Freedom of Information

Paul Whiteman Optometrists Publication Scheme

Welcome to the Publication Scheme for Paul Whiteman Optometrists as required by the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

Introduction

This Publication Scheme is a complete guide to the information routinely made available to the public by Paul Whiteman Optometrists. It is a description of the information about our NHS services that we make publicly available. It will be reviewed at regular intervals and we will monitor its effectiveness.

How much does it cost?

Paper copies of the Publication Scheme are free unless as otherwise indicated in Class 7.

How the information is made available?

The information within each Class is available in paper copy from: 20, Church Street. Reigate. Surrey. RH2 0AN.

Your Rights to Information

The Freedom of Information Act 2000 is designed to promote openness and accountability amongst all organisations that receive public money. From January 1st 2005 it will oblige opticians’ and optometrists’ practices to respond to requests about the NHS related information that it holds, and it will create a right of access to that information. These rights are subject to some exemptions that have to be taken into consideration before releasing information. In addition to accessing the information identified in the publication scheme, you are entitled to request information about our NHS services under the NHS Openness Code 1995. New environmental information regulations may be introduced as early as 2003. These will enable similar access to environmental information as under the Freedom of Information Act 2000. Under the Data Protection Act 1998, you are also entitled to access your clinical records or any other personal information held about you and you can contact any practice where your records are held to do this.

Feedback

If you have any comments about the operation of the Publication Scheme, or how we have dealt with your request for information from the scheme, please write to: Paul Whiteman, Paul Whiteman Optometrists, 20, Church Street. Reigate. Surrey. RH2 0AN.

Classes of Information

All NHS information at Paul Whiteman Optometrists is held, retained and destroyed within NHS guidelines. Our commitment to publish information excludes any information that can be legitimately withheld under the exemptions set out in the NHS Openness Code or Freedom of Information Act 2000. From 2005, individual Classes are subject to exemptions, the main reasons being the protection of commercial interests and personal information under the Data Protection Act 1998. This Scheme had been written in accordance with those exemptions. The information on this Scheme is grouped into the following categories:

1. Who we are

  1. Paul Whiteman Optometrists were established in Reigate in 1986. They are independent optometrists offering NHS, private and corporate eye care services.

  2. Our practice address is 20, Church Street. Reigate. Surrey. RH2 0AN.

  3. Details of all the Opticians and Optometrists employed in our practice can be obtained by contacting our practice directly.

  4. Alternatively, details of all opticians and optometrists registered in the UK are available from the General Optical Council via their website: www.optical.org or Tel: 0207 580 3898.

2. Our services

Paul Whiteman Optometrists provide free NHS eye tests for those who are eligible. You may also be entitled to a voucher that can be used against the purchase of glasses or contact lenses if you require them. To find out if you are eligible for a free eye examination and/or an NHS voucher you can ask for details at our practice or contact NHS Direct on 0845 4647 or via the website www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk.

Appointments for eye tests can be booked over the phone, or by visiting our practice at 20, Church Street. Reigate. Surrey. RH2 0AN. Tel. 01737 223202.

Our opening times are displayed on the Contact Menue of our website. 

3. Financial and funding information

For every eye test performed on behalf of the NHS our practice receives a set fee of £21.31. This covers expenses such as optometrist and staff salaries, equipment costs and other practice overheads.

If you are not eligible for the NHS eye test, please contact our practice for details of our current charges.

4. Regular publications and information for the public

A complete set of information about optical and eye conditions, eye tests, glasses, and contact lenses and can be found on a number of web sites including www.college-optometrists.org/en/laye/

Further information is also available in patient leaflets. These are freely available from our practice. To request a set of leaflets by post, please write to: Practice Information Service, Paul Whiteman Optometrists, 20, Church Street. Reigate. Surrey. RH2 0AN.

5. Complaints

If you have a complaint about any of our products or services, we recommended that you first discuss any problems with our practice manager- Mr G Crone, 20 Church Street, Reigate, Surrey. RH2 0AN. Alternatively, you can contact your local Primary Care Trust (PCT). Your complaint will be acknowledged within 3 days and you will receive an estimate of how long any investigation of your complaint is likely to take and an offer of a discussion about this period.

If your complaint relates to your eye examination and you are not happy with how your complaint has been handled either by us or by your local PCT, you will be advised of your right to take your complaint to the Health Service Commissioner (Ombudsman). If your complaint relates to your spectacles or contact lenses you can contact the Optical Complaints Consumer Service, PO Box 219, Petersfield, Hants GU32 9BY.

6. Our policies and procedures

Details of our policies and procedures on the following subjects are available on request from 20, Church Street. Reigate. Surrey. RH2 0AN.

  1. Complaints

  2. Data protection

  3. Health and safety

7. This publication scheme

Any changes to the publication scheme and any proposed changes or additions to publications already available will be published in this class.

8. Cost of Information

Paul Whiteman Optometrists will only charge for multiple printed copies of the Publication Scheme, or for supplying on alternative media. Charges are as follows and will be reviewed regularly:-

Single printed copies – free of charge

Multiple printed copies, copies on alternative media and archived copies will attract a charge for incidental costs such as materials, photocopying and postage. We will inform you of the cost of the charges that will have to be paid in advance.

USEFUL RESOURCES

Websites:

  1. Information Commissioner www.informationcommissioner.gov.uk

  2. Lord Chancellor’s Department www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-archive/lcdcom/

  3. NHS Freedom of Information www.ic.nhs.uk/data-protection/freedom-of-information-foi

Publications

  1. NHS Openness Code www.cfoi.org.uk/nhscoptext.html

  2. Freedom of Information Act 2000 www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2000/36/contents

Copyright:

Material available through this publication scheme is copyright unless otherwise indicated. Unless expressly indicated to the contrary, it may be reproduced free of charge in any format or medium, provided it is done so accurately in a manner that will not mislead. Where items are re-published or copied to others, you must identify the source and acknowledge copyright status. This permit does not extend to third party material, accessed through the Scheme. For HMSO Guidance notes see www.hmso.gov.uk/guides.htm