Guide to the information published by Bristol Orthodontics

This is a guide to the information published by each of the NHS Orthodontists at Bristol Orthodontics. This guide is the Orthodontists Publication Scheme as required by the Freedom of Information Act 2000.  

The Orthodontists are: Darren Hills, Peter Thomas, David Alsop,  Claudia Richard, Romola Blunden, Caroline Mwangi, Lisa Hichens, Heidi Rowland, Bethan Lewis.

Introduction

This Publication Scheme is a complete guide to the information routinely made available to the public by the Orthodontists at Bristol Orthodontics. It is not a complete list of publications since this will change as other things are produced, but it is a description of the classes of information that we provide. A full list of publications is available by contacting the Practice Manager who is responsible for our scheme.

This guide will be reviewed at regular intervals and we will monitor its effectiveness.

How much do they cost?

 All publications are free unless otherwise stated.

How are they published?

Much of the information is downloadable from the practice website. It is also available in hard copy from the Practice Manager.

Your right to information

As well as our published information, present and former patients of the practice have the right to access the personal information that we hold about them in accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998. Details of how to do this is contained in the Practice Data Protection Policy which is available from reception or the Practice Manager.

Feedback

We have produced this guide in order to comply with the Freedom of Information Act 2000. The purpose of the Act is to encourage organizations working for the public to be more open about the information they have. We welcome your views on additional classes of information which might be included and on the publications themselves. If you have any comments or suggestions about the scheme, please send them in writing to:

Bristol Orthodontics, 15 Great George Street, Bristol, BS1 5RR
ggsoc@bristolorthodontics.com

Bristol Orthodontics, 63 High Street, Kingswood, Bristol, BS15 4AD
koc@bristolorthodontics.com

Classes of information

We hold various types of information which we review, retain or dispose of according to NHS rules. Our information is classed into seven categories:

1. Who we are
2. Our services
3. Financial information
4. Information for patients and the public
5. Complaints
6. Our policies and procedures
7. This guide

Class 1: Who we are

Details of all the Orthodontists and dental hygienists are contained on our practice website. Details include name, sex and date of first registration with the General Dental Council, specialist status and whether they are full or part time. The name of the practice manager is also included.

Class 2: Our services

Information about our services is contained on our website and also in the practice’s patient information leaflet which is available at Reception. The information includes:

• Opening times
• Arrangements for emergency care
• Details of access to the premises for people with disabilities
• Our dental hygienist
• Information about the care and treatment provided by the practice

We offer NHS and private care to children but adult patients are only treated privately.

Class 3: Financial information

We have information about:

• The cost of NHS treatment
• Entitlement to exemption and remission from NHS dental charges
• Our private charges

Our income from the NHS derives primarily from monthly fees for individual items of treatment. There are also some allowances for such things as continuing professional development and the level of our commitment to the NHS.

Class 4: Information for patients and the public

We make available information leaflets about:

• The types of orthodontic treatment we provide
• How to care for every type of appliance we fit
• Dental extractions in relation to orthodontic treatment
• A healthy diet in relation to orthodontic treatment
• NHS information leaflets

Copies of leaflets are available from Reception.

Class 5: Complaints

We have a practice complaints procedure, a copy of which is available from reception or the Practice Manager.

Class 6: Practice policies

We have policies and procedures which ensure that the practice operates in a safe and efficient manner. These include:

• Data protection
• Data security
• Confidentiality
• Health and Safety
• Radiation protection
• Infection control
• Payments policy
• Equal opportunities

Copies of the policies are available from Reception or the Practice Manager.

Class 7: This guide

This guide will be reviewed regularly and we will also keep the list of publications up to date.

From January 2005 we will be required by the Freedom of Information Act to respond to requests from the public to access recorded information that we hold. There are some exemptions to this right and it does not change the rights of our patients to have all of their personal information kept strictly confidential and available to them on request.

Further information

Further information on the Freedom of Information Act is available from the following websites:

www.informationcommissioner.gov.uk
www.led.gov.uk
www.foi-uk.org
www.foi.nhs.uk/practice