Privacy  Notice

Invergowrie Dental Practice process personal identifiable information that relates to patients and is therefore required by law to comply with the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR). These regulations protect your privacy and ensure that your personal information is processed fairly and lawfully.

Our Data Protection Officer is Elizabeth Netto.

Our Commitment to Patients

Invergowrie Dental Practice is committed to ensuring that it complies with the GDPR and applies ethical principles to all aspects of its work. Our aim is 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 that our dental team can contact you easily;
Provide you with the best possible dental care;
Provide care for you under the NHS and enable administration of the NHS;

Our legal basis for holding this information is:

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.

How does the Practice collect personal information?

We collect personal information either directly from you or are provided with it by third parties, such as other dental or medical providers.

It is important that the personal information we hold about you in accurate and current. Please keep us information of any changes to your personal information.

What personal information is kept?

Personal information includes facts (e.g. treatment you have had) and opinions (e.g. any concerns you or your dentist might have about your dental 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;
Dental, social and medical histories (e.g. past or current medical conditions, current medication or the name of your GP);
Results of the examination of your mouth and oral health, including x-rays and clinical photographs;
Information about appointments;
Any treatment and their costs;
Any proposed care, including advice we give to you and referral you might need;
Any concerns you or your dental team might have;
Details of your consent for specific procedures; and
Correspondence with other healthcare workers that relates to your care.

How is my personal information processed?

To provide you with appropriate care, we process your personal data for the following purposes:

Your care – we keep patient records to allow us to provide appropriate dental treatment and care;

Practice administration – we will use your contact information to let you know when your next appointment is due and we will also send reminders about any appointments that you have booked.

How is my personal information shared?

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

Another dentist or health professional who is caring for you;
Your GP;
Laboratories;
NHS payment authorities;
Inland Revenue;
Benefits Agency, if you are claiming exemption or remission from NHS charges;
Private dental scheme, including insurance, if you are a member.

In these cases, only the minimum information required will be shared. In rare cases, the law requires us to pass on information to prevent serious crime or injury. Where possible, we will inform you of request to share personal information.

Storage and Retention of Personal Information

We keep patient records for adult patients for a minimum of eleven years and for child patients for either eleven years or until the child is twenty five years of age, whichever is longer. We will not keep records for longer than necessary. After they are no longer required, records will be destroyed. Personal information is stored on a secure password protected practice computer system and a manual filing system who only authorised practice staff have access to. Back-ups of these data are made daily.

Your Right to Access Personal Information

You have the right, under GDPR, to request a copy of the information held on you by our Practice. If you would like to make a information request, please ask at reception or send your request in writing to Invergowrie Dental Practice at the address listed in our Contact Us Section.

We do not charge a fee for this information, unless we deem the request to be excessive, and will respond to your request within one month of its receipt. If we refuse your request we will tell you reasons for this. You have the right to appeal to the Information Commissioner’s Office in this situation (see below for contact details).

You have the right to request correction of your information where there is an inaccuracy, request that we erase your information, object to the processing of your information or ask for the processing to be restricted. You also have the right to request the transfer of your personal information to another party, such as another dental practice. If you have concerns about the way we handle your personal information, you have the right to complain to the Information Commissioner’s Office.

Information Commissioner’s Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF
Tel: 0303 123 113
Email: mail@ico.gsi.gov.uk
Website: www.ico.org.uk

If you have a query or would like more information, please contact our receptionist via telephone or write to us.