Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

This Privacy Policy applies to the MedPress website, available at medpress.org, and to associated pages, forms, directories and online services operated by MedPress.

In this policy, “MedPress”, “we”, “us” and “our” refer to the operator of the MedPress website. “You” and “your” refer to website visitors, healthcare professionals, directory users and anyone who communicates with us.

By using the website, you acknowledge that your information will be handled as described in this policy. Where consent is legally required, we will request it separately.

2. Who controls your personal information

For the purposes of applicable UK data-protection law, MedPress is the controller of personal information that it determines how and why to process.

Privacy enquiries can be sent to:

• Email: privacy@medpress.org
• Website: medpress.org
• Contact page: Contact MedPress

3. Information we collect

The information we collect depends on how you use the website and which services you choose to use.

Information you provide directly

• Your name and contact details.
• Email address and telephone number.
• Information submitted through contact forms.
• Messages, questions, feedback and correspondence.
• Healthcare-professional or organisation details.
• Qualifications, specialties and services submitted for listings.
• Account details if user accounts are made available.
• Comments, reviews or other content you choose to submit.
• Billing or transaction information where paid services are offered.

Information collected automatically

• Internet Protocol address.
• Browser and device type.
• Operating system and language preferences.
• Pages viewed and links selected.
• Approximate location derived from technical information.
• Date, time and duration of visits.
• Referring website or search engine.
• Cookie identifiers and advertising information.
• Security, diagnostic and error-log information.

4. How we use personal information

We may use personal information to:

• Operate, maintain and improve MedPress.
• Respond to enquiries and provide support.
• Create, verify, manage and update directory listings.
• Communicate with healthcare professionals and organisations.
• Provide requested services and website functionality.
• Process transactions where paid services are available.
• Analyse website use and improve user experience.
• Display, measure and manage advertising.
• Prevent spam, fraud, misuse and security incidents.
• Comply with legal, regulatory and contractual obligations.
• Establish, exercise or defend legal claims.

We will not use personal information for purposes that are incompatible with those described in this policy unless permitted or required by law.

5. Our lawful bases for processing

Where UK data-protection law applies, we rely on one or more lawful bases depending on the circumstances.

6. Medical and health information

MedPress provides general healthcare information and a medical directory. The website is not intended to provide personal medical diagnosis, emergency assistance or a substitute for advice from a qualified healthcare professional.

Please do not submit confidential medical records, detailed health histories, identification documents or other sensitive information through general contact forms unless we have specifically asked you to provide it through an appropriate secure process.

If you voluntarily include health-related information in an enquiry, we will use it only as reasonably necessary to respond, manage the communication, comply with the law or protect legal rights. We may delete information that is not necessary for these purposes.

7. Cookies and similar technologies

Cookies are small files placed on a browser or device. MedPress and authorised third parties may use cookies, pixels, tags, local storage and similar technologies.

Types of cookies that may be used

• Strictly necessary cookies: required for security, essential functions and the operation of the website.
• Preference cookies: used to remember settings and user choices.
• Analytics cookies: used to understand how visitors interact with the website.
• Advertising cookies: used to deliver, limit, personalise and measure advertisements.

Where required by applicable law, optional analytics and advertising cookies will not be activated until you provide consent through our cookie-consent system.

You may change your preferences through the cookie settings control displayed on the website. You can also configure your browser to reject or delete cookies. Blocking some cookies may affect certain website functions.

8. Google AdSense and advertising

MedPress uses or intends to use Google AdSense to display advertisements. Google and other third-party vendors may use cookies or similar technologies to serve, select, limit and measure advertisements shown on this website.

Third-party vendors, including Google, may use cookies to serve advertisements based on a visitor’s previous visits to MedPress or other websites. Google’s use of advertising cookies enables Google and its partners to serve advertisements based on visits to MedPress and other websites.

Depending on your location, settings and consent choices, advertisements may be:

• Personalised advertisements: selected using information such as previous browsing activity, interests or advertising identifiers.
• Non-personalised advertisements: selected primarily using contextual information, such as the content being viewed or general location.

Non-personalised advertisements may still use cookies or similar technologies for purposes such as frequency capping, fraud prevention and aggregated advertising measurement.

