Freedom of Information

This is a guide to the information published by each of the NHS dentists at the Cambridge Court Dental Practice.  This guide is the dentists’ Publication Scheme as required by the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

Introduction
This Publication Scheme is a complete guide to the information routinely made available to be public by the dentists at the Cambridge Court 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.  It will be reviewed at regular intervals and we will monitor its effectiveness.

The names of the dental practitioners at this practice are:

• Dr Peter Ziderman
• Dr Jeyrooban Muruguppillai
• Dr Richard Lee   

How much does it cost?
All publications are free unless otherwise stated.

How is the information made available?
All information is downloadable from the practice website at www.cambridgecourtdental.co.uk .  They are also available in hard copy.  For further information please contact the Practice Manageress who will be pleased to receive your questions, comments and complaints.  Jo Bird will endeavours to supply all information requested in hard copy within 7 working days.

Your rights to information
As well as our published information, present and former patients of the practice have the right to access their dental records or any other personal information held about them in accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998.  You can contact the Practice Manageress to do this.

Feedback
We have produced this guide in order to comply with the Freedom of Information Act 2000.  The purpose of the Act is to encourage organisations 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 Jo Bird at the Practice.

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

• Who we are
• Our services
• Financial information
• Information for patients and the public
• Complaints
• Our policies and procedures
• This guide

Class 1: Who we are

Class 2: Our services
Our opening times are Mon – Thurs 08.30 - 17.15, Fri 08.30 – 17.00

Our arrangements for out of hours emergency care are to be found by dialling our telephone number and listening to the message.

Access to the premises for people with disabilities is via a ramp to the front of the building.  A surgery is available for use on the ground floor.

The languages spoken in the practice are English

Our hygienist only treats patient privately

We do not provide NHS orthodontic treatment on site but refer to outside orthodontic practices.  We are now providing Invisalign orthodontic treatment on a private basis only.

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. 

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 our PDS contract.  Monthly fees are paid for the number of patients we have on our list and for individual items of treatment.  There are also some allowances for such things as continuing professional development and the level of our commitment to the NHS.

This income is utilised to pay for the running of the dental practice such as staff salaries, rent/rates, practice development funding, the purchase of equipment its maintenance and servicing, dental materials, dental laboratory fees, staff and training improvements and all other business expenses.

Class 4:  Information for patients and the public
The following publications are available from our reception;

• Healthy teeth
• Healthy diet
• Reducing anxiety about dental care
• Treatment Information Leaflets
• Implants
• NHS information leaflets

Class 5: Complaints
We take every complaint seriously and make every effort never to have an unhappy patient.  You may complain in person, by telephone or in writing to the Practice Manageress.  We will reply within 3 working days and, following investigation, we will be able to respond fully within 10 working days.  Any complaints about this publication scheme or about any aspect of the services provided by our dentists and dental staff should be made under this complaints procedure.

Class 6: Practice Policies
We have policies and procedures which ensure that the practice operates in a safe and efficient manner.  These include but are not restricted to:

• Data protection
• Health and Safety
• Infection Control

Class 7: This guide
This guide will be reviewed regularly and we will also keep the list of publication up to date.

From January 2005 we will be required by the Freedom of Information Act 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.

Cost of information
For the most part we will only charge you for copying onto media eg CD ROM or requests for multiple printouts.  We will let you know the cost and charges in advance.

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

• www.informationcommissioner.gov.uk
• www.lcd.gov.uk
• www.foi-uk.org
• www.foi.nhs.uk/practice