Freedom of Information

The Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (the Act) requires Scottish public authorities to produce and maintain a publication scheme. Authorities are under a legal obligation to:

-publish the classes of information that they make routinely available
-tell the public how to access the information and what it might cost

Union Street Dental Care has adopted the Model Publication Scheme 2014 produced by the Scottish Information Commissioner. The scheme has the Commissioner’s approval until 31 May 2018

Union Street Dental Care. 26 Union Street. Dundee.  DD1 4BE

The purpose of this Guide to Information is to:
- Allow you to see what information is available (and what is not available) in relation to each class.
- State what charges may be applied.
- Explain how you can find the information easily.
- Provide contact details for enquiries and to get help with accessing the information.
- Explain how to request information we hold that has not been published.


Accessing information under this scheme
The information we publish through the model scheme is, wherever possible, available on our website www.dundeedentists.co.uk. We offer alternative arrangements for people who do not want to, or cannot, access the information online or by inspection at our premises. For example, we can usually arrange to send information to you in paper copy (although there may be a charge for this). Information can be requested by telephone or in writing using the contact details provide (see contact us section below).

When writing to us to request information, please include your name and address and full details of the information or documents you would like to receive. Please also include a telephone number so we can call you to clarify any details if necessary.  Advice on requesting information not detailed in this guide to information can be found in Appendix1.  “How to access information which is not available under this publication scheme.”

Exempt information
We will publish the information we hold that falls within the classes of information below. If a document contains information that is exempt under Scotland’s freedom of information laws (for example sensitive personal information or a trade secret), we may remove or redact the information before publication but we will explain why. Examples of exempt information include requests for information that is contained in patient dental records (although you do have the right to request your own dental records under the Data Protection Act 1998), requests for information relating to private income of practice partners or practice staff and requests for financial information that would likely prejudice substantially the commercial interests of any person.


Copyright
Where Union Street Dental Care holds the copyright in its published information, the information may be copied or reproduced without formal permission, provided that:
- it is copied or reproduced accurately
- it is not used in a misleading context, and
- the source of the material is identified

Where Union Street Dental Care does not hold the copyright in information we publish, we will make this clear.

The copyright for some of the information referred to in this guide is not held by Union Street Dental Care. This should be apparent from the documents. It is the responsibility of the person accessing the information to locate and seek the permission of the copyright holder before reproducing the material or in any other way breaching the rights of the copyright holder.


Charges
This section explains when we may make a charge for our publications and how any charge will be calculated. There is no charge to view information on our website or at our premises.

Unless otherwise stated in the Classes of Information section below, all information contained within our Guide to Information is available from us free of charge, where it can be downloaded from our website, sent to you electronically by email, or accessed at the practice premises.

We reserve the right to impose charges for providing information in paper copy or on computer disc. Charges will reflect the actual costs of reproduction and postage to the practice, as set out below. In the event that a charge is to be levied, you will be advised of the charge and how it has been calculated.  Information will not be provided to you until payment has been received.

We may charge for providing information to you e.g., photocopying and postage, but we will charge you no more than it actually costs us to do so. We will always tell you what the cost is before providing the information to you.


Reproduction costs:
Where charges are applied, photocopied information will be charged at a standard rate of 10p per A4 paper (black and white copy) and 30p per A4 paper (colour copy).


Postage costs:
We will pass on postage charges to the requester at the cost to the practice of sending the information by first class post.

Contact us
You can contact us for assistance with any aspect of this publication scheme at:

USDC, 26 Union Street, Dundee DD1 4BE

Telephone: 01382 225022    
or 
Email: enquiries@dundeedentists.co.uk

We will also be pleased to advise you how to ask for information that we do not publish, (also see Appendix 1) or how to complain if you are dissatisfied with any aspect of this publication scheme.

Union Street Dental Care is owned and operated by Mr Lee Strachan and the premises are owned by Mr Phillip Higginson and Mr David Hamilton. The dentists working at the premises are Mr Lee Strachan and Mr David Smith. The practice is also staffed by 1 practice manager, 1 receptionist, 3 hygienists, 4 dental nurses. 

