This policy explains how Wickford Physiotherapy uses cookies and similar tracking technologies on our website, and how you can manage your preferences.
UK GDPRPECR choicesHealthcare / Clinic
We use necessary storage to operate this website and remember your privacy choice. Google measurement is optional and does not load unless you make the relevant positive choice. Continuing to browse, scrolling, waiting, or using the booking service does not mean consent.
01
What are cookies?
Cookies are small text files that are placed on your computer, smartphone, or other device when you visit a website. They are widely used to make websites work more efficiently and to provide information to the website owner.
Cookies allow websites to remember your actions and preferences (such as login details, language, font size, and other display preferences) over a period of time, so you do not have to re-enter these every time you visit or browse from page to page.
Session vs Persistent cookies
Session cookies are temporary and are deleted from your device when you close your browser. Persistent cookiesremain on your device for a set period or until you delete them manually. We use both types depending on the purpose.
First-party vs Third-party cookies
First-party cookies are set directly by our website.Third-party cookies are set by external services we use, such as Google Analytics or booking software. These third parties have their own privacy policies which we link to where relevant.
02
How we use cookies
We use cookies for the following purposes:
To ensure our website functions correctly and securely.
To remember your cookie choices between visits.
With permission, to understand how visitors use our website.
With separate permission, to measure advertising conversions.
To enable our booking and appointment system to operate.
To comply with our legal and regulatory obligations.
As a healthcare provider, we take the privacy of your data very seriously. We do not use cookies to collect sensitive health information. Any information gathered via cookies relates solely to your website browsing behaviour and general usage patterns.
03
Types of cookies we use
The consent manager supports up to five categories. It shows only the optional purposes configured for this clinic. The table below explains the category system and when each purpose may operate.
Category
Purpose
Required
Essential
Required for the website to function. Cannot be disabled.
Always on
Functional
Allows optional preference or embedded-service features when configured.
Optional
Analytics
Help us understand how visitors interact with our website.
Optional
Marketing
Measures consented advertising conversions without patient or health information.
Optional
04
Essential cookies
Essential cookies are strictly necessary for our website to function. They do not require your consent under PECR and cannot be turned off. They are usually set in response to actions you take, such as setting your privacy preferences, logging in, or filling in forms.
Cookie Name
Provider
Purpose
Expiry
hmdg_cookie_consent
Wickford Physiotherapy
Stores the policy version, choice time, method, and category decisions. It contains no patient details.
180 days
_GRECAPTCHA
Google reCAPTCHA
Security, fraud and automated-spam risk analysis when you interact with or submit a protected form.
Set by Google when reCAPTCHA executes; verify the current provider duration at launch.
05
Analytics cookies
Analytics cookies help us understand how visitors use our website. Analytics identifiers and device information can be personal data, so Google Analytics remains off until you allow Analytics.
Where configured, we use Google Analytics 4 (GA4) with strict Basic Consent Mode. No Google Analytics library or request is made before Analytics consent or after a stored rejection.
Distinguishes unique users. Used to calculate visitor, session, and campaign data.
2 years
_ga_XXXXXXXX
Google Analytics
Stores session state for GA4 measurement.
2 years
_gid
Google Analytics
Distinguishes users. Registers a unique ID for a session.
24 hours
_gat
Google Analytics
Used to throttle request rate (limits data collection on high-traffic sites).
1 minute
You can opt out of Google Analytics tracking at any time by visitingtools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptoutor by adjusting your cookie preferences through our consent banner.
06
Marketing and advertising measurement cookies
Where Google Ads is configured, these cookies and identifiers help us measure whether an advertisement led to a website or booking action. They load only after Marketing consent. We do not upload patient contact details, appointment information, health information, attendance, invoices, or patient-level value to Google.
Cookie Name
Provider
Purpose
Expiry
_gcl_*
Google Ads
Stores consented Google Ads attribution information. Exact suffixes vary by configured Google tag.
