How we look after and safeguard information about you:

Our optical practices and their staff are members of your local healthcare team. 

They aim to provide you with the highest quality healthcare. To do this, they need to keep records about you, your health and the care that we have provided or plan to provide you. 

We know that you value your privacy and the security of the personal information held about you. 

Information recorded

Information recorded may include:

• Basic details about you, such as address, date of birth, next of kin;
• details of your spectacle or contact lens prescription;
• details of glasses or contact lenses supplied to you;
• other details about your health and medical treatment;
• records of medicines that you have been prescribed by your doctor;
• information relevant to your continued care from other people who care for you and know you well, such as other health professionals and relatives. 

As part of providing a professional, safe and efficient service, there is certain information that we record. This includes details about your oculat health, your general health, advice given and referrals made to other health professionals. This information will not be shared with anyone except under the circumstances described below in 'Sharing Information'. 

Sharing information

The information held about you will not be shared for any reason, unless:

• you ask us to do so
• we ask and you give us specific permission to do so;
• we are permitted by law, for example where public interest overrides the need to keep the information confidential. 

The types of people we may ask you for your permission to share information with include your doctors (GP and hospital) and other health professionals. 

Anyone who receives information from us also has a legal duty to keep this information confidential, subject to recognised exceptions of the types listed above. 

Your Rights 

You have the right to confidentiality under the Data Protection Act 1998 and the Human Rights Act 1998.