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    Privacy Policy

    Last updated: 6 August 2026

    1. Who We Are

    Emergency Dental Experts is a private emergency dental practice located at 50 The Vale, Golders Green, London NW11 8SG. We are registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) and all of our dentists are registered with the General Dental Council (GDC).

    Phone: 020 8455 0465

    Website: www.emergencydentistnw11.com

    We are the data controller for the personal information we hold about you. We are committed to protecting your privacy and handling your personal data in accordance with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018.

    2. Information We Collect

    We collect the following categories of personal information when you register with us, attend an appointment, or contact us:

    • Full name, date of birth, gender, and contact details (telephone number, email address, postal address)
    • Medical and dental history, including allergies, medications, and relevant medical conditions
    • Treatment records, clinical notes, X-rays, photographs, and diagnostic images
    • Payment and billing information, including card details processed through secure payment systems
    • Emergency contact details and next-of-kin information
    • Details of any complaints, feedback, or correspondence
    • Information provided through our website, including contact form submissions and WhatsApp messages

    3. Why We Collect Your Information

    We use your personal information for the following purposes:

    • To provide safe, effective dental care and treatment tailored to your individual needs
    • To maintain accurate and up-to-date dental records as required by the General Dental Council (GDC)
    • To communicate with you about appointments, treatment plans, and follow-up care
    • To process payments and manage billing
    • To comply with legal and regulatory obligations, including those imposed by the CQC, GDC, HMRC, and NHS England
    • To respond to complaints and resolve disputes
    • To improve the quality of our services and patient experience
    • To send appointment reminders via SMS, email, or telephone

    4. Legal Basis for Processing

    We process your personal data on the following legal grounds:

    • Consent — for marketing communications and non-essential cookies
    • Performance of a contract — to provide the dental treatment and services you have requested
    • Legal obligation — to comply with GDC, CQC, NHS, and HMRC regulations
    • Vital interests — in dental emergencies where you are unable to give consent
    • Legitimate interests — for practice administration, quality improvement, and fraud prevention

    Where we process special category data (such as health information), we do so on the basis that it is necessary for the provision of healthcare.

    5. How Long We Keep Your Data

    In accordance with GDC guidelines and NHS records management standards:

    • Adult dental records are retained for a minimum of 10 years after the date of last treatment
    • Records for children are retained until the patient reaches the age of 25, or for 10 years after the last treatment, whichever is longer
    • Financial records are retained for 7 years as required by HMRC
    • X-rays and diagnostic images are retained as part of the clinical record

    6. Who We Share Your Data With

    We may share your personal information with the following parties, only to the extent necessary:

    • Other healthcare providers involved in your care (e.g., your GP, hospital consultants, or specialist referrals)
    • Dental laboratories for the manufacture of dental appliances, crowns, and prosthetics
    • Regulatory bodies (GDC, CQC) when required by law
    • Our professional indemnity insurers and legal advisors
    • Secure payment processors for handling card transactions
    • IT service providers who maintain our practice management systems (under strict data processing agreements)

    We will never sell your personal data to third parties. We do not share your data with marketing companies.

    7. Your Rights Under UK GDPR

    Under the UK General Data Protection Regulation, you have the following rights:

    • Right of access — to request a copy of the personal data we hold about you
    • Right to rectification — to request correction of inaccurate or incomplete data
    • Right to erasure — to request deletion of your data (subject to legal retention requirements)
    • Right to restrict processing — to request that we limit how we use your data
    • Right to data portability — to receive your data in a structured, machine-readable format
    • Right to object — to object to processing based on legitimate interests or direct marketing
    • Right to withdraw consent — where processing is based on consent, you may withdraw it at any time

    To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at 020 8455 0465 or write to us at 50 The Vale, Golders Green, London NW11 8SG.

    8. Data Security

    We implement appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect your personal data against unauthorised access, accidental loss, destruction, or damage. These measures include:

    • Encrypted digital storage systems with access controls
    • Secure, locked physical storage for paper records
    • Regular staff training on data protection and information security
    • Password-protected systems with multi-factor authentication where applicable
    • Regular security audits and software updates

    9. Cookies and Website Analytics

    Our website may use cookies and similar technologies to improve your browsing experience and analyse website traffic. We use Google Analytics to understand how visitors interact with our website. No personally identifiable information is collected through analytics. You can manage your cookie preferences through your browser settings.

    10. Complaints

    If you are unhappy with how we handle your personal data, you have the right to lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO):

    ico.org.uk | Helpline: 0303 123 1113

    We would, however, appreciate the opportunity to address your concerns before you approach the ICO. Please contact us first so that we can try to resolve the matter.

    11. Changes to This Policy

    We may update this privacy policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or legal requirements. Any changes will be posted on this page with an updated revision date. We encourage you to review this policy periodically.