At The Family Opticians, we respect your privacy and are committed to protecting your personal information. This privacy policy explains how we collect, use, and safeguard your data when you visit our practices or use our services.

1. Who We Are

The Family Opticians operates in Ware and Bishop’s Stortford, providing comprehensive eye care services. For the purposes of data protection law, we are the “data controller” of your personal information.

If you have any questions about this policy, please contact us:

📍 Ware: [insert address]

📍 Bishop’s Stortford: [insert address]

📧 Email: [insert email]

📞 Telephone: [insert number]

2. Information We Collect

We may collect and store the following types of information:

  • Identity Data: name, date of birth, NHS number.

  • Contact Data: address, email, phone number.

  • Health Data: details of your eye health, prescriptions, medical history relevant to your care.

  • Payment Data: if you purchase products or services.

  • Technical Data: how you use our website (cookies, analytics, browsing behaviour).

3. How We Use Your Data

We use your personal information to:

  • Provide professional eye care and related services.

  • Maintain accurate health records.

  • Contact you about appointments, reminders, and test results.

  • Process payments and issue invoices.

  • Comply with legal and regulatory obligations (e.g. NHS or GOC requirements).

  • Send relevant updates or offers (only if you have given consent).

4. Sharing Your Information

We only share your data when necessary, including with:

  • Other healthcare providers (e.g. your GP or hospital specialists).

  • Laboratories and suppliers who create your lenses or frames.

  • Regulators or authorities where legally required.

  • Trusted IT and service providers who help run our systems securely.

We never sell your personal data to third parties.

5. Data Security

We have put in place security measures to protect your data from being accidentally lost, used, or accessed in an unauthorised way. Access is limited to staff who need it for professional purposes, and they are bound by confidentiality.

6. How Long We Keep Your Data

We keep your records for as long as required by law and professional guidelines (typically 10 years after your last visit, or longer if clinically necessary).

7. Your Rights

You have the right to:

  • Request access to the personal data we hold about you.

  • Request corrections if your information is inaccurate.

  • Request deletion (where legally possible).

  • Object to processing for marketing purposes.

  • Withdraw consent for communications at any time.

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us.

8. Cookies & Website Use

Our website may use cookies to improve your browsing experience and analyse site traffic. You can adjust your browser settings to refuse cookies if you prefer.

9. Complaints

If you are unhappy with how we handle your data, please contact us in the first instance. You also have the right to lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) at www.ico.org.uk.

✅ This policy is regularly reviewed and updated to ensure compliance with data protection law.

Would you like me to make this patient-friendly for display in-practice (e.g. a shorter “Privacy Notice for Patients”) alongside this longer website version?