Our Privacy Policy
Your privacy is important to us. This privacy policy covers what we collect and how we use, disclose, transfer, and store your information.
What information do we collect when you use the NHS.net Connect website?
When you use the NHS.net Connect website, we use various technologies to collect information automatically – such as your IP address. This is commonplace across all internet services to enable the investigation of issues such as service availability and the identification of malicious use. This information is then kept in our internet access logs.
We also collect some personal information directly – for example, when you actively submit details like your postcode to find nearby services.
When you log in to the NHS.net Connect website, you are logging in to your NHS account. By using your NHS account, you are accepting the NHS account terms and conditions, including the NHS account privacy policy and the NHS account cookies policy. These will apply while you are using services within your NHS account.
How do we use the information we collect about you?
We analyse information to see what is most effective about our website and associated services to help us identify ways to improve it and to make it more effective. We may also use information for other purposes, which we would describe to you at the point when we collect the information.
Cookies
Our website uses cookies. These are small files saved on your phone, tablet, or computer when you visit a website. They store information about how you use the website, such as the pages you visit.
The law states that we can store cookies on your device if they are strictly necessary for the operation of this site. For all other types of cookies, we need your permission before we can use them on your device.
You can choose which cookies we use.
Video content
The NHS.net Connect website video content – whether viewed on the website, in emails, or embedded in third-party sites – is streamed to users by a third-party company.
Email subscriptions
If you sign up for one of our email subscription services, we will hold the information you submitted (such as your email address) for as long as we are providing you services.
If you do not access the services provided by us, for instance, you do not open or click through one of the emails for more than a year, we will send you an email asking you to confirm that you wish to continue receiving our emails. If you do not respond to this email within 1 month, we will unsubscribe you.
We will remove all personal information we hold relating to you within 6 months of you unsubscribing from the site. This information is held for a further 6 months for statistical analysis or in case you choose to resubscribe. If you unsubscribe, you will not receive further information from us.
NHS.net Connect website enquiries
If you contact the NHS.net Connect website with an enquiry, such as a question about our content, you may be contacted to provide feedback on how we managed your enquiry.
We will hold the information you provide us for as long as necessary to support the service we are providing you. If no communication has been made in over 12 months and the information is not required to resolve an ongoing issue, then all communication and any personal information will be deleted.
Our interactive tools
We produce several interactive tools that can help you learn more about your health. As well as appearing on the NHS.net Connect website, these tools can be used on other (third-party) sites.
If you turn on cookies that measure website use, use of our tools on third-party sites will be tracked. No personal data is collected by these tools.
Third-party services
If you turn on cookies that measure website use, we may use various services to help improve the NHS.net Connect website experience. These services provide insights into website performance, user behavior, and other factors. Some tools also allow surveys to help us improve the site. These surveys may collect both personal data and anonymised data.
Syndication
We offer a free syndication service that enables partner organisations to pull content from the NHS.net Connect website and display it on their website, app, or service.
We require personal information of those using this service for contractual purposes. While an active subscriber is receiving syndicated content, we will continue to store their personal data.
Service finders
The website provides a number of service finders to assist you in finding health services near you. While we do not capture any specific information about you as part of this service, searches, including postcode and other personal information, are saved in our logs and analytics tools.
Ratings and reviews
User ratings and reviews are moderated by a service provider. They will receive details of any comments you make and the name and email address you submit.
We also syndicate published ratings and reviews to partner websites, apps, or services. We do not pass your email address to our syndication partners.
General data services
We process and publish data in directories on the NHS.net Connect website from data aggregators and professional bodies to provide information to the public about health-related services.
Profile Information Management System (PIMS)
PIMS is used by staff working within health and social care providers to enter service information on the NHS.net Connect website. If you are a PIMS profile editor, we collect personal data from you on registration. We use your personal data to provide the PIMS service and to communicate with you by email.
PIMS enables you to add staff information to your service profile(s). Before doing so, you need to ensure that you acquire and record their consent unless the information is already in the public domain.
Social media
We utilise various social media platforms to interact with our users.
If you choose to interact with us on social media, we may receive some personally identifiable data about you, which is supplied by the platform you are using. This may include:
- name
- social media handles
- location history
- images
We process and store your data in accordance with the terms and conditions and privacy policies of the respective platforms.
Social networks may use information about your online activity to build a profile of you. This data is then used (anonymously) to send you targeted adverts across various digital platforms.
How long do we hold this information?
Unless otherwise stated, business information that falls under NHS Digital is held for a minimum of 3 years and will be subject to review. We will hold the information for as long as we are providing you services.
Do we share information?
We strive to capture the minimal amount of personal data and only share it where permitted by law or with your consent.
We do not sell individuals' information.
Before you submit any information, you will be informed why we are asking for specific information, and it is up to you whether you provide it.
Your rights
You have rights under data protection regulations, including:
- the right to access, amend, or withdraw your data
- the right to object to processing for certain purposes
- the right to remove or restrict processing of your data
- the right to rectification of inaccurate data
To exercise these rights, you can contact us.
Keeping information secure
We invest significant resources to protect your personal information. However, no internet-based site can be 100% secure, and we cannot be held responsible for unauthorised access beyond our control.
The NHS.net Connect website Data Controller
The Health and Social Care Information Centre (NHS Digital) is the Data Controller for the NHS.net Connect website.