Privacy

NHS Barnsley is committed to protecting your privacy and confidentiality and that of anyone who uses our services. The following statement discloses the privacy practices for http://www.barnsley.nhs.uk/.

Data Protection

In accordance with the Data Protection Act, we have a legal duty to protect any information we collect from you. We will only use your information for the purpose as described and we do not pass on your details to any third party unless you have given us permission to do so. You have a right to access your personal data and rectify any inaccuracies.

Cookies

A cookie is a piece of data stored on the user’s hard drive while they are visiting a particular website. It contains simple information about the user’s identity but no personal information. When the user closes their browser, the cookie is destroyed.

We do not make use of cookies to collect any private or personally identifiable information. We only use cookies to help us improve the functionality of our website. The cookies used by our system contain random strings of characters alongside minimal information about the state and session of the website – which in no way collects or discloses any personal information about you as a visitor.

Log files and statistics

We use our records of the pages users have visited on www.barnsley.nhs.uk to analyse trends, administer the site and track visitors' movements so that we can improve the site. Our records do not contain any personal information about users.

It is important for us to collect and monitor this information because we pay for a server bandwidth allowance and are liable for the costs of increases beyond our allowance. The server statistics are not designed to collect any individually identifiable information. Alongside the server statistics, we also collect information on popular search terms used on the website. This allows us to arrange our pages better and ensure that the content on them is relevant to our visitors. We also store visitor path information to help us with future design considerations. In addition to this we analyse download popularity (numerical by month), which we use to improve the organisation of our library of documents available to download.

Links to other websites

This website contains links to other sites. NHS Barnsley is not responsible for the privacy practices of other websites or the content that they publish. We encourage you to be aware of this when you leave our site and to read the privacy statements of other websites you visit that collect personal information. This privacy policy applies only to this website.

We do not pass on any personal information you have given us to any other site.

Feedback

Feedback submitted via online forms are used to feed into current consultations or review our services. This work is always carried out in the strictest confidence.

Notification of changes

If we decide to change our privacy policy, we will post those changes on our homepage so our users are always aware of what information we collect and how we use it.

Changes to the privacy policyShould we make any changes to our privacy policy we will display the information on this page.

Personalisation

Our website provides you with the opportunity to register. Registered users can then personalise the home page to display content they feel is more relevant to them.

Collection of data

Registration for an account on this site requires only a valid e-mail address and a user name that has not been chosen already. You are not required to provide any other information if you do not want to.

Please be aware that the user name you choose, the email address you provide and any other information you enter may make it possible to identify you personally, and may possibly be displayed on this web site intentionally (by your choice - this information will not be made available unless you specifically authorise it) or unintentionally (subsequent to a successful act of intrusion by a third party).

NHS Barnsley may also automatically receive general information that is contained in server log files, such as your IP address, and cookie information.

Use of data

Data may be used to customise and improve your user experience on this site. We will not pass your data to any other party unless: You specifically consent to do so such as when you choose to opt-in for the sharing of data (this will be clearly identified) required to by law or court order. The preferences that you set and your details such as email address and name will be used by NHS Barnsley to:

• Personalise the home page to display content more relevant you your needs
• To send you any website changes that you subscribe to
• To send you communications around the areas that you specifically ask for
• To send you general communications about NHS Leeds that you may find useful

You may opt out of any communications with NHS Barnsley by getting in contact with us.