Freedom of Information Act (FOI): Model Publication Scheme
Guide for Information
Welcome to our Guide for Information for The S H Harrold Group, being S H Harrold (1937) Ltd and ChiltonWatson Ltd as required by the Freedom of Information Act 2000.
Introduction
This is a complete guide to the information routinely made available to the public by S H Harrold (1937) Ltd and ChiltonWatson Ltd. It is a description of the information about our NHS services that we make publicly available. It will be reviewed at regular intervals.
How much does it cost?
The publications are free unless otherwise indicated.
How is the information made available?
The information within each Class is available in hard copy from:
The Information Officer
Admin
S H Harrold (1937) Ltd
130/131 High Street
Uxbridge
Middx UB8 1JX
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 opticians’ and optometrists’ stores to respond to requests about the NHS related information that it holds, and a right of access to that information has been established in law.
- 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 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 store 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 Information Officer
Admin
S H Harrold (1937) Ltd
130/131 High Street
Uxbridge
Middx UB8 1JX
Classes of Information
All NHS information at the company’s stores 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 guide has been written in accordance with those exemptions. The information on this Scheme is grouped into the following categories:
- Who we are
- The S H Harrold Group is a private limited company whose registered office is at: 130/131 High Street, Uxbridge. Middx. UB8 1JX.
- The contact details for our stores may be found at www.harroldopticians.co.uk
- Details of the opticians and optometrists employed in our stores can be obtained by contacting that practice directly.
- Alternatively, details of all opticians and optometrists registered in the UK are available from the General Optical Council
www.optical.org/en/about/_us/
registrant_search_form.cfm Tel: 0207 580 3898. - Company Registration numbers S H Harrold (1937) Ltd 1370818
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ChiltonWatson Ltd 4090349
2) Our services
All our stores 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
www.dh.gov.uk/en/Healthcare/
Appointments for eye tests can be booked over the phone, or by dropping into the store. To find the address or phone number of your local store, please see our website at
3) Financial and funding information
For every eye test performed on behalf of the NHS the opticians store receives a set fee. This includes a contribution towards optometrists and staff salaries, equipment costs and other store overheads.
If you are not eligible for the NHS eye test, please contact your local store for details of our current private charges [and offers].
- Regular publications and information for the public
Information about optical and ocular conditions, eye tests, glasses, and contact lenses, can be found on a number of websites including www.harroldopticians.co.uk and www.college-optometrists.org
Some of this information is also available in patient leaflets. These are freely available from all our stores. To request a set of leaflets by post, please write to:
The Information Officer
Admin
S H Harrold (1937) Ltd
130/131 High Street
Uxbridge
Middx UB8 1JX
Complaints
If you have a complaint about any of our products or services, we recommended that you first discuss any problems with the manager at the store concerned.
If the matter cannot be resolved in this way or you are unsatisfied with the response you receive please contact Admin Manager on Telephone number 01895 237799. A full copy of our complaints policy is available on requestand can be found in Class 6.
- Our policies and procedures
·
Complaints This is available on request from our stores, or in writing form:
The Information Officer
Admin
S H Harrold (1937) Ltd
130/131 High Street
Uxbridge
Middx UB8 1JX
- 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 – 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.
Part 3. Useful Resources
Websites:
· Information Commissioner
www.
· Lord Chancellors Department
· NHS Freedom of Information
Publications:
· NHS Openness Code
www.doh.gov.uk/nhsexec/
· Freedom of Information Act 2000
www.hmso.gov.uk/acts/
January 2009
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.
