Privacy Notice for Patients

1. Purpose

Saltdean Dental Practice aims to meet the requirements of the Data Protection Act 2018, the United Kingdom General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR), the guidelines on the Information Commissioner's (ICO) website, and our professional guidelines and requirements.

This privacy notice describes the type of personal information we hold, why we keep it, and what we do with it.

2. Registered name

The data controller is Saltdean Dental Practice.

3. Contact details

If you have an enquiry or request, please contact:

Saltdean Dental Practice
80 Longridge Avenue, Saltdean, Brighton, BN2 8RB
Email: saltdeandental@hotmail.co.uk
Phone: 01273 309988

This privacy notice is also available on the practice website saltdeandental.co.uk, or a hard copy can be requested from the Practice by emailing or calling directly.

4. What information we collect, use, and why

The personal data we process includes:

Name, address, contact details, gender, pronoun preferences, date of birth, nationality, NHS number, medical history, dental history, family medical history, family contact details, emergency contact details, marital status, information about care needs, financial details, doctor's details, treatment plans, consent, X-rays, clinical photographs, digital scans, study models, appointment dates, details of complaints, call recordings and CCTV recordings.

We may also process more sensitive special category data, including:

Ethnicity, race, religion, health records, sex life information, or sexual orientation.

The reasons we process the data include:

1. To fulfil our contract with you
2. To maintain a contemporaneous clinical record
3. To discuss treatment options
4. To provide dental prevention and oral health advice
5. To ensure any medication we prescribe is suitable
6. To modify treatments based on individual needs
7. To meet our obligations under the Equality Act 2010
8. To carry out financial transactions
9. To manage appointments, recall arrangements and send reminders
10. To communicate with your next of kin in an emergency
11. To communicate with parents or carers about the person being cared for
12. To refer to other dentists, doctors and health professionals as required
13. For debt recovery
14. To continually improve the care and service you receive from us
15. To assist with safeguarding or public protection concerns
16. To assist with dealing with queries, complaints or claims

5. Lawful basis (Personal data)

Our lawful bases for processing personal data:

1. A legitimate interest to provide evidence-based dental care to patients safely and effectively
2. Consent of the data subject
3. To comply with our legal obligations

6. Lawful basis (Special category data)

Our Article 9 conditions for processing special category data:

1. Processing is necessary for ethical and professional health care purposes
2. Processing is necessary to monitor and assess the quality of opportunity or treatment between different groups
3. Consent of the data subject

7. Data protection rights

You have the following personal data rights:

1. The right of access - you can ask for a copy of the data we hold about you.
2. The right to rectification - you can ask us to correct or delete information if it is inaccurate or incomplete.
3. The right to erasure - you can ask us to delete your personal data. For legal reasons, we may be unable to erase certain information (for example, information about your dental treatment).
4. The right to restrict processing - you can ask us to limit how we use your personal data.
5. The right to data portability - you can ask us to transfer your personal data to someone else.
6. The right to withdraw consent - you can withdraw your consent to the processing of your personal data at any time.

8. Where we get personal information from

We obtain your details when you enquire about our care and service, when you join the practice, when you subscribe to our newsletter or register online, when you complete a registration or medical history form, from family members or carers, and when another healthcare provider refers you for treatment at our practice.

We also use CCTV to:

1. Protect the practice premises and property
2. Increase the safety of patients, staff and visitors
3. Deter criminal activity and anti-social behaviour
4. Assist in the apprehension, identification and prosecution of offenders (if required)
5. Provide evidence to a court or tribunal (if required)

9. How long we keep information

We minimise the data that we keep, and do not keep it for longer than necessary.

We keep your records for 11 years after the date of your last visit to the Practice or until you reach the age of 25, whichever is longer.

Images captured with CCTV will be kept and destroyed securely after 1 month unless they are needed for longer due to ongoing investigation, legal proceedings, or regulatory compliance.

10. How we store information

We store your personal information securely. Only those working at the practice have access to your information. They understand their legal responsibility to maintain confidentiality and follow practice procedures to ensure this.

We use high-quality specialist dental software to record and use your personal information safely and effectively. Our computer system has a secure audit trail, and we back up information routinely.

11. Sharing information

To provide you with appropriate care, we might need to share personal data with the following:

1. Another dentist or another health professional who is caring for you
2. Your GP or consultant
3. A laboratory
4. NHS payment authorities
5. The Inland Revenue
6. The Benefits Agency, if you are claiming exemption or remission from NHS charges
7. A private dental scheme, if you are a member
8. Safeguarding organisations

12. Sharing CCTV recordings

We will not share images or recordings except in the following circumstances:

1. If requested by the local authority, police or courts for the investigation, prevention or prosecution of anti-social behaviour or criminal activity
2. For bringing or defending a legal claim
3. To comply with a police warrant or an order given by a court or tribunal

13. Duty of confidentiality

Exceptional circumstances might override the duty to maintain confidentiality. Examples include:

1. Situations where there is a serious public health risk or risk of harm to other individuals
2. When information is required by the police to prevent or detect crime
3. In response to a court order
4. To enable a dentist to pursue a legal claim against a patient

14. NHS required: National data opt-out

Whenever you use a health or care service, important information about you is collected in a patient record. The information collected about you can also be used and provided to other organisations for purposes beyond your care, for instance, to help with:

• Improving the quality and standards of care provided
• Research into the development of new treatments
• Preventing illness and diseases
• Monitoring safety
• Planning services

To find out more or to register your choice to opt out, please visit www.nhs.uk/your-nhs-data-matters.

15. How to complain

If you have any comments, suggestions, or complaints about how we use your data, you can contact us using the contact details at the top of this privacy notice.

If you remain unhappy with our response, you can contact the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) on 0303 123 1113 or by visiting https://www.ico.org.uk/make-a-complaint.

16. Review and Revision

This privacy notice is reviewed annually and updated to ensure its effectiveness and compliance with current regulations, guidance, and standards.

Last modified: 25 Jun 2026 | Saltdean Dental Practice, 80 Longridge Avenue, BN2 8RB