Data protection rules are changing. European Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), will come into force on the 25th May 2018 and become part of Guernsey Law. It will change how businesses and public-sector organisations can handle the information of customers.
GDPR means that the King’s Mills Dental Practice is more accountable for the handling of your personal information and therefore we have updated our data protection policies to ensure compliance to the new legislation.
Data Protection code of Practice
Our data protection code of practice provides details on how we at the King’s Mills Dental Practice (Dr W.H. Gill, his Associates and employees), comply with the Data Protection (Bailiwick of Guernsey) Law, 2017 and The General Data Protection regulation (GDPR).
What personal data do we hold?
To enable us to provide our patients with the highest standard of dental care, we need to hold certain personal information. This personal data can include:
- Past and current medical and dental information; this will include, date of birth, address, telephone number and your general medical practitioner details.
- Radiographs (x-rays), clinical photographs and study models.
- Information about treatment that we have provided or propose and its cost.
- Details of fees charged and payments received
- Notes of conversations or incidents that might occur for which a record needs to be kept.
- Dates of appointments
- Records of consent to treatment.
- Any correspondence relating to patients and other health care professionals, this might include correspondence with general medical practitioners, hospital or Medical Specialist Group.
Why do we hold information about you?
We need to keep comprehensive and accurate personal data about patients to provide you with safe and most appropriate dental care. We will ask you yearly to check your contact details and your medical history. Medical history may be checked more frequently if this is felt necessary.
Retaining information
We will retain your dental records and study models while you are a practice patient and after you cease to be a patient, for at least eleven years, or for children until the age of 25, whichever is the longer.
Security of information
Personal data about you is held on the practice computer system and /or in a locked manual filing system. This information is only accessible to authorized team members. Our computer system has secure audit trails and information is backed up routinely. Staff are trained in their legal responsibilities under the Data protection Act and practical procedures for maintaining confidentiality.
Disclosure of information
To provide proper and safe dental care we may need to disclose personal information about you to:
- Your general medical practitioner.
- The Princess Elizabeth Hospital and other Dental Services.
- Other health professionals caring for you.
- Guernsey Social Security Authority and Health and Social Services.
- Private dental schemes of which you are a member.
- Medical Specialist Group
- Agents and Third parties as required by legal and law
Disclosure will take place on a ‘need–to-know’ basis. Only those individuals/organisations who need to know to provide care for you and for the proper administration of Government (whose personnel are covered by strict rules of confidentiality) will be given this information.
In very limited circumstances or when required by law or a court order, personal data may have to be disclosed to a third party not connected with your health care. In all other situations, disclosure that is not covered by this Code of practice will only occur when we have your specific consent. Where possible you will be informed of these requests for disclosure.
Access to your records
You have the right of access to the data that we hold about you and to receive a copy. Parents may access their child’s records if this is in the child’s best interest and not contrary to a competent child’s wishes. Formal application for access must be in writing to your Dentist.
If you do not agree
If you do not wish personal data that we hold about you to be disclosed or used in the way that is described in this Code of Practice, please discuss the matter with your dentist. You have the right to object; however, this may affect our ability to provide you with dental care.
You have a right to withdraw your consent at any time, however this will not be retrospective.