Disclosing confidential information

Standard 14: Maintain confidentiality and respect your patients’ privacy (Standards of practice for optometrists and dispensing opticians)

14.1 Keep confidential all information about patients in compliance with the law, including information which is handwritten, digital, visual, audio or retained in your memory.

14.2 Ensure that all staff you employ or are responsible for, are aware of their obligations in relation to maintaining confidentiality.

14.3. Maintain confidentiality when communicating publicly, including speaking to or writing in the media, or when writing and sharing images online, including on social media.

14.4. Co-operate with formal inquiries and investigations and provide all relevant information that is requested in line with your obligations to patient confidentiality.

14.5. Provide an appropriate level of privacy for your patients during consultation to ensure that the process of information gathering, examination and treatment remains confidential. Different patients will require different levels of privacy and their preferences must be taken into account.

14.6. Only use the patient information you collect for the purposes it was given, or where you are required to share it by law, or in the public interest.

14.7. Securely store and protect your patient records to prevent loss, theft and inappropriate disclosure, in accordance with data protection law. If you are an employee, then this would be in accordance with your employer’s storage policy.

14.8. Confidentially dispose of patient records when no longer required in line with data protection requirements.

Standard 13: Maintain confidentiality and respect your patients’ privacy (Standards for optical students)

13.1 Keep confidential all information about patients in compliance with the law, including information which is handwritten, digital, visual, audio or retained in your memory.

13.2 Maintain confidentiality when communicating publicly, including speaking to or writing in the media, or when writing and sharing images online, including on social media.

13.3 Co-operate with formal inquiries and investigations and provide all relevant information that is requested in line with your obligations to patient confidentiality.

13.4 Provide an appropriate level of privacy for your patients during consultation to ensure that the process of information gathering, examination and treatment remain confidential. Different patients will require different levels of privacy and their preferences must be taken into account.

13.5 Only use the patient information you collect for the purposes it was given, or where you are required to share it by law, or in the public interest.

13.6 Securely store and protect your patient records to prevent loss, theft and inappropriate disclosure, in accordance with data protection law as outlined in the policies of your training provider.

13.7 Confidentially dispose of patient records when no longer required in line with data protection requirements.

Standard 11: Protect and safeguard patients, colleagues and others from harm (Standards of practice for optometrists and dispensing opticians)

11.1 You must be aware of and comply with your legal obligations in relation to safeguarding of children, young people and vulnerable adults.

11.2 Protect and safeguard children, young people and other vulnerable adults from abuse. You must:

11.2.1 Be alert to signs of abuse and denial of rights.

11.2.2 Consider the needs and welfare of your patients.

11.2.3 Report concerns to an appropriate person or organisation.

11.2.4 Act quickly in order to prevent further risk of harm.

11.2.5 Keep adequate notes on what has happened and what actions you took.

11.3 Promptly raise concerns about your patients, colleagues, employer or other organisation if patient or public safety might be at risk and encourage others to do the same. Concerns should be raised with your employing, contracting, professional or regulatory organisation as appropriate. This is sometimes referred to as ‘whistle-blowing’ and certain aspects of this are protected by law.

11.4 If you have concerns about your own fitness to practise, whether due to issues with health, character, behaviour, judgement or any other matter that may damage the reputation of your profession, stop practising immediately and seek advice.

11.5 If patients are at risk because of inadequate premises, equipment, resources, employment policies or systems, put the matter right if that is possible and/or raise a concern.

11.6 Ensure that any contracts or agreements that you enter into do not restrict you from raising concerns about patient safety including restricting what you are able to say when raising the concern.

11.7 Ensure that when reporting concerns, you take account of your obligations to maintain confidentiality as outlined in Standard 14.

11.8 If you have a serious communicable disease, or have been exposed to a serious communicable disease, and believe you could be a carrier, you should not practise until you have sought appropriate medical advice. You must follow the medical advice received, which may include the need to suspend, or modify your practice and/or guidance on how to prevent transmission of the disease to others. For guidance on serious communicable diseases, refer to current public health guidance.

Standard 10 Protect and safeguard patients, colleagues and others from harm (Standards for optical students)

10.1 Protect and safeguard children, young people and vulnerable adults from abuse. You must:

10.1.1 Be alert to signs of abuse and denial of rights.

10.1.2 Consider the needs and welfare of your patients.

10.1.3 Report concerns to an appropriate person or organisation, whether this is your tutor, supervisor or training provider.

10.1.4 Act quickly in order to prevent further risk of harm. Seek advice immediately if you are unsure of how to proceed.

10.1.5 Keep adequate notes on what has happened and what actions you took.

10.2 Promptly raise concerns about your patients, peers, colleagues, tutor, supervisor, training provider or other organisation, if patient or public safety might be at risk and encourage others to do the same. Concerns should be raised with your supervisor, training provider or the General Optical Council as appropriate. This is sometimes referred to as ‘whistle-blowing’ and certain aspects of this are protected by law.

