Privacy Policy for Patients

Aves Optometrists processes personal information that relates to patients and is therefore required by law to comply with the Data Protection Act 2018 (DPA), which protects your privacy and ensures that your personal information is processed fairly and lawfully.

Our Commitment to Patients

Aves Optometrists is committed to ensuring that it complies with the DPA and applies ethical principles to all aspects of its work to protect the interests of patients and maintain the confidentiality and security of any personal information held in any form by the practice.

Why Does the Practice Hold Personal Information About Me?

We keep information about you to:

• ensure the optical team can contact you easily;
• provide you with the best possible optical care;
• provide care for you under the NHS and enable administration of the NHS.

What Personal Information is Kept?

Personal information includes facts ( e.g. treatment you have had) and opinions ( e.g. any concerns you or your optician might have about your eye health). To provide the best possible care for you, accurate and comprehensive personal information is required. The following records are kept and updated regularly:

• personal information and contact details, including your name, address and date of birth;
• Social and medical histories ( e.g. past or current medical conditions, current medication, the name of your GP);
• results of the examination of your eyes and eye health, including eye scans and clinical photographs;
• information about appointments;
• any treatments and their costs;
• any proposed care, including advice we give to you and referrals you might need;
• any concerns you or your optical team might have;
• details of your consent for specific procedures;
• correspondence with other healthcare workers that relates to your care.

How is My Personal Information Processed?

Sharing Relevant Information

To provide you with appropriate care, we might need to share personal data with:

• another Optician/Optometrist or another health professional who is caring for you;
• your GP;
• a laboratory;
• NHS payment authorities;
• the Inland Revenue;
• the Benefits Agency, if you are claiming exemption or remission from NHS charges;
• a private eyecare scheme, if you are a member.

In these cases, only the minimum information required will be shared. You have the right to not have this information shared with other healthcare providers, please advise us by contacting the partners (MaryBramley/ Wendy d’E Vallancey) at the practice. Rarely, the law requires us to pass on information to prevent serious crime or injury. Where possible, we will inform you of requests to share personal information.

Storage and Retention of Personal Information

We keep patient records for adult patients for a minimum of 10 years and for child patients until their 25th birthday.

We will not keep records for longer than necessary and after they are no longer required, records will be incinerated or shredded.

Personal information is stored on a secure password-protected practice computer system and a manual filing system; only authorised practice staff have access to these systems. Back-ups of these data are made regularly, in line with the DPA.

Your Right to Access Personal Information

You have the right, under the DPA, to request a copy of the information held on you by our Practice. If you would like to make a request, please send this in writing to the Mary Bramley/Wendy d’E Vallancey at the address below:
Aves Optometrists, 61 High Street, Ware, SG12 9AD

We do not charge a fee for this information, and will respond to your request within one month of its receipt.

If you have a query or would like more information, please contact our receptionist on 01920462751 or write to Mary Bramley or Wendy d’E Vallancey at the address above.