Privacy Policy
Effective Date: May 2026 | Dr. Greer Lingham Dental Practice | www.drgreerlingham.co.za
1. Introduction
Dr. Greer Lingham Dental Practice ("we", "us", "our") respects your privacy and is committed to protecting your personal information. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store, and protect your information when you visit our website, contact our practice, or receive dental treatment.
We comply with the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA) of South Africa and all applicable healthcare privacy regulations.
2. Information We Collect
2.1 Personal Information
We may collect the following personal information:
- Name, surname, and contact details (telephone number, email address)
- Identity number or date of birth
- Medical aid information and membership details
- Medical and dental history, including current medications and allergies
- Emergency contact information
- Employment information (for billing and medical aid purposes)
2.2 Health Information
As a dental practice, we collect sensitive health information necessary for your treatment, including:
- Dental records, X-rays, and clinical photographs
- Treatment plans and progress notes
- Prescriptions and referrals
- Laboratory results and diagnostic reports
2.3 Website Information
When you visit our website, we may collect:
- IP address and browser type
- Pages visited and time spent on the website
- Referral source (how you found our website)
We do not use cookies for tracking or advertising purposes. Any analytics data collected is anonymised and used solely to improve website functionality.
3. How We Use Your Information
We use your personal information for the following purposes:
- Providing dental care: To diagnose, treat, and manage your dental health
- Appointment management: To schedule, confirm, and remind you of appointments
- Billing and administration: To process payments, submit medical aid claims, and maintain financial records
- Communication: To respond to enquiries, provide treatment updates, and share relevant health information
- Legal compliance: To comply with HPCSA regulations, tax requirements, and other legal obligations
- Quality assurance: To maintain clinical standards and improve our services
Important: We will never sell your personal information to third parties for marketing purposes. We do not share your data with unrelated commercial entities.
4. Information Sharing and Disclosure
We may share your information only in the following limited circumstances:
- Medical aid schemes: To process claims and obtain authorisation for treatment
- Referring practitioners: When you require specialist care beyond our scope, with your consent
- Laboratories and dental technicians: To fabricate crowns, dentures, and other dental appliances
- Legal requirements: When required by law, court order, or to protect our legal rights
- Professional indemnity insurers: In the event of a claim or dispute, as required by our insurance
All third parties with whom we share information are bound by confidentiality agreements and applicable privacy laws.
5. Data Security
We implement appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect your personal information:
- Patient records are stored in a secure, access-controlled practice management system
- Physical records are kept in locked storage with restricted access
- Digital data is backed up regularly with encrypted backups
- Our website uses secure protocols (HTTPS) to protect data in transit
- Staff are trained on confidentiality and data protection procedures
- We do not store payment card details on our systems
6. Data Retention
We retain your personal and health information for as long as necessary to fulfil the purposes for which it was collected, including:
- Dental records: Minimum 5 years from last treatment (as required by HPCSA guidelines)
- Financial records: 5 years (as required by tax legislation)
- Minor patient records: Until the patient reaches 21 years of age, plus 5 years
After the retention period, records are securely destroyed in accordance with POPIA requirements.
7. Your Rights
Under POPIA, you have the following rights regarding your personal information:
- Right to access: Request a copy of the personal information we hold about you
- Right to correction: Request that we update or correct inaccurate information
- Right to deletion: Request deletion of your information, subject to legal retention requirements
- Right to object: Object to the processing of your information in certain circumstances
- Right to complain: Lodge a complaint with the Information Regulator if you believe your rights have been violated
To exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the details provided below. We will respond within 30 days of receiving your request.
8. Children's Privacy
We treat all patients with equal care and respect. For patients under 18 years of age, we require consent from a parent or legal guardian for treatment. We take additional care to protect the privacy of minor patients and their records.
9. Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or legal requirements. The updated policy will be posted on our website with the revised date. We encourage you to review this policy periodically.
10. Contact Us
If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or your personal information, please contact us:
Dr. Greer Lingham Dental Practice
Shop G152a Menlyn Park Shopping Centre
Cnr Atterbury Road & Lois Avenue
Menlyn, 0181
Telephone: 012 880 2965 / 012 361 2188
WhatsApp: 067 792 4947
Website: www.drgreerlingham.co.za