10.3 If you have concerns about your own fitness to practise, whether due to issues with health, character, behaviour, judgement, or any other matter which may compromise patient safety or damage the reputation of your profession, do not participate in any further clinical training and seek advice from your employer and training provider immediately.

10.4 If patients are at risk because of inadequate premises, equipment, resources, employment policies or systems, put the matter right if that is possible and/or raise a concern with your training provider.

10.5 Ensure that when reporting concerns, you take account of your obligations to maintain confidentiality as outlined in Standard 13.

10.6 If you have a serious communicable disease, or have been exposed to a serious communicable disease, and believe you could be a carrier, you should not practise until you have sought appropriate medical advice. You must follow the medical advice received, which may include the need to suspend, or modify your practice and/or guidance on how to prevent transmission of the disease to others. For guidance on serious communicable diseases, refer to current public health guidance.

Standard 2: Communicate effectively with your patients (Standards of practice for optometrists and dispensing opticians)

2.1 Give patients information in a way they can understand. Use your professional judgement to adapt your language and communication approach as appropriate.

2.2 Identify yourself and your role and advise patients who will provide their care. Explain to patients what to expect from the consultation and ensure they have an opportunity to ask questions or change their mind before proceeding.

2.3 Be alert to unspoken signals which could indicate a patient’s lack of understanding, discomfort or lack of consent.

2.4 Ensure that the people you are responsible for are able to communicate effectively with patients and their carers, colleagues and others.

2.5 Ensure that patients or their carers have all the information they need to safely use, administer or look after any appliances, drugs or other treatment that they have been prescribed or directed to use in order to manage their eye conditions. This includes being actively shown how to use any of the above.

2.6 Be sensitive and supportive when dealing with relatives or other people close to the patient

Standard 2: Communicate effectively with your patients (Standards for optical students)

2.1 Give patients information in a way they can understand. Work with your tutor to achieve this.

2.2. Identify yourself and your role and advise patients who will provide their care. Explain to patients what to expect from the consultation and ensure they have an opportunity to ask questions or change their mind before proceeding.

2.3 Be alert to unspoken signals which could indicate a patient’s lack of understanding, discomfort or lack of consent.

2.4 Develop and use appropriate communication skills to communicate effectively with patients and their carers, colleagues and others. Consult your tutor or supervisor when unsure of how to proceed.

2.5 Ensure that patients or their carers have all the information they need to safely use, administer or look after appliances, drugs or other treatment that has been prescribed or they have been directed to use in order to manage their eye conditions. This includes being actively shown how to use any of the above.

2.6 Be sensitive and supportive when dealing with relatives or other people close to the patient.

Standard 3: Obtain valid consent (Standards of practice for optometrists and dispensing opticians)

3.1 Obtain valid consent before examining a patient, providing treatment or involving patients in teaching and research activities. For consent to be valid it must be given:

3.1.1 Voluntarily

3.1.2 By the patient or someone authorised to act on the patient’s behalf.

3.1.3 By a person with the capacity to consent.

3.1.4 By an appropriately informed person. In this context, informing means explaining what you are going to do and ensuring that patients are aware of any risks and options in terms of examination, treatment, supply of appliances or research they are participating in. This includes the right of the patient to refuse treatment or have a chaperone or interpreter present.

3.2 Be aware of your legal obligations in relation to consent, including the differences in the provision of consent for children, young people and vulnerable adults. When working in a nation of the UK other than where you normally practise, be aware of any differences in consent law and apply these to your practice.

3.3 Ensure that the patient’s consent remains valid at each stage of the examination or treatment and during any research in which they are participating.

Standard 3: Obtain valid consent (Standards for optical students)

3.1 Obtain valid consent before examining a patient, providing treatment or involving patients in teaching and research activities. For consent to be valid it must be given:

3.1.1 Voluntarily.

3.1.2 By the patient or someone authorised to act on the patient’s behalf.

3.1.3 By a person with the capacity to consent.

3.1.4 By an appropriately informed person. In this context, informing means explaining what you are going to do and ensuring that patients are aware of any risks and options in terms of examination, treatment, supply of appliances or research they are participating in. This includes the right of the patient to refuse treatment or have a chaperone or interpreter present.

3.2 Be aware of your legal obligations in relation to consent, including the differences in the provision of consent for children, young people and vulnerable adults. When in a nation of the UK, other than where you normally study or undertake supervised practice, be aware of any differences in consent law and apply these appropriately.

3.3 Ensure that the patient’s consent remains valid at each stage of the examination or treatment and during any research in which they are participating.

Standard 4: Show care and compassion for your patients (Standards of practice for optometrists and dispensing opticians)

4.1 Treat others with dignity and show empathy and respect.

4.2 Respond with humanity and kindness to circumstances where patients, their family or carers may experience pain, distress or anxiety, including when communicating bad news.

Standard 4: Show care and compassion for your patients (Standards for optical students)

4.1 Treat others with dignity and show empathy and respect.

4.2 Respond with humanity and kindness to circumstances where patients, their family or carers may experience pain, distress, or anxiety, including when communicating bad news.