From May 2018 Europe’s data protection rules will undergo their biggest changes in two decades. Since they were created in the 1990s, the amount of digital information we create, capture, and store has vastly increased. Simply put, the old regime was no longer fit for purpose.
The solution is the mutually agreed European General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), which will come into force on 25th May 2018. It will change how businesses and public-sector organisations can handle the information of customers.
GDPR means that we at Premier Dental Care will be more accountable for handling of patient’s personal information and as such we have updated our data protection policies.
Our data protection code of practice lays out our procedures that ensure Premier Dental Care and its employees comply with The Data Protection Law, 2001 and The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
To provide patients with a high standard of dental care and attention, we need to hold their personal information. This personal data can include:
We need to keep comprehensive and accurate personal data about patients to provide you with safe and appropriate dental care. We will ask you to update your medical history and contact details at each visit.
We will retain your dental records and any 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 age 25, whichever is the longer. This is a legal requirement, and after this time, all patient data that we no longer need is destroyed.
Personal data about you is held in the practice’s computer system and/or in a locked manual filing system. The information is only accessible to authorized team members. Our computer system has secure audit trails and we back up information routinely.
The practice routinely performs daily digital data backups. All data is encrypted to prevent unauthorised access.
Up to date anti-virus and anti-malware products regularly scan our network to prevent /detect any spyware/viruses affecting the system.
The practice operates CCTV, and any video mages captured are only disclosed in the event of breaching practice security.
To provide proper and safe dental care we may need to disclose personal information about you to:
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.
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 interests and not contrary to a competent child’s wishes. Formal requests for access must be in writing to The Practice Principal or The Practice Manager.
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.