When you supply your personal details to me they are stored and processed for the following four reasons.

1. I need to collect personal information about your health in order to provide you with the best possible treatment. Your requesting treatment and my agreement to provide that care constitutes a contract. You can, of course, refuse to provide the information, but if you were to do that I may not be able to provide treatment.

2. I have a “Legitimate Interest” in collecting that information, because without it I couldn’t do my job effectively and safely.

3. I also think that it is important that I can contact you in order to confirm your appointments with me or to update you on matters related to your medical care. This again constitutes “Legitimate Interest”, but this time it is your legitimate interest.

4. I have a legal obligation to retain your records for 8 years after your most recent appointment or until you are 25 years of age, if this is longer, but after this period you can ask me to delete your records if you wish.

Your records are stored on my computer and can be shared only via my personal account. My computer is password protected.

I will never share your data with anyone without your written consent.

You have the right to see what personal data of yours I hold, and you can also ask me to correct any factual errors. Provided the legal minimum period has elapsed, you can also ask me to erase your records.

I want you to be absolutely confident that I am treating your personal data responsibly. You have the right to complain if you think that I am mishandling your personal data in some way. Complaints need to be sent to me or the Acupuncture Society.

If you are not satisfied with the response you have the right to raise the matter with the Information Commissioner’s Office.