Suggested text: <\/strong>Our website address is: https:\/\/cirencesteracupuncture.co.uk.<\/p>\r\n The purpose of this Privacy Policy <\/strong><\/p>\r\n I understand that your privacy is important to you and that you care about how your personal data is used. I respect and value the privacy of everyone who visits this website www.cirencesteracupuncture.co.uk<\/a> and attends an in person appointment in clinic. I take data protection and GDPR seriously and only collect and use your personal data as described in this Privacy Policy. Any personal data I collect will only be used as permitted by law.<\/p>\r\n Please read this Privacy Policy carefully and ensure that you understand it.<\/p>\r\n Who does this Privacy Policy apply to? <\/strong><\/p>\r\n This Privacy Policy applies to:<\/p>\r\n \u2022 Patients \u2022 Visitors to my website<\/p>\r\n What is personal data? <\/strong><\/p>\r\n Personal data is defined by the UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018 (collectively, \u201cthe Data Protection Legislation\u201d) as \u2018any information relating to an identifiable person who can be directly or indirectly identified in particular by reference to an identifier\u2019.<\/p>\r\n Personal data is, in simpler terms, any information about you that enables you to be identified. Personal data covers obvious information such as your name and contact details, but it also covers less obvious information such as identification numbers, electronic location data, and other online identifiers.<\/p>\r\n What are your rights? <\/strong><\/p>\r\n Under the Data Protection Legislation, you have the following rights, which I will always work to uphold:<\/p>\r\n a) \u00a0The right to be informed about my collection and use of your personal data. This Privacy Policy should tell you everything you need to know, but you can always contact me to find out more or to ask any questions.<\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n b) \u00a0The right to access the personal data I hold about you.<\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n c) \u00a0The right to have your personal data rectified if any of your personal data held by me is inaccurate or incomplete. Please contact me using the details at the end of this policy.<\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n d) \u00a0The right to be forgotten, i.e. the right to ask me to delete or otherwise dispose of any of your personal data that I hold (by law, I have to keep all medical records and treatment notes for a seven years after the date of your last treatment).<\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n e) \u00a0The right to restrict (i.e. prevent) the processing of your personal data.<\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n f) \u00a0The right to object to me using your personal data for a particular purpose or purposes.<\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n g) \u00a0The right to withdraw consent. This means that, if I rely on your consent as the legal basis for using your personal data, you are free to withdraw that consent at any time.<\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n h) \u00a0The right to data portability. This means that, if you have provided personal data to me directly, I am using it with your consent or for the performance of a contract, and that data is processed using automated means, you can ask me for a copy of that personal data to re-use with another service or business in many cases.<\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n i) \u00a0Rights relating to automated decision-making and profiling. I do not use your personal data in this way.<\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n It is important that your personal data is kept accurate and up-to-date. If any of the personal data I hold about you changes, please keep me informed as long as I have that data.<\/p>\r\n Further information about your rights can also be obtained from the Information Commissioner\u2019s Office or your local Citizens Advice Bureau.<\/p>\r\n If you have any cause for complaint about my use of your personal data, you have the right to lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner\u2019s Office. I would welcome the opportunity to resolve your concerns myself however, so please contact me first.<\/p>\r\n How do I collect and process your personal data? <\/strong><\/p>\r\n Your data is almost exclusively collected in person on the clinic intake form, but may also be collected via Google Forms or on my website contact form. When you supply your personal details to Melissa Pittock Acupuncturist it is used and processed for the following reasons:<\/p>\r\n 1. Your name, email, address and contact number are collected so I can contact you to make appointments and send appointment reminders. I also ask you your preferred primary contact method. I am unable to send or receive encrypted emails so you should be aware that any emails I send or receive may not be protected in transit. I will also monitor any emails sent to me, including file attachments, for viruses or malicious software. Please be aware that you have a responsibility to ensure that any email you send to me is within the bounds of the law.<\/p>\r\n I collect personal information about your health in order to provide you with the best possible treatment. Your requesting treatment and my agreement to provide care constitutes a contract. You can of course refuse to give this information, but I would have to refuse treatment.