The Optometry practice in Queen Street has been owned by Derek Dunstone since 1991 and has developed considerably. Today we are open each weekday, with two consulting rooms and six members of staff.

Practice team:
Derek J Dunstone BSc (Hons) MCOptom- Optometrist

Michael Giles BSc(Hons)MCOptom - Optometrist

Susan Munson- Secretary/Receptionist
Wendy Clackson- Secretary/Receptionist
Sally Dunstone- Optometric Assistant/Administrator

Practice Opening Times:
Mon-Fri 9.00-1.00  2.00-5.00
+ Tuesday evening until 8pm

Derek Dunstone
Graduated from The City University, London in 1984 with and Honours defree (2:1) in Optometry & Visual Science.
Qualified with College of Optometrists in 1985 following Pre-Registration year at Colchester Hospital.

Employed in the Ipswich Hospital (part time 1990- 2007)and private practice in Ipswich (for 5 years) until purchasing the Hadleigh business in 1991.

Post graduate Certificates achieved from The City University London in Visual Impairment and Glaucoma Shared Care during 2003/04.

Wide variety of interests and posts in optometry, which presently include:

Examiner and Pre-registration Assessor for College of Optometrists - entails examining optometry graduates in their final college examinations and Assessing Trainees in their practices (since 1996).

Examination Question Writing - member of the (OSC) Examination Writing Group for the College of Optometrists.

Teaching in practice- Optics and refraction tuition given to Opthalmologists, and training on a variety of subjects to Pre-Registration Optometrists.

Suffolk Local Optometric Committee - active member on committee arranging educational and social meetings for local optometrists. Currently also on Sub-committee working on setting up Glaucoma Referral refinement scheme for Suffolk.

Currently studying for Ophthalmic Doctorate via Aston University, including practice based research involving retinoscopy.

Previous posts and post-graduation qualifications:

Senior Optometrist, The Ipswich Hospital - attendance in Eye Clinic on a weekly basis between 1990 - 2007. Also optometry care to children in local special schools; Thomas Wolsey, Belstead and Heathside.

Optometric Adviser for Suffolk PCTs- 2000-2004

Visiting Lecturer, City University, London- teaching/supervising Optmetric students in Contact Lens and General Clinics 2005-2006.

The following information on this page is displayed as part of my responsibility under theFreedom of Information Act:

Publication Scheme

Welcome to the publication scheme for D J Dunstone Optometry Practice as required by the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

Introduction

This publication scheme is a complete guide to the information routinely made available to the public by D J Dunstone Optometry Practice.  It is a description of the information about our NHS services that we make publicly available.  It will be reviewed at regular intervals and we will monitor its effectiveness.

How much does it cost?

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

How is the information made available?

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

           D J Dunstone Optometry Practice, 3 Queen Street, Hadleigh IP7 5DZP

Your Rights to Information

• The Freedom of Information Act 2000 is designed to promote openness and accountability amongst all organisations that receive public money.
• From January 1^st 2005 it will oblige 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 Act 2000.
• 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.

Feedback

If you have any comments about the operation of the publication scheme please write to Derek Dunstone at the practice.

Classes of information

All NHS information at D J Dunstone is held 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.

The information on this scheme is grouped into the following categories:

1. Who we are – see About Us on web site
2. Our services – D J Dunstone provides free NHS eye tests for those that 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 the practice.  Appointments for eye tests can be booked over the phone or by dropping into the practice.  Opening times can be found on our web site.
3. Financial and funding information. – for every eye test performed on behalf of the NHS the practice receives a set fee of approx £19.00.  This covers expenses such as salaries, equipment costs and other overheads.  If you are not eligible for the NHS eye tests please contact the practice for details of our current charges.
4. Regular publications and information for the public – a complete set of information about optical and ocular conditions, eye tests, glasses and contact lenses can be found on www.college-optometrists.org
5. Our policies and procedures;

Complaints- If you have a complaint about any of our products or services, we recommended that you first discuss an6 problems with Derek Dunstone.  A full copy of our complaints policy is available on request.

Data protection

This practice complies with the Data Protection Act 1998 and keeps manual records safe and confidential.  No personal data is kept on computer.

Access to health records – The data protection act 1998, which applies to living “data subjects”, governs access to the health records of patients other than deceased patients.  The Access to Health Records Act 1990 governs the access to health records of deceased patients.  The 1998 Act applies to patient records held manually and on computer.  Two categories of people are allowed to have access to a patient’s health records.  These are the patient and an applicant acting on behalf of the patient.  The fee for providing a copy of your optometric records, together with an explanatory summary, is £50.  The right of access can be wholly or partially excluded in certain cases.

Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974

Our statement of general policy is:

• To provide adequate control of the health and safety risks
• To consult with our employees on matters affecting their health and safety
• To provide and maintain safe equipment
• To ensure safe handling and use of substances
• To provide information, instruction and supervision for employees
• To ensure all employees are competent to do their tasks and to give them adequate training
• To prevent accidents and cases of work related ill health
• To maintain safe and healthy working conditions and
• To review and revise this policy as necessary.

6. This publication scheme – we will publish any changes we make to this publication scheme.

Cost of information

For the most part we will only charge for hard copies.  Charges are as follows:

·       Access from our web site – free of charge

·       Single hard copies – free of charge

·       E-mail – free of charge

·       Multiple hard copies – we will inform you of the cost of these charges in advance.

Useful resources

Web sites:

• Information commissioner – www.informationcommissioner.gov.uk
• Lord chancellors department – www.lcd.gov.uk
• NHS freedom of information – www.foi.nhs.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 be misled.  Where items are republished or copied to others, you must identify the source and acknowledge copyright status.  This permit does not extend to third party material, access through the scheme.