Publication Scheme
Welcome to the Publication Scheme for Terence Mendoza
Optometrists 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 Terence Mendoza Optometrists.
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. Where
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,
and can be printed from the website:
Terence Mendoza
Optometrists
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.
· 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:
Terence Mendoza Optometrists
15 North Street
Rochford
Essex SS4 1BD
Classes of Information
All NHS information at Terence Mendoza Optometrists 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 HNS
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
· Practice background
· Contact phone numbers
· Details of all the Opticians and Optometrists employed
by our practice can be obtained by contacting us directly.
· Alternatively, details of all opticians and optometrists
registered in the UK are available from the General Optical
Council: Tel: 0207 580 3898 http://www.optical.org
2) Our Services
We 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 us for
details. (or for on the website replace with: please click here
) Appointments for eye tests can be booked over the phone, or
by dropping into the practice:
15 North Street, Rochford
8.30 am - 5.30 pm Monday - Saturday
Tel: 01702 544084 or 01702 540838
3) Financial and funding information
For every eye test performed on behalf of the NHS the opticians
practice receive a set fee of £16.72. This covers a proportion
of expenses such as optometrist and staff salaries, equipment
costs and other store overheads.
If you are not eligible for the NHS eye test, please contact
us 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 our
website:
http://www.terencemendoza.co.uk
5) Our policies and procedures
· Complaints
· Data protection
·
Health and Safety
They are available on request at our practice.
6) This publication scheme
In this case we will publish any changes we make to this publication
scheme, the criteria on which our information management policies
are made and the 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.
· 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
· 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/act2000/20000036.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.
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A
personal and professional eyecare service for over 30 years 
