Freedom of Information Act
Publication Scheme
Welcome to the Publication scheme for C4 Sightcare 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 C4 Sightcare. 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 unless otherwise indicated. When information is provided at cost, the charges will be calculated as set out in class 7.
How is the information made available?
The information within each Class is available in hard copy from:
C4 Sightcare Morpeth Ltd
65 Newgate Street
Morpeth
Northumberland
NE61 1AY.
Or can be printed from this web site.
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 opticians, and optometrists, practices to respond to requests about the NHS related information that it holds, and it will create a right of access to that information. These rights are subject to some exemptions that have to be taken into consideration before releasing information.
- In addition to accessing the information identified in the publication scheme, you are entitled entitled to request information about our NHS services under the NHS Openness code 1995.
- New environmental information regulations may be introduced as early as 2003. These will enable similar access to environmental information as under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.
- 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 the practice in question.
Please click here for your local practice address
Classes of Information
All NHS information at C4 Sightcare is held, retained and destroyed within the NHS guidelines. Our commitment to publish information excludes any information that can be legitimately withheld under exemptions set out in the NHS Openness Code of Freedom of Information Act 2000. From 2005, individual Classes are subject to exemptions, the main reasons being the protection of commercial interests and personal information under the Data Protection Act 1998. 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
2. Our Services
3. Financial and Funding information
4. Regular publications and information for the public
Complaints
5. Our policies and procedures
6. The publication Scheme
For information regarding to these classes - Click here
1. Who we are
C4 Sightcare
A list of all our practices addresses and contact numbers can be found by CLICKING HERE
Details of all the Opticians and Optometrists employed in any one of our practices can be obtained by contacting that store directly.
Alternatively, details of all opticians and optometrists registered in the UK are available from the General Optical Council - to go to the G.O.C. web site and use registration search CLICK HERE. Or telephone 0207 5803898.
2. Our Services
All C4 Sightcare practices provide 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 check on the following links.
Brief summary of entitlement.
Department of Health Web site NHS Charges.
Appointments for eye tests can be booked over the phone, or by dropping into one of our practices To find the address or phone number of your local practice, please CLICK HERE.
Opening times can vary between locations, so please call to confirm, or go to HOW TO FIND US on our web site where the practice opening times can be found along with directions to the practice.
3. Financial and Funding Information
For every eye test performed on behalf of the NHS the opticians practice receives a set fee of £18.39. This covers expenses such as optometrist and staff salaries, equipment costs and other practice overheads.
If you are not eligible for the NHS eye test, please contact your local practice for details of our current charges.
4. 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 by clicking on the relevant links on the menu bar.
Some of this information is also available in patient leaflets. These are freely available from all our practices. To request a set of leaflets by post, please write to or telephone your local practice. CLICK HERE.
5. Complaints
If you have a complaint about any of our products or services, we recommend that you first discuss any problems with the manager at the practice concerned.
If the matter cannot be resolved in this way or you are unsatisfied with the response you receive please contact us on (01670) 518 612. A full copy of our complaints policy is available on Request or on our web site or can be found in class 6.
6. Our policies and procedures - these are available to view online.
7. 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 generally in practice. We will also publish any proposed changes or additions to publications already available.
Cost of Information
For the most part, we will only charge for hard copies, or copies onto media. Charges are as follows and will be reviewed regularly.
Access from our website - free of charge
Single hard copies - free of charge
Multiple hard copies, or archived copies will attract a charge for photcopying, retrieval and postage. We will inform you of the cost of these charges that will have to be paid in advance.
E-mail will be free of charge.
Part 3. Useful Resources
Websites:
Information Commissioner - www.informationcommissioner.gov.uk
Lord Chancellors Department - www.dca.gov.uk
NHS Freedom of Information - www.foi.nhs.uk
Publications:
NHS Openness Code -www.dh.gov.uk/PolicyAndGuidance/FreedomOfInformation/fs/en
