Privacy Policy

1 Introduction

The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (“RCVS”) takes your privacy seriously.

This privacy policy only applies to this RCVS website at http://www.rcvs.org.uk/ it does not extend to links within this site to other websites nor does it cover information held by the RCVS about veterinary surgeons, veterinary nurses and others in pursuance of its statutory and Charter functions (except in so far as this information is collected through the website).

We may update this policy from time to time and will indicate on the website when changes have been made.

2  The Information we collect

Information is collected from you when you contribute to or use some of the features on the site. The information we collect is clearly set out on the web page on which we collect it. See for example our RCVS e-News registration form.

3  Why we collect it

We may collect information about you so that we can assist your use of the site and improve the site generally. We may also collect data if you take part in a consultation, subscribe to e-News, change your Register or FindAVet entry, enrol for a modular certificate, pay an RCVS Trust Library invoice or pay for Library membership, complete our feedback form or enquiry form, among others.

4 How we will use or process information about you

4.1 We may use the information you provide for the following purposes:

• to process your enquiry or application,
• to compile statistics,
• to send you our regular newsletter, RCVS e-News,
• to supply information to government departments, professional, education and training bodies so they can compile statistics
• to retain details of your application on our files

4.2 If you are a registered veterinary surgeon or a listed / registered veterinary nurse, we may also use your data to:

• update the Register/List,
• administer and maintain your registration,
• process complaints,
• compile statistics,
• keep you updated with information about the RCVS including guidance, news and election material
  

4.3 If you use the website to submit information to the Register or to the Directory of Veterinary Practices or to the List / Register of Veterinary Nurses, it will be held  or processed by us only in accordance with the statutory or agreed terms for holding such data. If we do pass on any of your personal data, we will make sure that third parties:

• are only provided with the information they need,
• agree not to use the information received from us for any other purpose than those specified by us,
• have the proper systems in place to protect personal data.

4.4 In certain circumstances we may need to disclose information about you without consent, for example, if required to do so by law or by any competent authority in this country or overseas.

5 Consultation

We invite feedback from you about the site and, from time to time, we may use the site to carry out electronic consultation exercises. If you send comments to us via the site we will collect your comments and your contact details for the purpose of the consultation concerned.

6 Data Protection

RCVS is registered with the Information Commissioner in the UK as a “data controller” in accordance with the provisions of the Data Protection Act 1998. Further details of the registration are available at http://www.dpr.gov.uk/.

7 Accessing and updating your personal information

You may request a copy of personal information we have about you (whether collected through this website or otherwise). If it is incorrect we will correct it as soon as we receive appropriate notice or evidence from you in writing. In accordance with section 7 of the Data Protection Act 1998 requests should be made in writing and we may make a charge of no more than £10 for each request. Instructions about how to do this are available from admin@rcvs.org.uk.

8 Automated decisions

Parts of http://www.rcvs.org.uk/ and our billing process (which is transacted via Worldpay) are automatic and we may process your personal data as part of http://www.rcvs.org.uk/ and the billing process.

9 Security

Keeping information about you secure is very important to us and certain sections of the site may encrypt data using SSL or a comparable standard. Credit card information is handled by WorldPay and is not stored on the RCVS website. However, no data transmission over the Internet can be guaranteed to be totally secure. As a result, whilst we strive to protect your personal information, we cannot ensure or warrant the security of any information which you send to us, and you do so at your own risk.

10 Cookies

This website does not use use cookies.

11 Users under 16

If you are aged under 16, please ensure you obtain your parent/guardian's consent before sending any personal information to this website. Please note that the RCVS will not accept orders for goods from persons aged under 16 years.

12 Questions?

If you have any questions relating to this privacy policy or how we use the personal information we have about you, please contact webmaster@rcvs.org.uk. We will endeavour to respond to you promptly.