This policy explains what information is gathered from web clients visiting the London Medical Centre's central web server, and how that information is used.

Information Collected
Information is gathered from clients via several methods that are outlined below:

1. Logfiles
The London Medical Centre's central web server tracks requests made of it to centrally held log files. Log files can contain any or all of the following types of data:

The date and time of connection
Identification of the file(s) requested
Whether the request was successful
The size (in bytes) sent in response
The referring page (where the client came from), as supplied by the client browser
The software used to access the server, as supplied by the client browser
Information gathered is used for server system administration, identifying broken links, and for producing usage statistics. Logged information may be kept indefinitely. Log files do not contain any personal information.

The London Medical Centre also uses the Plesk service on its web site to measure and analyse visitor information.

Examples of data collected automatically from all users include:

the Internet protocol (IP) address;
computer and connection information such as browser type and version, operating system, and platform;
Uniform Resource Locator (“URL”) click stream data, including date and time, and content viewed or searched for on the Site.
For more information on Nedstat and the kind of information that SiteStat collects and processes, please visit Nedstat’s web site and its SiteStat privacy policy.

The London Medical Centre also generates statistics on which operating systems are in use on PCs.

2. Cookies
Cookies are small files that are sent from the web server to the client's computer via the client's browser. They are then stored in the client's computer as text files and passed back to the server. Cookies are generally used to identify users and on occasion, prepare customized Web pages for them. Cookies may remain on the client's computer merely for the duration of the session (visit) or they may remain indefinitely. Most standard web browsers may be configured to refuse cookies.

The London Medical Centre does not use cookies extensively on its servers at present. Such cookies that are used, other than in specific projects as outlined in section 5 below, do not contain any personal information and cannot be used to identify an individual user.

3. Web forms
Forms on the London Medical Centre web site may request clients to supply personal details and/or credit card details in order to receive goods or services. Where appropriate, such forms operate over secure connections so that data is safeguarded.

By supplying such information the client consents to the London Medical Centre storing the information for period of time appropriate to the supply of the goods or services requested.  Personal information provided will only be used for the purpose stated and will not be sold, licensed or traded to third parties.

Personal information collected and/or processed by the London Medical Centre is held in accordance with the provisions of the Data Protection Act 1998.

4. Discussion fora, chat rooms, conferencing facilities, bulletin boards and mailing lists
Tools for synchronous and asynchronous web based communication that are hosted on the London Medical Centre web site may request clients to supply details such as names and email addresses for registration purposes.

By supplying such information the client consents to the London Medical Centre storing the information in a manner appropriate for administration of the tool. Information provided will only be used for the purpose stated and will not be sold, licensed or traded to third parties.

Personal information collected and/or processed by the London Medical Centre is held in accordance with the provisions of the Data Protection Act 1998.

5. Specific research projects
On occasion, staff involved in certain research projects and clinical trials may wish to gather data from respondents in a more specific manner than those outlined above. In such instances, terms and conditions for the collection and use of information will be stated separately and made explicit to respondents in advance of data collection.

Data Protection

Queries regarding data protection should be addressed in the first instance to the London Medical Centre's Data Protection Officer:

Telephone: 020 7935 0023   
Email:

Disclaimer
The London Medical Centre takes reasonable efforts to ensure that the contents of its website(s) are accurate; however, it cannot give any warranty that this is the case. the London Medical Centre may change web content at any time without notice.

The London Medical Centre website includes links to third party websites. These links are used to provide further information and are not intended as an endorsement of such websites and/or their content.