Freedom of Information
The contents of the Publication Scheme
Freedom of Information Act (FOI): Publication Scheme
This document complies with the requirements of the Information Commissioner's Model Publication Scheme for W & K Pope Opticians in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and fulfils the obligations on opticians' practices under the Act.
Introduction
This is a complete guide to the information routinely made available to the public by W & K Pope Opticians. It is a description of the information about our NHS services that we make publicly available. It will be reviewed at regular intervals.
How is the information made available?
The information within each Class is available in hard copy from:
|
Mr William Pope, |
or |
Mr William Pope, |
And online at: http://www.popeopticians.com
This guide information
We will publish any changes we make to this guide or relevant information. 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.
- Accessed from our website www.popeopticians.com – free of charge
- Single hard copies - free of charge
- As the Freedom of Information Act applies to the provision of information, a request for multiple hard 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 the cost of these charges that will have to be paid in advance.
- e-mail will be free of charge.
Your Rights to Information
- The Freedom of Information Act 2000 is designed to promote openness and accountability amongst all organisations that receive public money.
- Like all NHS contractors, since 1 January 2005 there has been a FOI obligation on optical practices to respond to requests about the NHS related information that they hold, and a right of access to that information has been established in law.
- These rights are subject to exemptions (see below) that have to be taken into consideration before releasing information.
- In addition to accessing the information identified in this guide, 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:
|
Mr William Pope, |
Classes of Information
All NHS information at W & K Pope Opticians 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 1998. This scheme has been written in accordance with those exemptions. The information on this Scheme is grouped into the following categories:
1) Who we are and what we do
W & K Pope Opticians are two independent practices.
Locations:
|
The Oast Business Centre, |
and |
83, High Street,
|
Mr William Pope is the principal optometrist at both practices. Details of any other opticians and optometrists employed in our practices can be obtained by contacting that practice directly. Alternatively, details of all opticians and optometrists registered in the UK are available from:
General Optical Council,
10 Old Bailey
London
EC4M 7NG
Tel: 0207 580 3898 email: goc@optical.org
http://www.optical.org/en/our_work/Registration/search_the_registers.cfm
2) Financial and funding information: what we spend and how we spend it
For every sight test performed on behalf of the NHS the practice receives a set fee of £21.31, which is fixed nationally. The fees paid by the NHS for each service are available from the practice on request. They include a contribution towards optometrists’ and staff salaries, equipment costs and other practice overheads. Information in this class will be published only where it is unlikely adversely to affect the commercial position of the firm or practice
3) Our Priorities
To provide our patients with high quality eye care
4) Decision Making
Any decisions made about the provision of NHS-funded services will be reflected in the services we provide and, in the contract(s) held with the NHS England.
5) Our policies and procedures
- Complaints
- Data protection
- Health and safety
They are available on request from Mr William Pope, W & K Pope Opticians, The Oast Business Centre, 62 Bell Road, Office 4C, Sittingbourne, Kent ME10 4HE
Complaints
If you have a complaint about any of our products or services, in the first instance please discuss any problems with the manager Mr William Pope at
|
The Oast Business Centre, |
or |
83, High Street,
|
We find that most issues can be put right at this stage. A full copy of our complaints policy is available on request.
Alternatively, you can complain to NHS England Local Direct Commissioning Office (DCO) Team. They will tell you how they intend to deal with your complaint. Complaints should be sent to:
NHS England
PO Box 16738
Redditch
B97 9PT
Website: https://www.england.nhs.uk/contact-us/complaint/
email: england.contactus@nhs.net
Please state: ‘For the attention of the complaints manager’ in the subject heading
Tel: 0300 311 22 33
If your complaint relates to your spectacles or contact lenses you can contact the Optical Complaints Consumer Service
6 Market Square
Bishop’s Stortford
Hertfordshire CM23 2UZ.
Tel: 0344 800 5071
website: opticalcomplaints.co.uk
6) Lists and Registers
We don't keep lists and registers. Our patient records are confidential.
7) The Services We Offer
All W & K Pope practice(s)) provide NHS-funded sight tests for those who are eligible. Patients may also be entitled to NHS vouchers that can be used against the purchase of spectacles or contact lenses as required. To find out if you are eligible for this assistance please follow this link
http://www.nhs.uk/NHSEngland/AboutNHSservices/opticians/Pages/NHSopticians.aspx
Appointments for sight tests can be booked over the phone or by dropping into one of our
practices.
Opening times can vary between locations, so please call to confirm.
Regular publications and information for the public
Information about optical and ocular conditions, sight tests, spectacles, and contact lenses, can be found on www.college-optometrists.org
Some of this information is also available in-patient leaflets. These are freely available from both our practices. To request a set of leaflets by post, please write to:
The Oast Business Centre, 62 Bell Road, Office 4C, Sittingbourne, Kent ME10 4HE
- Information Commissioner: www.ico.org.uk
- Ministry of Justice: https://www.gov.uk/make-a-freedom-of-information-request
Publications:
- Freedom of Information Act 2000: www.hmso.gov.uk/acts/acts2000/20000036.htm
12 November 2020
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 on FOI publication schemes see www.hmso.gov.uk/guides.htm.