Freedom of Information

Freedom of Information (UK) Act 2000

Whitakers Opticians Group Publication Scheme

Welcome to the Publication Scheme for Whitakers (Sowerby Bridge) Ltd (Whitakers Opticians Group) and adopted by all the opticians employed by Whitakers Opticians Group 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 Whitakers Opticians Group on behalf of all the opticians employed by Whitakers Opticians Group. 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?

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.

Hard copies, or archived copies will attract a charge for photocopying, retrieval and postage. We will inform you of the cost of the charges that will have to be paid in advance.

How is the information made available?

The information within each Class is available in hard copy from:

Freedom of Information
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' 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 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 Customer Services Manager
Whitakers Opticians Group
34-36 Wharf Street
Sowerby Bridge
West Yorkshire
HX6 2AE

Classes of Information

All NHS information at Whitakers Opticians 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:

Who we are

Whitakers Opticians Group is a small chain of three independent optical practices which has been practising since 1932. A list of our practices including contact phone numbers can be found on our website or by contacting us at the above address.
Details of the Opticians and Optometrists employed in our practices are obtainable by contacting the relevant practice directly.
Alternatively, details of all opticians and optometrists registered in the UK are available from the General Optical Council Tel: 0207 580 3898 (www.optical.org).

The registered office of Whitakers (Sowerby Bridge) Ltd: 34-36 Wharf Street, Sowerby Bridge, HX6 2AE
Tel No. 01422 831030
Company Registered in England & Wales No: 625098
VAT Number: 461 4370 61

Our services

All Whitakers Opticians Group practices provide free NHS eye tests for those who are eligible. Click for exempt categories. 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 a free eye test and/or NHS vouchers please contact NSH Direct on 0845 4647 or visit www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk or ask for details in any of our practices. Alternatively, you can contact your local health authority.

Appointments for eyes tests can be booked over the phone, or by dropping into one of our practices. To find the address, phone number and opening times of your nearest practice, please click here. Alternatively, the addresses and phone number(s) of our practices can be obtained by contacting us at the above address.

Financial and funding information

For every eye test performed on behalf of the NHS the opticians practice receives a set fee, currently £20.26. This covers expenses such as optometrist and staff salaries, equipment costs and other practice overheads. More detailed information relating to Whitakers Opticians Group itself is not included due to the information being commercially sensitive.
If you are not eligible for the NHS eye test, please contact your local practice for details of our current charges. Your local Whitakers practice can inform you of the current cost of an eye test for those who do not qualify for NHS assistance.

If you would like further information about the value of the NHS vouchers accepted by Whitakers Opticians and NHS charges please visit www.dh.gov.uk/en/Healthcare/Primarycare/Optical/index.htm. These charges and voucher values are regularly reviewed by the NHS.

Further information about Whitakers (Sowerby Bridge) Ltd (rather than about the opticians in its employment) can be obtained from Companies House (www.companieshouse.gov.uk. There will be a fee payable for the production of such information by Companies House which will be advised at the time of enquiry. Such information falls outside the publication scheme, as it is not, in itself, public authority information.

Regular publications and information for the public

A complete set of information about eye tests, glasses, and contact lenses can be found on our website (www.whitakersopticians.co.uk).

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 manager at the practice concerned.
If the matter cannot be resolved in this way or you are unsatisfied with the response you receive feel free to contact the Optical Consumer Complaints Service (www.opticalcomplaints.co.uk)

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.

Useful Resources

Websites

Information Commissioner
www.ico.gov.uk

www.foi.nhs.uk

http://www.parliament.uk/parliamentary_committees/lcdcom.cfm

Publications

Freedom of Information Act 2000
www.hmso.gov.uk/acts/acts2000/20000036.htm

NHS Openness Code
http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_4050490