Protecting your Personal Information
West Bar Veterinary Hospital and our Branches (‘our practice’) is committed to protecting your privacy while providing you with excellent customer service. We use your personal information to aid our communication with you, to maintain your pet in good health by sending treatment ‘reminders’ and advice, to keep you informed about our activities and generally manage our relationship with you. We will always act in good faith with your ‘personal data’ and we will never sell it to third parties.
How we collect your data
We collect your ‘personal data’ in order to develop and maintain your relationship with us. This personal data could include your name, address, contact information and the personal information of others who may be involved with the care of your animal on your behalf. We do this by asking you or your representative directly for the information and/or from electronic or written communications sent into the practice.
Our internet sites also collect site usage data. While you can use many features of the our websites anonymously, you are required to provide personal information to gain access to some of our content and services.
How we store your data
All personal information is kept on a practice databases. These databases can only be accessed by individuals who work for us who have been specifically given an account and who have undertaken appropriate training. The databases are password protected and each individual user will only have a level of access relevant to their individual role.
We may also have information stored in paper records and files , access to which is controlled.
How we use your data
With your approval, we will occasionally send you electronic and paper communications as, but not limited to, reminders, announcements, practice news items, requests for customer feedback, and relevant special offers.
If you would rather not receive these e-mail communications, you can indicate that preference by replying to any e-mail you receive from us or in person.
We do not provide any third-party access to your personal information. Our electronic systems software providers may have access to your information specifically for the purpose of developing, maintaining or supporting our practice information systems and infrastructure.
Web site usage data may be shared with third parties working with us in developing our business.
Obtaining your consent
By using our internet sites or accessing any of our services, you give our practice permission to collect information about you or the pages served to you as an anonymous user.
By registering with our practice, you authorize us to use information you provide to personalize the information we deliver to you. and to use your demographic information when calculating aggregate customer data.
We may from time to time use comments made by our clients to promote our business as, but not limited to, ‘testimonials’. These comments will have personal information removed from them so as not to identify the source to the reader. For example a comment made by Mr A N Other of 19 West Bar, Banbury OX16 9SA may the attributed to Mr A of Banbury. If you are not happy for us to use your comments in this way please let us know.
If you are under the age of 18, you must not provide your name, e-mail address, or any other identifying ‘personal information’ without the consent of your parent or guardian, or as otherwise provided for by English law.
We will only release information held by ourselves about you to third parties at your request or as required by the rules of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons or as required by English Law.
We may also release information on receipt of a lawful written request for the prevention or detection of crime.
West Bar Veterinary Hospital is registered with the UK Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO).
The Data Protection Act 2018 gives you a number of rights in respect of the personal data that organisations hold about you. These are:
- a right of access to a copy of the information comprised in your personal data
- a right to object to processing that is likely to cause or is causing damage or distress
- a right to prevent processing for direct marketing
- a right to object to decisions being taken by automated means
- a right in certain circumstances to have inaccurate personal data rectified, blocked, erased or destroyed
- a right to claim compensation for damages caused by a breach of the Act.
If you wish to exercise any of these rights please contact the Practice Manager. It is our policy to charge a fee of £30 for a subject access request. Subject access requests may take up to 40 calender days.
For the avoidance of doubt ‘personal data’ does not include ‘clinical records’.
Any changes to our privacy policy will be posted on this page so that you are always aware of what information we collect, how we use it, and under what circumstances we disclose it.
October 2023
