This Privacy Notice outlines the important details regarding the management of your (“the User”) data and the information collected and retained by Europporta Ltd/Surgeries Abroad (“Europporta”). It explains how this information may be utilised and highlights the User’s legal rights in connection with it.
To fulfil this purpose, Europporta need to maintain information about the User’s health, and the care and treatment the User is seeking through this website (“the Website”). This privacy statement offers a summary of the information usage.
Data Regulation
The handling of the User’s information is governed by the Data Protection Act and the General Data Protection Regulation. These regulations control how organisations, businesses, or government entities use personal data. According to these regulations, Europporta is categorised as a 'data controller' of personal information. Europporta collects information to connect the User and medical facilities and/or healthcare practitioners.
Types of Collected Personal Information
Europporta possesses information about the User, as well as other parties involved in the User’s care, that they provided. This likely includes their name, date of birth, contact details (postal and email addresses, phone numbers).
Europporta may also hold more sensitive information, such as healthcare history, previous medical treatments, medications, diagnoses, treatment recommendations, allergies, and other health conditions. We refer to this as 'more sensitive information' in this Privacy Notice.
Information may also be collected from the visits to the website or inquiries about the services.
Europporta might retain information from enquiries or booking forms, including submissions through "Contact me" or "Patient details" sections on the Website.
Provision of Information
To ensure proper contact to the right medical specialists, Europporta requests comprehensive information from the User. Please note, however, that limited information sharing might hinder Europporta to provide the User with assistance in arranging medical treatments.
Purposes of Information Usage
Healthcare providers who administer the User’s treatment will use the information and records for the following purposes:
Forming an opinion and giving advice on the User’s health and possible care and treatment options.
Delivering requested medical treatment and healthcare services.
Ensuring safety and effectiveness of the User’s treatment and hospital care.
Facilitating effective collaboration with other healthcare providers involved in the User’s treatment.
Sharing of Information
Europporta shares the User’s medical information with involved healthcare professionals (hospitals, doctors, nurses, physiotherapists and other healthcare professionals) for medical purposes, including health assessments. The hospital or surgeon conducting the User’s treatment may also maintain their own records about the User. They should provide their own privacy notice to the User.
The User’s information is also used in planning medical treatment, hospital care, tests, assessments, medical exams, and for fee payments.
Europporta always seek the User’s consent for sharing information beyond direct care benefits.
External companies providing services like blood tests, diagnostic scans, and tissue sample analysis might be involved in the User’s healthcare. Europporta could share the information with these entities when necessary for the User’s care.
Relevant portions of medical information might be shared with the User’s GP, dentist, NHS hospitals, other hospitals, or organisations funding the treatment.
Europporta may use the User’s contact information to communicate pre- and post-admission/appointment details. Confirmations and reminders might be sent via text or email, and we might respond to email queries via email as well.
In some instances, legal or regulatory obligations might necessitate information usage, such as fraud prevention or legal proceedings.
Automated Decision Making
We do not engage in automated decision making or profiling.
Data Storage Locations and Duration
The User’s information is securely held in the United Kingdom in paper format and on secure servers in the EU. In certain cases, the User’s data might be processed outside the European Union (EU) if the healthcare provider is based outside the EU. We take necessary measures to ensure data security and compliance.
Retention of Information
Records are maintained in compliance with national guidelines from the UK Department of Health and Social Care and the Records Management Code of Practice for Health and Social Care 2016. This supports patient care, clinical practices, audits, our interests, and legal obligations. Confidential records are securely destroyed as per this code.
Legal Bases for Information Usage
We outline the legal bases for holding and using the User’s information:
Taking the User’s Enquiry: Necessary steps for providing healthcare.
Establishing an Initial Patient Record: Necessary steps for providing healthcare.
Providing Health Assessment Services, Care, and/or Treatment: Providing health services, care, and treatment.
Liaising with Healthcare Professionals and Updating Others: Providing care and treatment.
Contacting the User and Resolving Queries: Appropriate business need and contractual necessity.
Investigating Complaints, Compliance, and Legal Rights: Legal obligations and exercising legal rights.
Managing Business: Various legitimate interests and legal obligations.
Advising of Services (Marketing): Legitimate business need and the User’s consent.
The User’s Rights
The law grants certain rights concerning the User’s held information. The User can exercise these by contacting Europporta Data Protection Officer or as outlined below.
Europporta generally does not charge for handling these requests. If the request volume is excessive, Europporta may not respond or may charge accordingly.
The User can withdraw consent for information sharing at any time, but this might impact the quality and safety of the User’s care.
The User also has the right to access, correct, update, erase, restrict, and object to processing of the information. The User can also complain to the Information Commissioner’s Office.
Accessing Information
If the User wishes to access information we hold about the User, they can contact the Europporta Data Protection Officer. This applies to information related to your medical treatment within the Europporta/Surgeries Abroad network.
For further inquiries, reach out to:
Europporta Ltd
15 Old Fishmarket Close
Edinburgh
EH1 1AE
United Kingdom
connect@europporta.com