PRIVACY NOTICE

This notice is to explain why I collect your personal data, and what I do with it, and to ensure I am working in accordance with the new EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR); terms from the regulation are indicated in bold. 
When you supply your personal details to me, when we communicate by email or text, this information is stored and processed for four reasons in line with the GDPR requirements: 

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What I store and why

1. I need to collect personal information about your health in order to provide you with the best possible treatment. Your requesting treatment and our agreement to provide that care constitutes in law an (unwritten) contract. 
   2. I have a legitimate interest in collecting that information, because without it I would not be able to practice acupuncture effectively and safely. 
   3. I keep records of your contact information because I 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 a legitimate interest, but this time it is your legitimate interest. 
   4. Provided I have your consent (and this only needs to be verbal consent), I may occasionally send you individualised health information by email in the form of articles or advice and recommendations we will have discussed in treatment.  Occasionally I contact patients I have not seen for a while.   I will not send out generalised leaflets or advertisements.  You may withdraw this consent at any time by any convenient method.   

 

How long I store your data

I have a professional obligation to retain your records for 8 years after your most recent appointment (or after you have reached 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 wish to see me at some future date. 

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How I store your data

Paper records are stored in locked filing cabinets, and the premises is always locked when I am not around.

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Electronic health records are stored on Cliniko or PPS depending on the clinic.  These providers have given me their assurances that they are fully compliant with the General Data Protection Regulations. 

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My computer (which has no medical records on it) is password-protected with a 2-minute screen lock and is backed up regularly. My phone and iPad which have access to my emails and bookings, are both password protected with and has a 30 second screen lock.

 

Sharing your personal data

Your personal data will be treated as strictly confidential, and will only be shared in specific circumstances:

• With named third parties with your explicit consent

• With research partners with your explicit consent. This data will be anonymised and thus unidentifiable.

• With the relevant authority such as the police or a court, if necessary, for compliance with a legal obligation to which I am subject e.g. a court order

• With your doctor or the police if necessary, to protect your or another person’s life

• With the police or a local authority for the purpose of safeguarding a child or vulnerable adult

• With my regulatory body, the Association of Acupuncture Clinicians, or my insurance company in the event of a complaint or insurance claim being brought against me

• My solicitor in the event of any investigation or legal proceedings being brought against me.

 

Your rights
You have the right to see what personal data of yours I hold, and you can also ask me to correct any factual errors.

 

I am legally required to respond to any request from a client to see their personal data within a timescale of 30 days. All requests should be to michelle@igetyourpoint.com.

 

I want you to be confident that I am treating your personal data responsibly, and that I will do everything I can to make sure that the only people who can access that data have a genuine need to do so.  In the case of my practice this could occur in the situation of me needing to make a referral to another health professional in which case I would ask your permission before sharing clinical information. 

If you feel that I am mishandling your personal data in any way, you have the right to complain. Please first raise your concern with me, as I hope to be able to deal with any concerns you might have. However, you can also raise a concern directly with the Information Commissioner’s Office on https://ico.org.uk/concerns/