
  • Monitoring safety
  • Planning services.

 

Information about your health and care is confidential and can only be used where allowed by law. Mostly, information used for research and planning is anonymised so that you cannot be identified; your confidentiality is maintained.

 

You can choose whether you want your confidential information to be used in this way. If you are happy with this use of your information, you do not need to do anything. If you wish to opt out, your confidential information will be used only to support your individual care.

 

You can register your choice and find out more at nhs.uk/your-nhs-data-matters – including

 

  • What is meant by ‘confidential patient information’
  • Examples of when confidential patient information is used for individual care and examples of when it is used for purposes beyond individual care
  • The benefits of sharing data and who uses it
  • How your data is protected
  • Situations where opt-out will not apply

 

You can change your choice at any time.

 

Your information will not be shared with insurance companies or used for marketing purposes without your specific agreement.

What if you are not happy or wish to raise a concern about our data processing?

You can complain in the first instance to our Data protection Officer:

Christine Byrom – 01226 710380

Cudworth Dental Surgery, 260 Barnsley Road, Cudworth, Barnsley, S728SU