This is a guide to the information published by each of the NHS dentists at the Bayhead Dental Practice.  This guide is the dentists’ Publication Scheme as required by the Freedom of Information ( Scotland ) Act 2002. The Scheme applies to each dentist individually.

The dentists are :           Mr. Kenneth N. MacDonald BDS DGDP

                                    Mr Peter Hobson BDS

As providers of NHS services under the General Dental Services Regulations (as well as private care), the dentists are public authorities under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 and are required to adopt and maintain a scheme of the information we publish. The purpose of the Act is to ensure that organisations working for the public are more open about the information they have.

 The dentists at the practice have regard to the public interest in the information that it makes available. We are committed to openness and transparency.

 From 1^st January 2005 we will be required by the Freedom of Information ( Scotland ) Act 2002 to respond to requests from the public to access recorded information that we hold about our NHS services. There are some exemptions to this right and it does not change the rights of our patients to have all of heir personal information kept strictly confidential and available to them on request under the Data Protection Act 1998.                                 

Introduction

This Publication Scheme is a complete guide to the information routinely made available to the public by the dentists at the Bayhead Dental Practice.  It is not a complete list of publications since this will change as other things are produced, but it is a description of the classes of information that we provide.  A full list of publications is available on our practice website www.islesmiles.co.uk or by contacting  K.N.MacDonald who is responsible for our Scheme.

 This guide will be reviewed at regular intervals and we will monitor its effectiveness.

 How much do they cost?

 All publications are free unless otherwise stated.

 How are they published?

 All of the information is listed and summarised on the practice website at www.islesmiles.co.uk  They are also available in hard copy from K.N. MacDonald.

 Your right to information

 As well as our published information, present and former patients of the practice have the right to access the personal information that we hold about them in accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998. Details of how to do this is contained in the Practice Data Protection Policy which is available from K.N.MacDonald

 Feedback

 We have produced this guide in order to comply with the Freedom of Information Act (Scotland) 2002.  The purpose of the Act is to encourage organizations working for the public to be more open about the information they have.  We welcome your views on additional classes of information which might be included and on the publications themselves. If you have any comments or suggestions about the scheme, please send them in writing to   K.N.MacDonald at the Practice or by e-mail to kenneth@islesmiles.co.uk

Exemptions

We aim to be as open as possible. However information may be withheld where disclosure may seriously prejudice law enforcement, legal proceedings or regulatory  or enforcement activity, or where law prohibits the disclosure. We may also withhold information which may seriously prejudice the commercial interests of any person or organisation: and information which is personal information under the Data Protection Act 1998. It may be that an otherwise accessible document contains exempt information, in which case it will not be possible to grant access to the entire document.

 Even if the information is exempt, a request for it can still be made from January 2005.

Classes of information

 We hold various types of information which we review, retain or dispose of according to NHS rules. Our information is classed into seven categories:

1.      Who we are

2.      Our services

3.      Financial information

4.      Information for patients and the public

5.      Complaints

6.      Our policies and procedures

7.      This guide.

Class 1: Who we are

Details of all the dentists, dental therapists and dental hygienists are contained in the practice information leaflet. Details include name, sex and date of first registration with the General Dental Council, specialist status and whether they are full or part time. 

Class 2: Our services

Information about our services is contained in the practice’s patient information leaflet which is available at Reception and a copy is available on our website.  The information includes:

 ·             Opening times

·             Arrangements for emergency care

·             Details of access to the premises for people with disabilities

·             Whether we have a dental hygienist or orthodontic treatment is available

·             What arrangements we have  for anxious patients

·             Information about the care and treatment provided by the practice

We offer all patients the option of NHS or private dental care.

It will be assumed that patients will wish NHS services unless they indicate otherwise.

After an examination all patients returning for treatment will be given an estimate of costs and information about NHS services

Standards

Our standards are assured by NHS regulations relating to our participation in clinical governance, clinical audit and peer review; and by the General Dental Council requirements for continuing professional development. Our care and treatment are also inspected by the Dental Reference Service of the Scottish Dental Practice Board and our practice is inspected by the local NHS Health Board. We are also audited against National and International Standards by Investor in People, Scottish Quality Management Standards and British Standards EN ISO 9000: 2000.

Class 3: Financial information

We have information about:

·             The cost of NHS treatment

·             Entitlement to exemption and remission from NHS dental charges

·             Our private charges

Our income from the NHS derives primarily from individual items of treatment fees as well as a small monthly payment for the number of patients we have on our list.  There are also some allowances for such things as continuing professional development the levels of which are dependant on the level of our commitment to the NHS. Out of this income the practice pays the full cost of providing care, including the provision of the premises, equipment, materials and staff.

Class 4: Information for patients and the public

We make available information by means of a Patient Information Folder available in the reception areas and on our web site.

We can print, and have available leaflets on:

·             Types of dental treatment

·             Healthy diet

·             Healthy teeth

·             Reducing anxiety about dental care

·             Other health information

·             NHS information leaflets.

Copies of leaflets are available from Reception.

Class 5: Complaints

We have a practice complaints procedure, and all staff are empowered to accept a complaint and act upon it. Forms for recording complaints and information on responses are available at the reception desks and the front door entrance.

Detailed information on our complaints policy can be received from K. N. MacDonald.

If we are unable to resolve any complaint about this scheme, you can complain to the Scottish Information Commissioner who oversees the Act and whose contact details are below. From 1^st January 2005 , when the general right of access comes into force, details on this will be available on the Commissioner’s website at www.itspublicknowledge.info before this date.

The Scottish Information Commissioner can be contacted at Kinburn Castle, Doubledykes Road, St Andrews, Fife, KY16 9DS, telephone 01334 464610.

 Class 6: Practice policies

 We have policies and procedures which ensure that the practice operates in a safe and efficient manner.  These include:

 ·             Data protection

·             Data security

·             Confidentiality

·             Health and Safety

·             Radiation protection

·             Infection control

·             Payments policy

·             Equal opportunities.

 Copies of the policies are available from Reception and a summary is available on our practice web site.

  This guide will be reviewed regularly and we will also keep the list of publications up to date.     

 From January 2005 we will be required by the Freedom of Information Act (Scotland) 2002 to respond to requests from the public to access recorded information that we hold. There are some exemptions to this right and it does not change the rights of our patients to have all of their personal information kept strictly confidential and available to them on request.

 Further information

 Further information on the Freedom of Information Act is available from the following websites:

 www.itspublicknowledge.info

www.informationcommissioner.gov.uk