Data Protection Policy
Long Lane Dental complies with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018. This policy describes our procedures for ensuring that personal information about patients is processed fairly, lawfully, and transparently.
The Personal Data We Hold
To provide you with a high standard of dental care, we need to hold personal information about you. This personal data comprises:
Personal details such as your name, date of birth, address, telephone numbers, and email address.
Your past and current medical and dental condition; details of your general medical practitioner (GP).
Radiographs (X-rays), clinical photographs, and study models.
Information about the treatment we have provided or propose to provide (including its cost).
Notes of conversations or incidents that might occur for which a record needs to be kept.
Records of your consent to treatment.
Any correspondence with other healthcare professionals, such as referrals to specialists.
We need to keep comprehensive and accurate personal data to provide you with safe and appropriate dental care.
How We Process and Protect Your Data
Retention: We will retain your dental records while you are a practice patient. If you cease to be a patient, we will continue to hold them for at least another 11 years, or for children until they reach the age of 25, whichever is longer.
Security: Your personal data is held in the practice’s computer system and/or in a secure manual filing system. The information is not accessible to the public; only authorised members of staff have access to it. Our computer system has secure audit trails, and we have robust procedures to protect your information, including daily data backups.
Disclosing Your Personal Information
To provide proper and safe dental care, we may need to disclose relevant personal information about you to:
Your general medical practitioner (GP).
Hospital or community dental services.
Other health professionals caring for you (e.g., specialists).
Dental insurance companies or private dental schemes of which you are a member.
Disclosure will take place on a strict “need-to-know” basis. The recipient will only be given the information they need to know for your care or the proper administration of your healthcare.
In very limited circumstances or when required by law or a court order, personal data may have to be disclosed to a third party not connected with your dental care. In all other situations, disclosure that is not covered by this policy will only occur when we have your specific consent. Where possible, you will be informed of any requests for disclosure.
Your Rights
You have the right to access the data we hold about you and to receive a copy. Access may be obtained by making a written request. A fee may be charged for this service to cover administrative costs. We will provide a copy of the record within one month of receipt of the request and any applicable fee. We will also provide an explanation of your record should you require it.
If you move to another dental practice, we will, upon receipt of a written request from your new dentist, provide a copy of your notes and radiographs to them free of charge.
If you do not wish personal data we hold about you to be disclosed or used in the way described in this policy, please discuss the matter with your dentist. You have the right to object, but please be aware that this may affect our ability to provide you with safe dental care.
Contact Us
For any questions regarding this policy or how we handle your data, please contact us at:
The Practice Manager
Long Lane Dental
176 Wilmslow Road
Heald Green
Cheadle
Cheshire
SK8 3BG
Tel: 0161 437 1594
Email: info@longlanedental.co.uk
You also have the right to raise any concerns with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), the UK regulator for data protection issues (www.ico.org.uk).