N I X O N & S H AW O P T I C I A N S : O U R P R I VA C Y P O L I C Y

Updated 1st June 2024 From 25 May 2018 the changes in the Data Protection Law gave you control over how we use and process your personal information. We do not use cookies on our website.

WHAT INFORMATION IS HELD ABOUT YOU

We hold the following information about you:  Your name, contact details and personal identifiers (such as date of birth and NHS number)  Your general and ocular health history, your family medical and ocular history, and any relevant signs or symptoms you tell us about  Details of medicines, spectacles and contact lenses prescribed for you  Details of examinations and other healthcare checks and treatments we provide such as OCT scans and Visual Fields  Information relevant to your continued care from other people who care for you or know you well, such as other health professionals and relatives Note: Telephone calls between patients and providers are not recorded, but may be noted if deemed necessary.

WHERE YOUR DATA IS HELD

Your data is held securely in the practice and is not shared with a third party without your prior consent except in the following circumstances  If you are an NHS patient, we are obliged to provide your record to authorised persons within the NHS (who are in turn subject to a duty of confidentiality) if they request this. This is usually to confirm that we have provided the NHS services that have been paid for, and to improve quality of care.  We may pass personal information to external agencies and organisations, including the police and other law enforcement agencies, for the prevention and detection of fraud (including fraudulent transactions) and criminal activity. These external agencies may check the information we give them against public and private databases and may keep a record of such checks to use in future security checks.  We pass on personal information onto our insurers if a claim is made against us or could be made against us.

HOW YOUR DATA IS USED

Your eyecare  Reminding you when your next appointment is due  Providing products and services/advising of new products and services that we think will be of interest to you  Responding to queries from you.

HOW LONG WE KEEP YOUR DATA

Data is retained only for as long as is reasonably necessary. Record retention follows the guidelines produced by the General Optical Council.

HOW TO AMEND YOUR PERSONAL DATA

You can amend or update personal information by emailing, telephoning or calling into the practice.

YOUR PERSONAL DATA AND THE INTERNET.

Personal information that you submit for publication on the website will be published on the internet and may be available, via the internet, around the world. We cannot prevent the use or misuse of such information by others. You expressly agree to such transfers of personal information.

SECURITY OF YOUR PERSONAL DATA.

We will take reasonable technical and organisational precautions to prevent the loss, misuse or alteration of your personal information.

YOUR RIGHTS. 

You have the right to be informed - we collect your data when you visit us for an eye examination, or for other professional services. We store the data securely, and we do not share it with any third parties, unless it is with your consent, such as for referral to another medical professional. We only keep your data as long as it is necessary - within guidelines produced by the General Optical Council.  You have the right of access - you can ask to see your data at any time.  You have the right of rectification - you can update it if you wish.  You have the right to erasure - within our professional guidelines we can remove data at your request.  You have the right to restrict processing - you can limit the way in which we use your data.  You have the right of data portability - you can request a copy of all your personal data, and we have a month to comply with your request. The first copy is free of charge but any subsequent copies will cost £10 per copy.  You have the right to object - you can object, at any time, to the processing of your personal data. Here at Nixon & Shaw Opticians, we are fully committed to your privacy, the security of your data and to upholding your rights as listed above.

If you have any questions, please email rachel.bull@nixonshaw.co.uk and we will try to help.