<\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n I have a \u201cLegitimate Interest\u201d in collecting that information, because without it I couldn\u2019t do my job effectively and safely.<\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n With your consent, I may occasionally send marketing, health information and articles via email.<\/p>\r\nRecording and AI-assisted notes<\/strong> Do I share your data? <\/strong><\/p>\r\n Your personal data is treated as strictly confidential. Only in the following circumstances might your information be shared:<\/p>\r\n With third parties with your consent. Please note: I use Mail Chimp (a third party) for my newsletters, so by signing up to my newsletter you agree to share your name, email address and sometimes postal address with Mail Chimp for newsletter and marketing purposes only.<\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n With my colleagues i.e. the team at Hannah Pearn Acupuncture to support your case, but only with prior written consent from you the patient.<\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n With your GP in the case of an emergency.<\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n With police or emergency services tin the case of an emergency to protect yours or another persons life.<\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n With emergency services and the Local Authority in the event of a safeguarding incident.<\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n With my governing regulatory body or my insurance company in the event of a complaint or insurance claim brought against me.<\/p>\r\n How long do I keep your data and where is it stored? <\/strong><\/p>\r\n Your information is not kept longer than is necessary.<\/p>\r\n Clinical records – I have a legal obligation to keep patient clinical records and notes for seven years after your most recent appointment (or aged 25 if this is longer). After this time, I will destroy your records by shredding or burning them. You can also request that they be destroyed after this time. All paper records are stored in a locked filing cabinet at the Data Controller\u2019s home address and is only accessed by the Data Controller.<\/p>\r\n Some medical and lifestyle information is collected in advance of the first appointment via an online Google Form. This information is stored on Google Drive on a password protected laptop that is used only for work purposes and accessed only by Melissa Pittock Acupuncturist.<\/p>\r\n If you are a patient and have contacted Melissa Pittock Acupuncturist by phone or text and are a current patient, your telephone number might be stored on a mobile device with your consent and used for the purpose of scheduling and appointment reminders. Messages are regularly deleted and contact details are removed from the device 12 months from the date of your last appointment.<\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n \u00a0<\/p>\r\n Transporting your data <\/strong><\/p>\r\n If it is necessary to transport your data between home and clinic or between clinic locations, your data will be transported by the Data Controller during transit.<\/p>\r\n Further processing <\/strong><\/p>\r\n If I wish to use your personal data for a new purpose not covered by this Privacy Policy, then I will provide a new policy explaining the purpose before processing the data, so you can provide consent or decline consent for the new purpose.<\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n Changes to this Privacy Policy <\/strong><\/p>\r\n Changes to this Privacy Policy can be updated at any time and the date of the update will be listed at the end of the policy.<\/p>\r\n Contact<\/p>\r\n Melissa Pittock, Cirencester Acupuncture<\/p>\r\n Email:cirencesteracu@icloud.com<\/p>\r\n Registered with the ICO, registration ZB558635<\/p>\r\n Last updated:September 2026<\/p>\r\n <\/p>\r\n <\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Who we are Suggested text: Our website address is: https:\/\/cirencesteracupuncture.co.uk. The purpose of this Privacy Policy I understand that your privacy is important to you and that you care about how your personal data is used. I respect and value … Continue reading
\u2022 Prospective Patients
\u2022 Former patients
\u2022 People who subscribe to my newsletter<\/p>\r\n\r\n
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With your permission, I use secure software to record our consultation and to help me produce my clinical notes. The provider I use is Heidi, which acts as a data processor on my behalf under a written data processing agreement. Recordings and transcripts are encrypted in transit and at rest. Audio is deleted once my notes are complete.
I review and remain clinically responsible for everything in your records. AI is not used to diagnose you or to decide your treatment.
You can ask me not to record at any time, and your treatment will be exactly the same.
I do not enter your name, contact details, or any information that could identify you into general-purpose AI assistants. Where I use such tools \u2014 for general research, wording documents, or continuing education \u2014 no identifiable patient information is included.<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n\r\n
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