The General Data Protection Guidelines 2018 established a framework of rights and duties to safeguard personal information and balance the legitimate needs of organisations to collect and use personal information again the right of individuals to have the privacy of their personal details respected.

Data protection principles:

The data protection principles require personal information to be

Processed fairly and lawfully

To be processed fairly, we provide every individual a Privacy Notice explaining why we are collecting the information and what we intend to use it for.

Collected for specified, explicit and legitimate purposes

To provide you with the dental care and treatment that you need, we require up-to-date and accurate information about you.

Adequate, relevant and not excessive

We only collect information on a need to know basis

Accurate and, where necessary, kept up to date

In order to keep your information accurate and up to date, we ask you to fill in a Medical Questionnaire on a yearly basis.

Kept for no longer than necessary

We keep your records for 10 years after the date of your last visit to the Practice or until you reach the age of 25 years, whichever is the longer.

Kept secure

We store your personal information securely on our practice computer system. Your information cannot be accessed by those who do not work at the practice; only those working at the practice have access to your information.

Those at the practice who have access to your information include dentists and other dental professionals involved with your care and treatment, and the reception staff and Practice manager responsible for the management and administration of the practice. They understand their legal responsibility to maintain confidentiality and follow practice procedures to ensure this.

Access to your information

You have a right to access the information that we hold about you and to receive a copy. You should submit your request to the practice in writing or by email. We do not usually charge you for copies of your information; if we pass on a charge, we will explain the reasons.