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How is the information made available?
The information in each class is available in hard copy from:
Whitakers Opticians
34-36 Wharf Street
Sowerby Bridge
West Yorkshire
HX6 2AE

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 opticians’ and optometrists’ 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 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:

Whitakers Opticians
34-36 Wharf Street
Sowerby Bridge
West Yorkshire
HX6 2AE

Classes of information
All NHS information at Whitakers Optician Group 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. 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
Company background, list of practices including contact phone numbers and opening hours, details of all the Opticians and Optometrists employed in our practices can be found on our website (www.whitakersopticians.co.uk). Alternatively, details of all Opticians and Optometrists registered in the UK are available from the General Optical Council Tel. 0207 5803898.

2) Our Services
All our 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 ask for details in any of our practices.
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.

3) Financial and funding information
For every eye test performed on behalf of the NHS the optician’s practice receives a set fee of £16.72. This includes a contribution towards optometrists 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 on a number of websites including www.college-optometrists.org

Complaints
If you have a complaint about any of our products or services, we recommend that you first discuss any problems with the optician at the practice concerned.
If the matter cannot be resolved in this way or you are unsatisfied with the response please contact head office on 01422 831030.

5) Our policies and procedures

·	Complaints

·	Data Protection

·	Health and Safety

They are available by request from Whitakers Opticians, 34-36 Wharf Street, Sowerby Bridge, HX6 2AE

6) This publication scheme
In this class we will publish any changes 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.

7) 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.

·	Accessed from our website - free of charge

·	Single hard copies - free of charge

·	Multiple hard copies, or archived copies will attract a charge for photocopying, 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.

Useful Resources

Websites
Information Commissioner
www.informationcommissioner.gov.uk
NHS Freedom of Information
www.foi.nhs.uk

Publications
NHS Openness Code
www.foi.nhs.uk/cd/codes_openness.html
Freedom of Information Act 2000
www.hmso.gov.uk/acts/acts2000/20000036.htm