We operate as a general dental practice providing dental treatment as independent contractors under NHS terms of service and private treatment to adults and children. We also provide a referral service for other treatments if required.

We claim fees for NHS patients according to the current system (Statement of Dental Remuneration, SDR) set by the government, depending on patient class and exemptions. We are paid monthly fees for the number of patients we have registered and claim fees for individual items of treatment. There are also some allowances available for such things as continuing professional development, audit, rent, rates and practice improvements based on the percentage of NHS care we provide. Out of this income, and income from private treatments, the practice pays the full cost of providing care, including the provision of the building, equipment, materials and staff.

Our standards are assured by NHS regulations relating to our participation in clinical governance, clinical audit and peer review, and by the General Dental Council (GDC) Standards for the Dental Team and requirements for continuing professional development. Our care and treatment are also inspected by the Dental Reference Service of the Scottish Dental Practice Board and our practice is inspected every three years by Tayside Health Board.


The classes of information that we publish
We publish information that we hold within the following classes. Once information is published under a class we will continue to make it available for the current and previous two financial years.

Where information has been updated or superseded, only the current version will be available. If you would like to see previous versions, you may make a request to us for that information.


CLASS 1: ABOUT  Union Street Dental  Care

Class description:
Information about Union Street Dental Care who we are, where to find us, how to contact us, how we are managed and our external relations.

The information we publish under this class & How to access it

1. Name, address, contact details

Union Street Dental Care, 26 Union Street Dundee DD14BE

01382225022 www.dundeedentists.co.uk email: enquiries@dundeedentists.co.uk  

At the practice
Practice brochure Page 2

Practice website –www.dundeedentists.co.uk/homepage-welcome/

2. Practice opening hours
Monday 8.30 -6.30pm
Tuesday – Thursday 8.30am -5.30pm
Friday 8.30 3.15pm
Sat 9.am -12 noon – 1 in 3

At the practice
Practice brochure Page 2
Practice website http://www.dundeedentists.co.uk/contact/

3. Organisational Structure
Practice owner: Mr Lee Strachan,

Associate: Mr David Smith
Owner of premises: Mr Phillip Higginson & Mr David Hamilton

At the practice
Practice Website: http://www.dundeedentists.co.uk/about/meet-the-team.      

4. Legal contractual framework for the practice
Dental and Ophthalmic Customer Administration Practitioner Services
Gyle Square 1 South Gyle Crescent Edinburgh EH12 9EB 
Tel: 0131 275 6300
e-mail enquiries:nss.psddental@nhs.net

 —————————————————

Denplan Ltd, Denplan Court, Victoria Road, Winchester, Hampshire, SO23 7RG

Call 0800 401 402
Email: cae@denplan.co.uk 

Tayside Dental Plan
River House. Young StreetInverness
IV3 5BL
Call 01463 222999
Email icpltd@ident.co.uk

About Union Street Dental Care section above,

The National Health Service (General Dental Services)(Scotland) Regulations 2010: http://www.psd.scot.nhs.uk/professionals/dental/documents/AmendmentNo126.pdf 
http://www.sehd.scot.nhs.uk/pca/PCA2010(D)04.pdf   

————————————————————–

At the practice http://www.denplan.co.uk/about-denplan/contact-us  

 —————————————————– 

At the practicehttp://www.ident.co.uk/ 

5. Standards GDC standards displayed at practice, NHS Quality Improvement Scotland (2006) Dental Services Standards


6.      Reports to regulators and internal and external audits: Continuing Professional Development (CPD) declaration of hours to GDC, audit records, practice inspection completion letter 
As above – Section 5

At practice   


7. Strategic planning processes: continuity planning, risk management

Policies available at practice
Folder on Computer Practice Legislation


8. Contact details for customer care and complaints 
See section 1. in this class (Complaints Policy) Website http://www.dundeedentists.co.uk/about/our-promise/


9. Model Publication Scheme and Guide to Information

Practice website http://www.dundeedentists.co.uk/about/our-promise/

At practice and available on the Scottish Information Commissioner’s website


10. Charging schedule for published information 

‘Charges’ section above Page 2 of 14


11. Charging schedule for environmental information not available through this publication. 

At Practice – Legislation Folder on computer
Waste Management & Care of the Environment policies –Appendix I below –


12. Advice about how to request information 

‘Accessing information under this scheme’ section above P1/16 


CLASS 2: HOW WE DELIVER OUR FUNCTIONS AND SERVICES 

Class description:
Information about our work, our strategy and policies for delivering functions and services and information for our patients.  