3 months
Marketing measurement cookies are only placed on your device if you have provided explicit consent through our cookie consent banner. You may withdraw this consent at any time by adjusting your preferences in the banner or by following the browser instructions in section 09.
07
Third-party cookies
Some cookies on our website are set by third-party services we use to support our clinic operations and online presence. These third parties have their own privacy and cookie policies.
Google LLCAnalytics & Ads
We use configured Google measurement only after the relevant choice. Google reCAPTCHA runs only when a valid protected form is explicitly submitted. We minimise event fields and prohibit patient or health data in Google tags.
This clinic links to or embeds Nookal for online booking. An external link opens the provider's own domain and privacy environment. A configured embed stays blocked until Functional consent. Provider cookies and retention must be verified against the clinic's live provider agreement before release.
08
Consent management
When you first visit our website, you will be shown a cookie consent banner. This banner gives you clear control over which categories of cookies you accept, in line with our obligations under PECR and the UK GDPR.
What your choices mean
Accept all — you allow every optional category configured for this clinic.
Reject all — only necessary storage remains. Optional Google tags do not load.
Customise — you can allow or refuse each optional category shown for this clinic independently.
Short-lived Measurement Storage
After you allow Analytics or Marketing, we use the following first-party sessionStorage entries to connect a booking or successful contact-form action with its confirmation and avoid repeated measurement. They contain random flow identifiers, timestamps and, where relevant, the booking provider. They do not contain contact details, appointment details or health information.
Storage Name
Purpose
Valid For
hmdg_contact_pending
Connects a successful contact form with its confirmation page.
10 minutes
hmdg_booking_pending
Records the start of a booking flow; a click alone does not confirm a booking.
2 hours
hmdg_booking_completion_dedup
Prevents the same booking confirmation from being measured repeatedly.
2 minutes
These validity limits restrict when an entry can be used. Entries remain only for the tab session unless consumed or cleared earlier. Withdrawing both Analytics and Marketing clears these entries. Booking and contacting the clinic remain available when you reject optional measurement.
Withdrawing consent
You may change or withdraw your consent at any time using the cookie settings button shown on every page. Withdrawal sends updated denied signals to any already-loaded Google tag, removes known first-party tracking storage for the withdrawn purpose, and reloads when needed so optional tags remain off. You can also clear cookies in your browser.
We will never use your withdrawn consent as a reason to reduce the quality of service we provide to you. Refusing non-essential cookies will not affect your ability to book appointments or access our clinical services.
09
Managing cookies in your browser
In addition to our consent banner, you can control and delete cookies through your browser settings. Most browsers allow you to refuse new cookies, delete existing cookies, and be notified when cookies are set. Note that disabling cookies may affect the functionality of some parts of our website.
PECRThe Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations 2003 govern the use of cookies in the UK and require consent for non-essential cookies.
UK GDPRThe UK General Data Protection Regulation sets out the lawful basis for processing personal data, including data collected via cookies.
DPA 2018The Data Protection Act 2018 supplements the UK GDPR and provides specific exemptions and derogations for the UK context.
10
Contact us about cookies
If you have any questions about how we use cookies, or you wish to exercise any of your rights in relation to cookie data, please contact us. You also have the right to complain to the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) if you believe your data rights have not been respected.
At Wickford Physiotherapy, we use cookies to provide optional features and understand how visitors use our site. You can choose which cookies you accept.
We use cookies to help you navigate efficiently and measure website use. Detailed information is available under each category below.
Always Active
Required for security, remembering your privacy choice, and core website features. These cannot be switched off.
Allows optional preference and embedded-service features when they are configured for this clinic.
Allows Google Analytics to measure how the website is used so we can improve it. Google loads only after this choice and only when an Analytics ID is configured.
Allows consented advertising conversion measurement when Google Ads is configured. We do not use patient details or health information for personalised advertising.
