Your information is always protected by confidentiality.
(Why we collect your personal data and what we do with it).
When you supply your personal details to this clinic, they are stored and processed for reasons. We need to collect personal information about your health in order to provide you with the best and most appropriate treatment. Your request to treatment, and our agreement to provide that care constitutes a contract.
You may, of course, refuse to provide the information, but if you were to do that we would not be able to provide safe and effective treatment.
We have a “Legitimate Interest” in collecting that information, because without it we couldn’t do our job in a safe and effective manner.
We also feel that it is important that we can contact you in order to confirm your appointments with us or to update you on matters that are related to your medical care. This again constitutes “Legitimate Interest”, but this time it is your legitimate interest.
Provided we have obtained 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 – just let us know by any convenient method (email, call).
Storing your data
By law, we have to retain your records for 8 years after your most recent appointment (or for children, until 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 any future date.
Your records are stored on ‘Cliniko’, an online platform that has robust levels of security, and is used by doctors and health professionals worldwide.
Your personal information, such as; address, email and contact details are stored electronically (“in the cloud”), using these specialist medical records service. This provider has given us their assurances that they are fully compliant with the General Data Protection (GDPR) Regulations. Access to this data is password protected, and the passwords are changed regularly.
We will never share your data with anyone who does not need access without your written consent. Only the following people/agencies will have routine access to your data:
• The medical records service who store and process our files
• Your practitioner(s) in order that they can provide you with treatment
• Our reception staff, because they organise our practitioners’ diaries, and coordinate appointments and
reminders (but they do not have access to your medical history or sensitive personal information)
• We may also use Mailchimp to coordinate our messages, so your name and email address may be saved on their server.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.
What this means:
You have the right to see what personal data of yours we hold, and you can also ask us to correct any factual errors that you may find.
Provided the legal minimum period has elapsed, you can ask us to erase your records.
We want you to be absolutely confident that we are treating your personal data with the utmost responsibly, and that we are doing everything we can to make sure that the only people who can access that data have a genuine need to do so.
Of course, if you feel that we are mishandling your personal data in some way, you have the right to complain. Please contact the clinic if you have any issues whatsoever.
Hannah Clinging Osteopath 