Privacy Policy

Who we are

Osteopath Blackpool is a trading name of Soft Tissue Therapies Ltd. We operate a GOsC-registered osteopathic practice at 276 Whitegate Drive, Blackpool, FY3 9JW.

We are the data controller for the personal information we collect about you. If you have any questions about how we handle your data, please contact us at hello@osteopathblackpool.co.uk.

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What information we collect

When you book an appointment or receive treatment with us, we collect and hold the following categories of information:

• Your name, date of birth, address, phone number, and email address
• Your GP's name and contact details
• Medical history, current medications, and relevant health information
• Clinical notes relating to your assessments and treatments
• Consent records
• Appointment and billing records

We may also collect information you provide voluntarily when contacting us by phone or email.

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Why we collect your information

Your information is collected and used to:

• Provide you with safe, effective osteopathic care
• Maintain accurate clinical records as required by our professional regulatory body, the General Osteopathic Council (GOsC)
• Contact you regarding appointments, reminders, and follow-up care
• Correspond with your GP or other healthcare professionals, where necessary and with your consent
• Meet our legal and regulatory obligations

The legal basis for processing your health information is Article 9(2)(h) of the UK GDPR, which permits processing of special category data for the purposes of healthcare and the provision of medical treatment.

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How your records are stored

All patient records are stored securely using Cliniko, a healthcare-compliant practice management system designed specifically for clinical use. Cliniko uses encryption and meets the security standards required for handling sensitive health information.

We do not store paper records containing sensitive health information. Physical documents are handled securely and disposed of appropriately.

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How long we keep your records

Your records are retained for eight years after your last treatment, in line with the guidance issued by the Institute of Osteopathy and standard NHS retention guidelines for private practice. After this period, records are securely deleted.

Records for patients who were under 18 at the time of treatment are retained until the patient's 25th birthday, or for eight years after last treatment, whichever is longer.

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Who we share your information with

We do not sell, rent, or share your personal data with third parties for commercial purposes. Your information may be shared in the following limited circumstances:

• Your GP or other healthcare professionals, where clinically relevant and with your explicit consent
• Cliniko, as our data processor, who stores and manages your records on our behalf under a data processing agreement
• Legal or regulatory authorities, where we are required to disclose information by law

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Your rights under UK GDPR

You have the following rights in relation to your personal data:

• Right of access — you can request a copy of the personal data we hold about you
• Right to rectification — you can ask us to correct inaccurate or incomplete information
• Right to erasure — in certain circumstances, you can ask us to delete your data. Note that our legal and professional obligations to retain clinical records may limit this right.
• Right to restrict processing — you can ask us to limit how we use your data in certain circumstances
• Right to data portability — you can request your records in a portable format
• Right to object — you can object to certain types of processing

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at hello@osteopathblackpool.co.uk. We will respond within 30 days.

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Cookies and website data

Our website may use standard analytics tools to understand how visitors use the site. No personally identifiable information is collected through website analytics. We do not use advertising cookies or share website data with third parties for marketing purposes.

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Complaints

If you have a concern about how we have handled your personal data, please contact us in the first instance at hello@osteopathblackpool.co.uk and we will do our best to resolve it.

If you remain dissatisfied, you have the right to lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO), the UK's data protection regulator, at ico.org.uk or by calling 0303 123 1113.

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Changes to this policy

We may update this privacy policy from time to time. The current version will always be available at this page. We will notify patients of any significant changes by email where appropriate.