Google may receive information from your device or browser, including your IP address, cookie identifiers, browser information and information about interactions with advertisements.

You can learn how Google uses information from websites that use its services here:

How Google uses information from sites or apps that use its services

You can manage Google advertising preferences here:

Google Ads Settings

Additional opt-out choices may be available through:

• YourAdChoices
• Your Online Choices

The availability and operation of these controls are managed by their respective providers.

9. Analytics and performance services

We may use analytics services, including Google Analytics, to understand website traffic, visitor behaviour, device information and general usage patterns.

Analytics information helps us understand which pages are useful, identify technical problems, improve navigation and evaluate website performance.

Where legally required, analytics services will be activated only after consent. You may withdraw or modify that consent through our cookie settings.

Information about Google’s privacy practices is available at:

Google Privacy Policy

10. When we share personal information

We do not sell personal information in the ordinary meaning of selling information directly in exchange for money.

We may share information with:

• Website hosting and infrastructure providers.
• Security, spam-prevention and technical-support providers.
• Email and communication service providers.
• Analytics and advertising providers, including Google.
• Payment processors where paid services are available.
• Professional advisers such as lawyers and accountants.
• Government, regulatory or law-enforcement authorities where required.
• A buyer, investor or successor involved in a business reorganisation or transfer.

Service providers are permitted to process information only for agreed purposes and subject to appropriate contractual or legal protections where required.

Information included in a public healthcare listing may be visible to anyone who visits the website. Healthcare professionals should submit only information they are authorised and comfortable making public.

11. International data transfers

Some service providers may process information outside the United Kingdom. Privacy and data-protection laws in those locations may differ from UK law.

Where required, we use recognised safeguards for international transfers, such as adequacy regulations, approved contractual clauses or another legally permitted transfer mechanism.

12. How long we retain information

We retain personal information only for as long as reasonably necessary for the purpose for which it was collected, including legal, accounting, security and dispute-resolution requirements.

Retention periods depend on factors such as:

• The type and sensitivity of the information.
• The reason it was collected.
• Whether an account, listing or enquiry remains active.
• Applicable legal and regulatory requirements.
• Security, fraud-prevention and legal-claim needs.

Information may be deleted, anonymised or securely archived when it is no longer required.

13. Information security

We use reasonable administrative, technical and organisational safeguards designed to protect personal information against accidental loss, misuse, unauthorised access, alteration or disclosure.

However, no website, internet transmission or storage method can be guaranteed to be completely secure. Visitors should avoid sending unnecessary confidential or sensitive information through ordinary email or general website forms.

14. Your data-protection rights

Depending on applicable law and the circumstances, you may have rights to:

• Request access to your personal information.
• Ask us to correct inaccurate or incomplete information.
• Request deletion of certain personal information.
• Request restriction of certain processing.
• Object to processing based on legitimate interests.
• Object to direct marketing.
• Request data portability where applicable.
• Withdraw consent at any time where processing relies on consent.
• Complain to a data-protection authority.

Withdrawing consent does not affect the lawfulness of processing that occurred before consent was withdrawn. Some rights are subject to legal limitations and exemptions.

To exercise a right, email privacy@medpress.org . We may need to verify your identity before completing a request.

Complaints

We encourage you to contact MedPress first so that we can investigate your concern. You may also complain to the UK Information Commissioner’s Office.

Information Commissioner’s Office complaint information

15. Children’s privacy

MedPress is intended for a general audience and is not designed to collect personal information directly from children without appropriate involvement from a parent, guardian or other authorised adult.

If you believe that a child has submitted personal information improperly, contact us so that we can review and, where appropriate, remove the information.

16. External websites and healthcare providers

MedPress may contain links to healthcare providers, advertisers and other third-party websites. These organisations operate independently and have their own privacy policies.

MedPress is not responsible for the privacy, security or content practices of an external website. Review the relevant privacy policy before providing information to another organisation.

17. Changes to this Privacy Policy

We may update this policy when our services, technologies, advertising arrangements or legal obligations change.

The latest version will be published on this page with a revised “Last updated” date. Material changes may also be communicated through the website or another appropriate method.