Privacy policy
Keeping your information safe
Your personal data:-
why we collect it and what we do with it
GDPR
The General Data Protection Regulations 2018 govern the storage and processing of personal Information. They protect your rights and require us to set out what data we gather, how we store it and who has access to it.
This notice explains what we do with
- information gathered from and by the Fertile-Ground website, such as your name and email address
- Information related to patients, their health, appointments and treatment, and contained in their clinic notes.
Cookies
Like all modern websites, Fertile Ground uses cookies. Cookies are not programs, they are just text files that identify your IP address (but not you). Cookies are generated by every website you visit and are stored by your browser. The point of a cookie is to make any future visits you make to a site easier. For example, if you’ve visited once, the cookie will provide information about which pages you visited last time and take you straight to that page..
Fertile Ground is built using the WordPress content management system and hosted by Bluehost. WordPress generates several cookies, some of which only last as long as you remain on the site, and some longer lasting to help you on future visits, as described above..
Google analytics uses cookies to see how many people visit a particular site, how long they stay there and which pages they visit. This is helpful for site development and understanding what visitors are looking for and what further information they may like to find. None of this information is personalised.
All browsers have tools for managing cookies, which allow you to delete any or all of the files held on your machine – in Google Chrome it’s in the More Tools menu.
The Data Protection regulations require you to actively consent to cookies, so each site you visit, including this one, will display a pop-up inviting you to accept or refuse their cookies.
Signing up for newsletters and guides
If you’d like to receive my occasional newsletter, workshop updates or download one of my guides. You will need to fill in a form detailing your name and email address, which will be added to a mailing list. You can unsubscribe from this list at any time – there’s a link at the bottom of any emails you receive.
We use MailPoet to manage our email newsletter subscriber list and to send out updates, insights, and marketing communications. By subscribing to our occasional newsletter, you acknowledge that the information you provide (such as your name and email address) will be processed by MailPoet in accordance with their Privacy Policy. MailPoet, owned by Auttomatic, the software house behind WordPress, allows us to track opens and clicks on our emails so we can improve the relevance of the content we send you. You can opt out of receiving these emails at any time by clicking the “unsubscribe” link included at the bottom of every email.
Clinic data
Under the provisions of the 2018 Data Protection Act, there are four reasons for me to store and process your personal information. These are
- Contract
- My legitimate interest
- Your legitimate interest
- Consent
Your request for treatment and my agreement to provide it constitutes a contract
In order to provide that treatment I need to collect personal information about you and your health. Without this information it wouldn’t be possible to provide treatment. This is MY legitimate interest in gathering, holding and using your data.
I hold your contact details in order to make and confirm appointments and to keep you informed of any matters concerning your healthcare. This constitutes YOUR legitimate interest.
I will only send you health information, advice or newsletters with your explicit Consent. If you no longer wish me to do so you can withdraw your consent at any time by emailing me at info@fertile-ground.com
Medical records
I am legally obliged to keep your records for 8 years. You can ask to have your file deleted after this time if you wish.
I will never share medical information with anyone other than another clinician you are consulting, and then only with your knowledge and consent
If I send you for blood tests, I would need to share your contact details with the laboratory.
Data storage and access
Your medical notes are stored on paper though some documents such as lab test results may be stored digitally. During non-office hours files and computer are securely locked away.
Your contact details are stored on my computer. Your phone number and texts are also stored on my mobile.
My computer and your files are password protected and regularly backed up. My phone is also password protected.
No-one other than myself has access to your medical records
I use Mailpoet to handle newsletters so your email address may be saved on their servers.
You have the right to see what personal data of yours I hold and ask me to correct any factual errors. You can ask me to delete your data once the minimum legal period has elapsed
Complaints
Please be reassured that I handle your information carefully and respectfully, and that I take all reasonable precautions to ensure that your data is safe and that no-one other than myself can access it.
If you feel that in some way I have mishandled your data, you have the right to complain. Please address complaints to info@Fertile-Ground.com, or by post to Data Controller, Fertile Ground Charterhouse Clinic 85 Thomas More House, Barbican, London EC2Y 8BT
If you are not satisfied with my response, you have the right to raise the matter with the office of the Information Commissioner