The information we publish under this class
How to access it

1. Description of practice functions and services, including statutory basis for them 

‘About Union Street Dental Care‘ section above, Patient Information Leaflet and at practice.

www.dundeedentists.co.uk

Practice brochure

In the practice

Fee Guide
Patient information leaflet

Why visit the hygienist? Pg. 6
Page 6

Cosmetic white fillings & veneers pg. 8
Page 8

Cosmetic crowns & bridges pg. 9
Page 9

Teeth whitening pg. 10
Page 10

Dentures & root canal therapy pg.11
Page 11

General Information pg.12
Page 12

Complaints pg.12
Page 12

Practice website
www.dundeedentists.co.uk

Hygienist services
www.dundeedentists.co.uk

Treatments
www.dundeedentists.co.uk

Fees
http://www.dundeedentists.co.uk/fees/treatment-fees


2. Strategies, policies and internal staff procedure for performing statutory functions: record keeping, infection control policy etc
Folder on computer (practice Legislation)


3. How to report a concern to the practice
Practice complaints procedure at practice

Website http://www.dundeedentists.co.uk/

4. Information for patients, including how to access services
Contact Us’ section above,
practice website http://www.dundeedentists.co.uk/contact/
and Practice brochure

5. Treatment fees and charges: cost of NHS treatment set by government, entitlement to exemption and remission from NHS dental charges, our private charges (scale of fees) 
At the practice
Practitioner Services Division website, current SDR,
Practice website http://www.dundeedentists.co.uk/


CLASS 3: HOW WE TAKE DECISIONS AND WHAT WE HAVE DECIDED
Class description:
Information about the decisions we take, how we make decisions and how we involve others 

The information we publish under this class
How to access it

1. Decisions taken by the practice: agendas, reports, papers, and minutes of meetings (that do not contain confidential patient information) 
At the practice
Agendas and minutes of practice meeting – (Practice meeting Folder on computer)

2. Decisions are informed by referring to national guidance and current Scottish Government guidelines
General Dental Council (GDC), Scottish Dental Clinical Effectiveness Programme(SDCEP), and British Dental Association(BDA) websites

3. Patient consultation and feedback: patient experience surveys and feedback [if available]
At practice


CLASS 4: WHAT WE SPEND AND HOW WE SPEND IT
Class description:
Information about our strategy for, and management of, financial resources (in sufficient detail to explain how we plan to spend public money and what has actually been spent. 

The information we publish under this class
How to access it

1. Details of NHS funding 
‘About Union Street Dental Care‘ section above

2. Purchase of equipment and supplies: names of suppliers, laboratory services etc.
All available from the practice on request ( no static list) 


CLASS 5: HOW WE MANAGE OUR HUMAN, PHYSICAL AND INFORMATION RESOURCES
Class description:
Information about how we manage the human, physical and information resources of Union Street Dental Care.

The information we publish under this class
How to access it

1. Human resources policies, procedures and guidelines: recruitment, performance management, pensions, discipline, grievance, staff development
Policies available at practice.

2. Management of the practice premises: owner of premises or factor, planning permission 
‘About Union Street Dental Care section above – at practice
See Class 1 section 3

3. Premises maintenance arrangements: premise maintenance contracts 
At practice
Practice legislation
Ldu – Manual & Maintenance

4. Equipment maintenance arrangements: equipment service contracts 
At practice – as above section 3
Ldu – Manual & Maintenance

5. Records management policy: Data Protection, Confidentiality and Information Security Policy
At practice – as above section 3


CLASS 6: HOW WE PROCURE GOODS AND SERVICES FROM EXTERNAL PROVIDERS
Class description:

Information about how we procure goods and services, and our contracts with external providers 

