Freedom of Information Act
The Optical Bodies Approved Scheme

The publications are free unless otherwise indicated. Where information is provided at cost, the charges will be
calculated as set out in Class 7.

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

P.G.Allder & Partners Ltd
3a Peacock Alley
Leighton Buzzard
LU7 7HFor can be printed from this website.

• 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.

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.R. Mulholland
Managing Director
P.G.Allder & Partners Ltd
3a Peacock Alley
Leighton Buzzard
LU7 7HF

All NHS information at P.G.Allder & Partners Ltd. 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:

• Company background
• List of practices including contact phone numbers
• Details of all the Opticians and Optometrists employed in one of our practices can be obtained by contacting that store directly.
• Alternatively, details of all opticians and optometrists registered in the UK are available from the General Optical Council Tel: 0207 580 3898.
• Company Registration number 329985

All Allders Opticians practices 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 for details in any of our practices.

Appointments for eye tests can be booked over the phone, or by dropping into one of our practices. To find the address or phone number of your local practice click the links below. The addresses and phone number(s of our practice(s) is/are:

• Ampthill 01525 403647
• Baldock 01462 893330
• Barton 01582 881478
• Bedford 01234 344866
• Biggleswade 01767 313258
• Dunstable 01582 664815
• Flitwick 01525 712864
• Harpenden 01582 767524
• Hitchin 01462 450549
• L. Buzzard 01525 374191
• Letchworth 01462 682103
• Luton D/Rd 01582 725136
• Luton Ch/St 01582 732265
• Sandy 01767 680675
• St.Neots 01480 477479

Opening times can vary, so please call to confirm.

For every eye test performed on behalf of the NHS the opticians practice receives a set fee.  This covers 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 your local practice for details of our current charges.

A complete set of information about optical and ocular conditions, eye tests, glasses, and contact lenses, can be found on a number of websites including www.college-optometrists.org

Some of this information is also available in patient leaflets. These are freely available from all our practices. To request a set of leaflets by post, please write to:

P.G.Allder & Partners Ltd
3a Peacock Alley
Leighton Buzzard
LU7 7HF

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 practice concerned.

If the matter cannot be resolved in this way or you are unsatisfied with the response you receive please contact us on 01525 372664. A full copy of our complaints policy is available on request and can be found in Class 6.

• Complaints: At practice level in the first instance and with head office if not resolved.
• Data protection: Allders comply with all relevant Data protection legislation.
• Health and safety: Allders are committed to safety in the workplace and comply with all relevant legislation.

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 enquires 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.

Websites:

• Information Commissioner
  www.informationcommissioner.gov.uk
• Lord Chancellors Department
  www.lcd.gov.uk
• NHS Freedom of Information
  www.lcd.gov.uk

Publications:

• NHS Openness Code
  www.doh.gov.uk/nhsexec/codemain.htm
• Freedom of Information Act 2000
  www.hmso.gov.uk/acts/acts2000/20000036.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.

HMSO Guidance notes see www.hmso.gov.uk/guides.htm

Published 9th March 2007