Freedom of Information Act (FOI)

Publication Scheme

Welcome to our Publication Scheme for Costco Wholesale UK Ltd. This document complies with the requirements of the Information Commissioner’s Model Publication Scheme for Costco Wholesale UK Ltd in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and fulfils the obligations on opticians’ practices under the Act.

Introduction

This is a complete guide to the information routinely made available to the public by Costco Wholesale UK 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:

Costco Wholesale UK Ltd. Home Office, Hartspring Lane, Watford, Herts WD25 8JS

This Publication Scheme

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.

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’ practices 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 practice where your records are held to do this. We retain your records for 10 years from the date of your last test – children up to the age 25 and it is 10 years since they were last seen.

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: Costco Wholesale UK Ltd. Home Office, Hartspring Lane, Watford, Herts WD25 8JS.

Classes of Information

All NHS information at Costco Wholesale UK 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 guide has been written in accordance with those exemptions. The information on this Scheme is grouped into the following categories:

1) Who we are

• Costco Wholesale UK Ltd.
• For a list of practices please contact Home Office on 01923 213113.
• Details of the opticians and optometrists employed in our practices (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 Tel: 0207 580 3898.
• Company Registration number 2635489.

2) Financial and funding information: what we spend and how we spend it

For every sight test performed on behalf of the NHS the practice receives a set fee, which is fixed nationally. The fees paid by the NHS for each service are available from the practice on request. They include a contribution towards optometrists’ and staff salaries, equipment costs and other practice overheads. Information in this class will be published only where it is unlikely adversely to affect the commercial position of the firm or practice.

3) Our Priorities

To provide our patients with high quality eye care.

4) Decision Making

Any decisions made about the provision of NHS-funded services will be reflected in the services we provide and in the contract(s) held with the NHS England/LHB.

5) Our policies and procedures

• Complaints (available on request)
• Data protection (available on request)

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 warehouse optical department concerned. We find that most issues can be put right at this stage.

If the matter cannot be resolved in this way or you are unsatisfied with the response you receive please contact Ste McClay – Regional Optical Supervisor on 01923 830641. A full copy of our complaints policy is available on request.

6) Lists and Registers

We don’t keep lists and registers. Our patient records are confidential.

7) The Services We Offer

We provide NHS-funded sight tests for those who are eligible. Patients may also be entitled to NHS vouchers that can be used against the purchase of spectacles or contact lenses as required.

To find out if you are eligible for this assistance please ask for details in any of our practices.

Appointments for sight tests can be booked over the phone or by dropping into the practice/one of our practices. Opening times can vary between locations, so please call to confirm.

Regular publications and information for the public

Information about optical and ocular conditions, sight tests, spectacles, and contact lenses, can be found on a number of websites including www.college-optometrists.org.

Updated: August 2017