Publication Scheme

Freedom of information act

Publication Scheme
Welcome to the Publication Scheme for J.A. Hicks Optometrist, as required by the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

Introduction
This Publication scheme is a complete guide to the information routinely made available to the public by J.A. Hicks Optometrist. It is a description of the information about our NHS services that we make publicly available. It will be reviewed at regular intervals and we will monitor its effectiveness.

How much does it cost?
The publications are free to access from our website or by email and a single hard copy will be provided free of charge  A request for multiple copies does not fall within the provisions of the Act and will attract a charge for retrieval, photocopying and postage. We will inform you of these charges which will be payable in advance

How is the information made available?
The information within each Class is available in hard copy from:

25 Nile Street
North Shields
Tyne & Wear
NE29 0EZ

or can be printed from this website.

Your Rights to Information
The Freedom of Information Act 2000 is designed to promote openness and accountability amongst all organisations that receive public money.
From January 1st 2005 it will oblige optical practices  to respond to requests about the NHS related information that it holds, and a right of access to that information has been established in law. These rights are subject to some exceptions that have to be taken into consideration before releasing information.
In addition to accessing the information identified in the publication scheme, you are entitled to request information about our NHS services under the NHS Openness Code 1995.
Under the Data Protection Act 1998, you are also entitled to access your clinical records or any other personal information held about you and you can contact any practice where your records are held to do this.

Feedback
If you have any comments about the operation of the Publication Scheme, or how we have dealt with your request for information from the scheme, please write to:

25 Nile Street
North Shields
Tyne & Wear
NE29 0AZ

Classes of Information
All NHS information at J.A. Hicks Optometrist is held, retained and destroyed within NHS guidelines. Our commitment to publish information excludes any information that can be legitimately withheld under the exemptions set out in the NHS Openness Code or Freedom of Information Act 2000, the main reasons being the protection of commercial interests and personal information under the Data Protection Act 2018 This Scheme had been written in accordance with those exemptions. The information on this Scheme is grouped into the following categories:

1-Who we are
Partnership of S Savage ( practising as S Bailey) T Lumley, J Lumley and B Lumley

Trading as J A Hicks Optometrist

25 Nile Street
North Shields
Tyne & Wear
NE29 0AZ

Details of opticians and Optometrists employed in our practice can be obtained by contacting the practice directly

Alternatively, information about registered practitioners is available from the General Optical Council website or 0207 5803898

Telephone: 0191 2571093

2 -Financial and Funding Information 

For every sight test performed on behalf of the NHS the practice receives a set fee which is fixed nationally. Details of these fees are available on request. They include a contribution to staff salaries, equipment and other overheads. Information in this class will only be published where it is unlikely to adversely affect our commercial position.
3-Our priorities

To provide high quality eye care.
4- Decision Making

Any decisions about the provision of NHS funded services will be reflected in the services we provide held with NHS England and local CCG.

5- Our policies and Procedures
Complaints, Data Protection and Health and Safety policies available on request from the practice

6- Lists and registers

We do not keep lists and registers. Our records are confidential.
7- The Services we offer

Our practice provides free NHS eye tests for those who are eligible. You may also be entitled to vouchers that can be used against the purchase of glasses or contact lenses if you require them. To find out if you are eligible for assistance please ask for details in our practice.

To view our opening hours and full contact details, please see the contact us page.

8  – Regular publications and information for the public

A complete set of information about optical and ocular conditions, eye tests, glasses, and contact lenses can be found on a number of websites including www.college-optometrists.org
Some of this information is also available in patient leaflets. These are freely available from our practice. To request a set of leaflets by post,please write to:

25 Nile Street
North Shields
Tyne & Wear
NE29 0AZ

Complaints
If you have a complaint about any of our products or services, we recommend that you first discuss any problems with Sylvia Bailey who is the Optometrist at the practice.
A full copy of our complaints policy is available on request.

This Publication Scheme
In this class we will publish any changes we make to this publication scheme, the criteria on which our information management policies are made and a referral point for all enquiries regarding information management policies generally in practice. We will also publish any proposed changes or additions to publications already available.

– Useful Resources
Websites:
Information Commissioner – www.informationcommissioner.gov.uk
Lord Chancellors Department – www.lcd.gov.uk
NHS Freedom of Information – www.foi.nhs.uk

Publications:
NHS Openness Code – www.doh.gov.uk/nhsexec/codemain.htm
Freedom of Information Act 2000 – www.hmso.gov.uk/acts/acts2000/20000036.htm

Copyright
Material available through this publication scheme is copyright unless otherwise indicated. Unless expressly indicated to the contrary, it may be reproduced free of charge in any format or medium, provided it is done so accurately in a manner that will not mislead. Where items are re-published or copied to others, you must identify the source and acknowledge copyright status. This permit does not extend to third party material, accessed through the scheme. For HMSO guidance notes see www.hmso.gov.uk/guides.htm