Your Rights and Responsibilities
As a patient receiving eye care services, you have certain rights and responsibilities. This page outlines what you can expect from us and what we expect from you to ensure the best possible care.
Contents
Your Rights as a Patient
You have the right to receive safe, effective, and professional eye care services. These rights are protected under UK healthcare legislation and professional standards.
Right to Quality Care
- Receive care from a qualified, registered optometrist
- Have your examination conducted using appropriate, calibrated equipment
- Receive accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment recommendations
- Be referred to other healthcare professionals when necessary
Right to Information
- Receive clear explanations about your eye health and any conditions found
- Understand the purpose and nature of any tests or treatments
- Be informed about the costs of services before they are provided
- Receive a copy of your prescription and test results
- Access your clinical records in accordance with data protection laws
Right to Consent and Choice
- Give or withhold consent for examinations and treatments
- Refuse treatment (though this may affect your care)
Right to Privacy and Dignity
- Have your personal information kept confidential
- Be treated with respect and dignity
- Have a chaperone present during your examination if desired
- Have your cultural and religious beliefs respected
Your Responsibilities as a Patient
To receive the best possible care, you also have certain responsibilities. These help ensure your safety and the effectiveness of your treatment.
Providing Accurate Information
- Give honest and complete information about your medical history
- Provide accurate details about any illness or disability that prevents you from visiting a high street optometrist
- Inform us about all medications you are taking
- Tell us about any allergies or adverse reactions
- Report any changes in your vision or eye health
Appointment Responsibilities
- Give at least 24 hours notice if you need to cancel or reschedule
- Understand that cancellations with less than 24 hours notice may result in a charge
- Have your current spectacles available during the examination
Respectful Behaviour
- Treat our optometrist and any staff with courtesy and respect
NHS Patient Rights
If you are an NHS patient, you have additional rights under the NHS Constitution.
NHS Eye Care Entitlement
You may be entitled to free NHS eye care if you:
- Are aged 60 or over
- Have been diagnosed with diabetes or glaucoma
- Are at risk of glaucoma (family history)
- Named on a valid NHS tax exemption certificate
- Named on a valid HC2/HC3 certificate
- Receiving Pension Credit Guarantee Credit
- Receiving Income Support
- Receiving Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- Receiving Income-based Job Seekers Allowance
- Receiving Universal Credit and meet the specific criteria
- Have been prescribed complex lenses
Data Protection and Privacy
Your personal information is protected under UK data protection legislation (UK GDPR and Data Protection Act 2018).
Your Data Protection Rights
- Right to be informed: Know how your data is being used
- Right of access: Request copies of your personal data
- Right to rectification: Correct inaccurate information
- Right to erasure: Request deletion in certain circumstances
- Right to restrict processing: Limit how your data is used
- Right to data portability: Move your data to another provider
- Right to object: Object to certain uses of your data
For more information about how we handle your personal data, please see our Privacy Policy.
Professional Standards and Registration
Our optometrist is regulated by the General Optical Council (GOC) and must adhere to strict professional standards.
Professional Requirements
- Maintain professional competence through continuing education
- Follow clinical governance and safety standards
- Maintain professional indemnity insurance
- Adhere to ethical guidelines and codes of conduct
- Undergo regular professional development and peer review
You can verify our optometrist's registration and view their professional record on the GOC website at www.optical.org.
Contact Information
If you have questions about your rights and responsibilities, or need to make a complaint, please contact us:
Office Hours
Tuesday to Friday: 9am - 5pm
Monday: 9am - 5pm (closed occasional Mondays)
Closed England bank holidays
Written Complaints
Eye Care at Home
11 Shipley Fields
Erdington, Birmingham
West Midlands, B24 9BW