Privacy Policy
Privacy Policy
DIG Dermal is committed to protecting your personal information and handling it lawfully, fairly, and transparently.
This Privacy Policy explains what personal information DIG Dermal collects, how it is used, who it may be shared with, how long it is kept, and your rights in relation to your information.
Who we are
DIG Dermal is an independent specialist wound and lymphoedema service.
Data Controller: DIG Dermal
Contact email: info@digdermal.co.uk
Telephone: 07969492613
Business address: 66 Paul Street, London, EC2A 4NA.
If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy or how your information is used, please contact DIG Dermal using the details above.
The information we may collect
Depending on how you use the service, DIG Dermal may collect and use:
your name, date of birth, address, telephone number, and email address
next of kin or emergency contact details
referral information
appointment and communication records
payment and invoicing information
clinical information relevant to your care
information about your health, medical history, medication, treatment, and care needs
correspondence from referrers or other healthcare professionals
website enquiry information submitted through contact forms
Some of this information, particularly health information, is classified as special category data and is subject to additional protection under data protection law. The ICO’s guidance notes that privacy information should explain the categories of personal data used and, where relevant, the source of that data.
How your information is collected
DIG Dermal may collect personal information:
directly from you
from a consultant, GP, nurse, or other healthcare professional referring you
during assessments, treatment, reviews, and other contact with you
through phone calls, emails, website contact forms, and administrative processes
from other healthcare providers involved in your care, where appropriate
If personal data is obtained from another source, privacy information must still be provided within a reasonable period and no later than one month, unless an exception applies.
How your information is used
DIG Dermal may use your personal information to:
respond to enquiries
assess whether the service is suitable for your needs
provide wound, tissue viability, and lymphoedema care
communicate with you about appointments and treatment
liaise with referrers and other professionals involved in your care
maintain clinical records
manage billing and payment
meet legal, professional, regulatory, and insurance requirements
manage complaints, feedback, and service administration
protect the safety of patients and others
The ICO says privacy information should clearly explain the purposes for processing personal data.
Lawful bases for processing
DIG Dermal processes personal information only where there is a lawful basis to do so.
These may include:
performance of a contract — where information is needed to provide agreed services
legal obligation — where records or information must be kept or disclosed to meet legal or regulatory duties
legitimate interests — for the safe and efficient administration of the service, where these interests are not overridden by your rights
consent — where consent is specifically relied upon
provision of health or social care and management of health or social care systems and services — where special category health data is processed for care purposes
The ICO requires organisations to identify and explain their lawful bases in the privacy notice.
Who your information may be shared with
DIG Dermal may share relevant personal information, where appropriate and lawful, with:
consultants, GPs, nurses, and other healthcare professionals involved in your care
laboratories, service providers, or clinical suppliers where relevant to your care
accountants, payment processors, or professional advisers where necessary for administration
regulators, insurers, or legal advisers where required
public authorities or safeguarding bodies where there is a legal or safety reason to do so
Information is shared only on a need-to-know basis and only where appropriate.
The ICO says privacy information should tell people who their data will be shared with, or the categories of recipients.
How long information is kept
DIG Dermal keeps personal information only for as long as necessary for the purpose for which it was collected, including to meet clinical, legal, professional, insurance, tax, and regulatory requirements.
Where specific retention periods apply, these should be followed. If different categories of information are kept for different periods, DIG Dermal may apply separate retention periods depending on the nature of the record.
The ICO says your privacy notice should explain either the retention period or the criteria used to decide it.
How your information is stored
DIG Dermal takes appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect personal information against unauthorised access, loss, misuse, alteration, or disclosure.
Your rights
Under data protection law, you may have rights including:
the right to be informed
the right of access to your personal information
the right to rectification
the right to erasure in certain circumstances
the right to restrict processing in certain circumstances
the right to object in certain circumstances
the right to data portability in certain circumstances
rights in relation to automated decision-making, where applicable
the right to withdraw consent, where consent is relied on
The ICO says privacy notices must explain individuals’ rights and, where consent is used, the right to withdraw it.
To exercise any of these rights, please contact DIG Dermal using the contact details above.
Complaints
If you have concerns about how DIG Dermal uses your personal information, please contact DIG Dermal first so the matter can be reviewed.
You also have the right to complain to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), the UK regulator for data protection. The ICO says privacy information should explain how people can complain.
Website enquiries and cookies
If you submit an enquiry through the website, DIG Dermal will use the information you provide to respond to your enquiry and manage follow-up communication.
If the website uses cookies or similar technologies, further information should be provided in a separate cookie notice or cookie banner where required. The ICO recommends privacy information and cookie information be clear, accessible, and easy to understand.
Changes to this Privacy Policy
This Privacy Policy may be updated from time to time. The latest version will always be available on the website.