The information we publish under this class
How to access it

1. List of suppliers: utilities, dental supplies, laboratory work
At practice

2. Procurement policies and procedures 
At practice – as above section 3Practice – Practice legislation folder – Infection control) 


CLASS 7: HOW WE ARE PERFORMING 
Class description:

Information about how we perform as an organisation, and how well we deliver our functions and services  

The information we publish under this class
How to access it

1. External reports, reports for NHS boards, annual reports, and performance statements: 
At practice –Health Board practice inspection completion letter –

2. Patient feedback: patient experience surveys and other feedback
At practice – as above Class 3 section 3  


CLASS 8: OUR COMMERCIAL PUBLICATIONS
Class description:

Information packaged and made available for sale on a commercial basis and sold at market value through a retail outlet e.g. bookshop, museum or research journal. 

The information we publish under this class

How to access it

We do not hold this information. 



Appendix I
How to access information which is not available under this publication sche

If the information you are seeking is not available under this Guide to Information, then you may wish to request it from us. The Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (FOISA) provides you with a right of access to the information we hold, subject to certain exemptions. The Environmental Information (Scotland) Regulations 2004 (EIRs) separately provide a right of access to the environmental information we hold, while the Data Protection Act 1998 (DPA) provides a right of access to any personal information about you that we hold. Again, these rights are subject to certain exceptions or exemptions. 

Should you wish to request a copy of any information that we hold that is not available under this publication scheme, please write to Union Street Dental Care, 26 Union Street. Dundee. DD1 4BE 


Charges for information which is not available under the sche
Fees for information that is not available under this scheme are outlined in The Freedom of Information (Fees for Required Disclosure) (Scotland) Regulations 2004. If you submit a request to us for information which is not available under the current Model Publication Scheme the charges will be based on the following calculations.


General information request

There will be no charge for information requests which cost us £100 or less to process.
Where information costs between £100 and £600 to provide you may be asked to pay 10% of the cost. That is, if you were to ask for information that cost us £600 to provide, you would be asked to pay £50, calculated on the basis of a waiver for the first £100 and 10% of the remaining £500.
We are not obliged to respond to requests which will cost us over £600 to process.
In calculating any fee, staff time will be calculated at actual cost per staff member hourly salary rate to a maximum of £15 per person per hour.
We do not charge for the time to determine whether we hold the information requested, nor for the time it takes to decide whether the information can be released. Charges may be made for locating, retrieving and providing information to you.
In the event that we decide to impose a charge we will issue you with notification of the charge (a fees notice) and how it has been calculated. You will have three months from the date of issue of the fees notice in which to decide whether to pay the charge. The information will be provided to you on payment of the charge. If you decide not to proceed with the request there will be no charge to you.


Charges for environmental information
The first £100 worth of information will be provided to you without charge.
Where information costs between £100 and £600 to provide you will be asked to pay 10% of the cost. That is, if you were to ask for information that cost us £600 to provide, you would be asked to pay £50 calculated on the basis of a waiver for the first £100 and 10% of the remaining £500.
Where it would cost more than £600 to provide the information to you, however, we will ask you to pay the full cost of providing the information, with no waiver for any portion of the cost.
Charges are calculated on the basis of the actual cost to the authority of providing the information. Photocopying is charged at 10p per A4 sheet for black and white copying and 30p per A4 sheet for colour copying. Postage is charged at actual rate for first class mail. Staff time is calculated at actual cost per staff member hourly salary rate to a maximum of £15 per person per hour.

We do not charge for the time to determine whether we hold the information requested, nor for the time it takes to decide whether the information can be released.
In the event that we decide to impose a charge we will issue you with notification of the charge and how it has been calculated. The information will be provided to you on payment of the charge. If you decide not to proceed with the request there will be no charge to you.


Requests for your own personal data 
While you cannot request personal data under the FOISA you are entitled to request your own personal data under the Data Protection Act 1998 (DPA). Under the DPA you can request your personal information from us.  We reserve the right to charge a maximum of £50 for requests for an individual’s own personal information.

For more information on any of our treatments please fill out an enquiry form or visit our practice.