This privacy policy sets out how Dips Dental Practice uses and protects any information that you
give when joining the practice.
The practice is committed to complying with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), the
Data Protection Act 2018, GDC, NHS and other standards.
The person responsible for Data Protection is Deepti Patel.

What type of information do we hold?

• Personal details such as your address, date of birth, phone number and email address
• This is for the provision of dental health care, providing treatment plans, estimates and
  recalls
• Details of your NHS number and entitlement to healthcare treatment and exemption status if
  applicable
• Personal details of family members or emergency contact details
• Medical history including your GP’s name and address
• Past and present dental history including x-rays and photographs
• Information about the treatment we have proposed and provided along with its price.
• Notes of conversations or incidents that might occur for which a record needs to be kept
• Records of permission or consent for treatment.
• Correspondence to other healthcare professions such as referrals
• Financial information relating to your treatment
• Details of any complaints made
  

Why do we need to keep this information?

We need to keep records of personal information regarding our patients in order to provide safe
and appropriate dental care and treatment. It is also used to maintain accurate treatment records.
We also need to process personal data about you if we are providing care under NHS
arrangements and to ensure the proper management and administration of the NHS.

Our legal basis for processing data is as follows:

• Consent
• Legitimate interest – Processing is necessary for the performance of our care for patients and
  for defence of legal claims
• Data relating to your health care records is classed as special category data. Our legal basis
  for processing this is that it falls under Legal claims or judicial acts and Health and Social
  Care (Article 9 UK GDPR (f,h)).

What do we do with your Information?

We will only share your information if it is done securely and it is necessary for us to do so.
Your personal information may be securely shared with other healthcare professionals who need to
be involved in your care (for example if we refer you to a specialist, need laboratory work
undertaken or need to consult with your doctor).

We may also share your personal information securely to third parties where we are required by
law or regulation to do so. This may include:

• The General Dental Council
• The CQC/HIW/HIS/RQIA
• Dental payment plans or insurers
• NHS Bodies if NHS dental care and treatment is provided

How do we store your Information?

Your Information is stored securely at the practice in paper form and on protected computer
systems. Computer information is backed up regularly and may be securely stored away from
our premises.

Retention periods

• We are required to retain your dental records, X-rays and study models while you are a
  patient of this practice and after you cease to be a patient for a minimum of 15 years (11
  years for Wales and Scotland).
• There are several other documents that we may collect that have a variety of retention dates,
  for example, the NHS PR form – used to declare payment exemptions – which needs to be
  kept for 2 years minimum. We have a retention schedule listing all documents and the
  timeframes for disposal. Retention periods may be changed from time to time based on
  business or legal and regulatory requirements.

Your rights under GDPR

Access
You have a right to access the information that we hold about you and to receive a copy. You can
make a request by contacting your practice or by e-mailing at [email protected]

Rectification
You have a right to correct any information that you believe is inaccurate or incomplete. Please
contact your practice to request a change in information.

Erasure
You have a right to request that we delete your personal information, although you should be
aware that, for legal reasons, we may be unable to erase certain information (for example,
information about your dental treatment). Please contact your practice to make this request.

Restriction
You have the right to request us to restrict the processing of your personal information for example,
sending you reminders for appointments or information about our service. Please contact your
practice to make this request.

Portability
You have a right to data portability; this could include supplying your information to another dentist.
Please contact your practice to make this request.

Concerns

If you have any concerns about how we use your information and you do not feel able to discuss it
with your dentist or anyone at the practice, you can contact our Data Protection Officer via email at
[email protected]
You can also seek advice from The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), Wycliffe House,
Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire SK9 5AF, or start a live chat or call helpline on 0303 123 1113.

Privacy notice for Children

What type of information do we hold?

• Personal details such as your address, date of birth, phone number and email address – This
  is for the provision of dental health care, providing treatment plans and recalls.
• Personal details of family members or emergency contact details
• Medical history including your GP’s name and address
• Information about the treatment we have proposed and provided
• Notes of conversations or incidents that might occur for which a record needs to be kept
• Correspondence to other healthcare professions such as referrals

Why do we need to keep this information?

We need to keep records of personal information regarding our patients in order to provide safe
and appropriate dental care and treatment. It is also used to maintain accurate treatment records.

We also need to process personal data about you if we are providing care under NHS
arrangements and to ensure the proper management and administration of the NHS.

What do we do with your Information?

We will only share your personal information to another dentist or doctor, such as for an orthodontic
referral. We will not share your personal information to anyone else unless needed for legal
reasons.

How do we store your Information?

Your Information is stored securely at the practice in paper form and on protected computer
systems. Computer information is backed up regularly and may be securely stored away from our
premises.

Retention periods

For children – we will retain your dental records for 15 years (11 years in Wales and Scotland) or
until they reach the age of 25 (whichever is longer).

Concerns

If you have any concerns about how we use your information and you do not feel able to discuss it
with your dentist or anyone at the practice, you can contact our Data Protection Officer via email at
You can also seek advice from The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), Wycliffe House,
Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire SK9 5AF, or start a live chat or call helpline on 0303 123 1113.

Approved By: DEEPTI PATEL, KETAN PATEL
Date Published: 10/05/2023