When you supply your personal details to the practice, they are stored and processed for four reasons:

 

1. We need to collect personal information about your health in order to provide you with the best possible treatment. Your requesting consultation and treatment 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 so, we would not be able to provide treatment.

 

2. We have a Legitimate Interest in collecting that information, because without it we couldn’t do our job effectively and safely.

 

3. We also think that it is important that we can contact you in order to confirm your appointments with us or to update you on matters related to your health care. This again constitutes Legitimate Interest, but this time it is your legitimate interest.

 

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 – just let us know by any convenient method.

 

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We have a legal obligation to retain your records for 7 years after your most recent appointment (or age 25, if this is longer).

 

Your records are stored:

- on paper, in locked filing cabinets, and the offices are always locked and alarmed out of working hours.

- on our office computers. These are password-protected, backed up regularly, and the offices are locked and alarmed out of working hours.

 

 

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:

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

• Our reception staff, because they organise the practitioners’ diaries, and coordinate appointments and reminders (but they do not have access to your medical history or sensitive personal information)

 

From time to time, we may have to employ consultants to perform tasks which might give them access to your personal data. 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.

 

 

You have the right to see what personal data of yours we hold, and you can also ask us to correct any factual errors. Provided the legal minimum period has elapsed, you can also ask us to erase your records.

 

We are treating your personal data responsibly, and 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. Complaints need to be sent to the “Data Controller”: Gabrielle Cousin  -  email: osteo.cousin@gmail.com

 

 

If you are not satisfied with our response, then you have the right to raise the matter with the Information Commissioner’s Office.

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 Who I am:   As an osteopath, I diagnose and treat health conditions. Treatments are carried out in accordance with the Institute of Osteopathy’s patient charter http://www.iosteopathy.org/osteopathy/the-patient-charter/. I may also provide other treatments, about which I will be pleased to provide more details.

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