Privacy Notice
(Why I
collect your personal data and what I do with it)
I take your privacy seriously and will only use your personal
information to provide the services you have requested of me.
Why do I need to collect your personal data?
When you supply your personal details to me
they are stored and processed for 4 reasons (the bits in bold are the relevant
terms used in the Data protection Act 2018, which includes the General Data
Protection Regulation – i.e. the law):
1. I need to collect personal
information about your health in order to provide you with the best possible information
and support. Your requesting a consultation with me and my agreement to provide
such a consultation constitutes a contract. You can, of course,
refuse to provide the information, but if you were to do that I would not be
able to provide information and support to you.
2. I have a “Legitimate
Interest” in collecting that information, because without it I couldn’t
do my job effectively and safely.
3. I also think that it
is important that I can contact you in order to confirm your appointments with me
or to update you on matters related to your medical care. This again
constitutes “Legitimate Interest”, but this time it is your legitimate
interest.
4. Provided I have
your consent, I may occasionally send you general health
information in the form of marketing materials. You may withdraw this consent
at any time – just let me know by any convenient method.
I have an 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 me to delete your records if you
wish. Otherwise, I will retain your records indefinitely in order that I can
provide you with the best possible care should you need to see me at some
future date.
Your records are stored:
·
On paper, in locked filing cabinets, and the offices are always
locked and alarmed out of working hours.
·
On my office computer in the case of correspondence, referral
letters, invoices etc. These are password-protected, backed up regularly, and
the office is locked outside of working hours.
I will never share your data with anyone who
does not need access without your written consent. Only the following people
will have routine access to your data:
·
Me, so that I can provide you with treatment
·
My reception staff, because they organise my diary, and
coordinate appointments and reminders (but they do not have access to your
medical history or sensitive personal information)
You have the right to see what personal data
of yours I hold, and you can also ask me to correct any factual errors.
Provided the legal minimum period has elapsed, you can also ask me to erase
your records.
I want you to be absolutely confident that I
am treating your personal data responsibly, and that I am doing everything I
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 I am mishandling
your personal data in some way, you have the right to complain. Complaints need
to be sent to what is referred to in the jargon as the “Data Controller”. Here
are the details you need for that:
Data Controller, (Christopher Etheridge,
6 Barnfield, Epping CM16 6RL)
If you are not satisfied with the response,
then you have the right to raise the matter with the Information Commissioner’s
Office.