Bingham Dental complies with the Data Protection Act 1998 and the Freedom of Information Act 2000. This policy outlines our procedures for ensuring that personal information about patients is processed fairly and lawfully.

Personal Information We Hold

To provide you with high-quality dental care, we need to maintain personal information about you, including:

• Personal details: name, age, address, telephone numbers, email address, and general medical practitioner

• Past and current medical and dental conditions

• Radiographs, clinical photographs, and study models

• Information about treatments provided or proposed (and associated costs)

• Notes of conversations or incidents that may need documentation

• Records of consent to treatment

• Correspondence with other healthcare professionals, such as referrals to specialists

Maintaining comprehensive and accurate personal data is essential for delivering safe and appropriate dental care.

Processing Your Personal Data

• We will retain your dental records while you are a patient at our practice. If you leave our practice, we will continue to hold your records for at least eleven years, or until a child patient reaches the age of 25, whichever is longer.

• Personal data is stored in our computer system and/or manual filing system, accessible only to authorized staff. Our computer system features secure audit trails, and data is backed up daily.

Disclosure of Your Information

To provide proper and safe dental care, we may need to disclose your personal information to:

• Your general medical practitioner

• Hospital or community dental services

• Other health professionals involved in your care

• Dental insurance companies of which you are a member

• Private dental schemes of which you are a member

Disclosure occurs on a "need-to-know" basis, ensuring that only relevant information is shared for the purposes of your care and proper administration by government personnel bound by confidentiality rules.

In rare circumstances, or when required by law or court order, personal data may be disclosed to third parties not connected with your dental care. In other situations, disclosure not covered by this policy will only occur with your specific consent, and you will be informed of such requests when possible.

Accessing Your Data

You have the right to access the personal data we hold about you and to receive a copy. Requests for access should be made in writing. A fee of £10 applies for copied records. An additional charge of £40 applies for copying x-rays. We will provide a copy of the record within 40 days of receiving the request and fee, along with an explanation if needed.

If you move to another dental practice, we may loan original x-rays and provide copy notes to your new practice free of charge upon receiving a written request from them.

Your Rights and Preferences

If you prefer that we do not disclose or use your personal data as described in this policy, please discuss your concerns with your dentist. You have the right to object, but please note that this may impact our ability to provide you with dental care.