Optical information
Publication Scheme
Welcome to the Publication Scheme for ASDA Opticians, part of ASDA Stores Ltd 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 ASDA Opticians. 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 in Class 7.
How is the information made available?
The information within each Class can be printed from this web site and is available in hard copy from:
Professional Services Manager, ASDA Opticians, ASDA House, Great Wilson Street, Southbank, Leeds, LS11 5AD
Tel: 0113 2435435 and ask for the Professional Services Manager for Optical
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 1st 2005 it will oblige opticians 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 1995.
- 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 your local practice to do this.
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:
Professional Services Manager
ASDA Opticians
ASDA House
Great Wilson Street
Southbank
Leeds
Classes of information
All NHS information at ASDA Opticians 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 Scheme had been written in accordance with those exemptions. The information on this Scheme is grouped into the following categories:
1. Who we are
ASDA Stores Ltd is part of Wal Mart, the most successful retailer in the world. ASDA has over 300 stores across the country, offering customers fantastic products at every day low prices.
ASDA opened its first Opticians in 2000 as its commitment to providing a professional, community based eye care service at great value prices. We have Optical departments in 84 of our stores. 82 of the Optical departments provide a full range of eye care services i.e. eye tests, spectacle dispensing and contact lenses fitting and aftercare. 2 of our Optical departments dispense spectacles only.
Details of the Dispensing Opticians, Contact Lens Opticians and Optometrists employed in our Opticians can be obtained by contacting the department directly. Additionally, details of all Dispensing Opticians, Contact Lens Opticians and Optometrists registered in the UK are available from the General Optical Council Tel: 0207 5803898.
ASDA Opticians is part of ASDA Stores Ltd, Great Wilson Street, Southbank, Leeds LS11 5AD. Our registration number is 464777.
2. Our services
All ASDA Opticians provide free NHS eye tests for those who 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 contact any ASDA Opticians for details of NHS optical services and charges.
Appointments for eye tests can be booked over the phone, or by visiting one of our practices.
Opening times can vary between locations, so please call to confirm.
3. Financial and funding information
For every eye test performed on behalf of the NHS the opticians practice receives a set NHS fee. This covers expenses such as optometrist and staff salaries, equipment costs and other store overheads.
If you are not eligible for the NHS eye test, please contact your local store/practice for details of our current charges.
A hard copy of the company accounts can be requested from:
Professional Services Manager, ASDA Opticians, ASDA House, Great Wilson Street, Southbank, Leeds, LS11 5AD
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 from the following sources :
The College of Optometrists
42 Craven Street
London
WC2N 5NG
Tel: 0207 8396000
Eyecare Information Service, PO Box 131, Market Rasen, Lincolnshire, LN8 5TS
www.eyecare-information-service.org.uk
Some of this information is also available in patient leaflets. These are freely available from all our practice(s). To request a set of leaflets by post, please contact :
Professional Services Manager, ASDA Opticians, ASDA House, Great Wilson Street, Southbank, Leeds, LS11 5AD
Tel: 0113 2435435 and ask for the Professional Services Manager for Optical.
5. 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 practice concerned.
If the matter cannot be resolved in this way or you are unsatisfied with the response you receive please contact Customer Relations on 0500 1000 55.
For a full copy of the Optical complaints policy, please click here.
A hard copy of the Optical complaints policy is available on request from:
Professional Services Manager, ASDA Opticians, ASDA House Great Wilson Street, Southbank, Leeds, LS11 5AD, Tel: 0113 2435425 and ask for the Professional Services Manager for Optical.
6. Our policies and procedures
A hard copy of our policies on Data Protection and Health and Safety are available on request from :
Professional Services Manager, ASDA Opticians, ASDA House, Great Wilson Street, Southbank, Leeds, LS11 5AD
Tel: 0113 2435425 and ask for the Professional Services Manager for Optical.
7. This publication scheme
In this class we will publish any changes we make to this publication scheme, the criteria on which our information management policies are made and a referral point for all enquires regarding information management generally in practice. We will also publish any proposed changes or additions to publications already available.
Cost of Information
For the most part, we will only charge for hard copies, or copies onto media. Charges are as follows and will be reviewed regularly.
- Accessed from our website – free of charge
- Single hard copies – free of charge
- Multiple hard copies, or archived copies will attract a charge for photocopying, retrieval and postage. We will inform you of the cost of these charges that will have to be paid in advance.
- E-mail will be free of charge.
Useful Resources
Websites
Information commissioner
Publications
Freedom of Information Act 2000
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 mislead. Where items are re-published or copied to others, you must identify the source and acknowledge copyright status. This permit does not extend to third party material, accessed through the scheme.
For HMSO Guidance notes see www.hmso.gov.uk/guides.htm
Customer Relations
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Websites*
We want you to be 100% satisfied with the professional service you receive and optical goods you purchase from ASDA Opticians. If you are not entirely satisfied, please contact the Dispensing Optician or General Store Manager at your local store to discuss your concerns.Click here to locate your local ASDA Opticians contact details. The Dispensing Optician will endeavour to resolve your concern or complaint in the first instance. If this is not possible the Dispensing Optician will refer you to the Professional Services Manager, who is qualified to find a resolution to your optical complaint.
You may prefer to contact ASDA House directly, please telephone 0500 1000 55 (free phone) or fax 0113 2417732.
In both instances we aim to resolve your complaints as soon as possible. Regardless of how you contact us, we will acknowledge your complaint within 24 hours. We may need to conduct an investigation into why our service and / or goods have fallen short of your expectations. If we cannot find a resolution within 48 hours of receiving the initial complaint we shall give you an explanation of the prevailing reasons. We shall also send you a letter every 10 days until a resolution is found.
If you have received services or goods on behalf of the National Health Service, you may want to complain to the NHS directly. You can obtain the details of who to contact within your local health authority from your local ASDA Opticians.
12 Month Guarantee
All optical products have a 12-month warranty against manufacturer’s faults developing within the 12 months from the date of purchase or collection.
