Privacy Policy

When you supply your personal details to this practice they are stored and processed for 4 reasons (the bold text is the relevant terms used in the General Data Protection Regulation):

1. We need to collect personal information about your health in order to provide you with the best possible treatment. Your treatment request and our agreement to provide that care constitutes a contract. You can, of course, refuse to provide the information, but if you were to do that we would not be able to provide treatment.

2. We have a “Legitimate Interest” in collecting that information. This enables us to deliver our service effectively and safely.

3.  It is important that we can contact you in order to arrange and confirm your appointments, or to update you on matters related to your care and treatment.  This  is your legitimate interest. 

This communication is handled by phone, letter, email, or text message.

4. Provided we have your consent, we may occasionally send you general health information in the form of articles, advice or newsletters. You may withdraw this consent at any time through email,  in person or phone.

We have a legal obligation to retain your records for 8 years after your most recent appointment (or age 25, if this is longer), but after this period you can ask us to delete your records if you wish. Otherwise, we will retain your records indefinitely in order that we can provide you with the best possible care should you need to see us at some future date. 

Your records are stored electronically, using a specialist medical records service. This provider provides reassurance that they are fully compliant with the General Data Protection Regulations. Access to this data is password protected, and the passwords are changed regularly. Our computers are password-protected, backed up regularly, and no data is stored on the premises.

In the event of the business sale the goodwill of the practice (in the event of retirement, death, or change in circumstances of the current owner), your records will be transferred to the new owner.

We will never share your data with anyone who does not need access without your written consent. Only the following people/agencies will have access to your data:

1. The medical records service who store and process our files.

2. Your practitioner(s) in order that they can provide you with treatment.

3. Other healthcare providers (for instance your GP, or hospital consultant), but we will ask for your consent to do this.

4. Other administrative such as the accountant/bookkeeper. Administrative staff will not have access to your medical notes, just your essential contact details.

5. If you send us an email, we will have a separate record of your name and email address on our computers.

6. From time to time, we may have to employ consultants to perform tasks which might give them access to your personal data (but not your medical notes). We will ensure that they are fully aware that they must treat that information as confidential, and we will ensure that they sign a non-disclosure agreement.