Cookies
Cookies and Web Tracking
This Cookie Policy explains what cookies are, how we use them and the types of cookies we use i.e, the information we collect using cookies and how that information is used.
What are cookies?
Cookies are small digital text files that are used to store pieces of information. They are stored on your digital device, as a form of digital memory, when the website is loaded on your browser. These cookies remember bits of information about your use of the Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust website. They then help us make the website function properly, make it more secure, provide a better user experience, and understand how the website performs and to analyse what works and where it needs improvement.
Cookies are not viruses or computer programs. They are very small so do not take up much space.
Cookie function
Performance Cookies: Performance cookies monitor site performance and follow user actions, but they do not collect identifiable information – they collect data anonymously and use it to improve the website. Performance cookies can count page visits, examine how much time a user has spent on a website, as well as analyse loading speeds to improve performance.
Functional Cookies: Functional cookies are mostly used to enhance the performance of a website as without them certain functions may not be available. Functional cookies are not vital for a website to run, but they allow one to remember user preferences and settings.
Targeting Cookies: Targeting cookies help to attract customers with targeted ads and can be shared with other advertisers so that the performance of such ads can be monitored and measured. Targeting cookies also help build user profiles – by tracking data, websites can offer their customers the best-suited ads for their needs and keep ad revenue coming in.
Cookie duration
Session cookies are temporary and only last for the duration of the visit to the site.
Persistent cookies are stored on the visitor’s digital device for a longer period. persistent cookies are required to have an expiration date. First party, second party and third-party cookies
Types of cookies
First-party cookies are created by the host domain and are collected from visitors directly, enabling a better experience on the site. They are supported by all browsers and can be blocked or deleted by the user.
Lesser-known second party cookies include first-party data that one company creates and transfers to another as part of a data-sharing partnership, typically for advertising. Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust do not use second party cookies.
Third-party cookies can be set by another entity, a third-party server, via code loaded on the host website. A third-party cookie is accessible on any website that loads the third-party server’s code. They are supported by all browsers, but many are blocking the creation of third-party cookies by default. These cookies track the same information as first-party cookies, sometimes more, and are also called tracking cookies or targeting cookies.
Our use of cookies
Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust uses cookies to track the sequence of pages a visitor navigates during a visit to our website. This information helps us to understand how visitors are using our website. It also helps us improve the experience of using our website so that you can find relevant information quicker. Our cookies collect information in a way that does not directly identify anyone.
Throughout our website we may link to other websites owned and operated by certain trusted third parties to make additional services available to you. These other third-party websites may also use cookies or similar technologies in accordance with their own separate cookie polices. For privacy information relating to these other third-party websites, please consult their cookie policies as appropriate.
Cookies used on this site:
AEC: ensure that requests within a browsing session are made by the user by prevent malicious sites from acting on behalf of a user without that user’s knowledge. Expires after 6 months.
ARRAffinitySameSite and ARRAffinity: the purpose of these cookies are the same, however sone old browsers do not support SameSite. They help to direct requests to the correct instance in load-balanced environments. Expires at the end of the session.
Consent: Google uses the ‘cookie, to store a user’s state regarding their cookie choices Expires after 13 months.
NID: used to remember your preferences and other information, such as your preferred language, how many results you prefer to have shown on a search results page, and whether you want to have Google’s SafeSearch filter turned on. Expires after 13 months.
SOCS: used to store a user's state regarding their cookies choices. Expires after 13 months.
_ga: This is a Google Analytics cookie which is used to identify unique users. These cookies are used to collect statistics on how and when visitors use our website. We use this information to compile reports which help us improve the website. Expires after 13 months.
_gat: Used to throttle request rate. Expires after 24 hours.
_gid: an analytics cookie that is responsible for tracking user behaviour; this information help us improve the website. Expires after 24 hours.
font-size: Remembers font size adjustments made by user. Expires after 12 months.
has_js: used to determine whether the user's browser has enabled javascript or not. Expires at the end of the session.
x-bni-ja: used to remember if you have consented to the use of cookies on this website. When you consent, a cookie is set which prevents the Cookie Notifier bar from appearing at the bottom of the browser window. Expires at the end of the session.
Facebook meta pixel has never been placed on the Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust website.
Forms
Any information submitted through forms on this website is transferred to us by email and will be dealt with by us in accordance with data protection legislation.
Emails are not encrypted before being sent to us and as the internet is not always totally secure, users are sending the information at their own risk.
How to delete cookies
For a comprehensive guide to how to disable or delete cookies visit: https://ico.org.uk/for-the-public/online/cookies
Privacy policy
This policy should be read together with our organisation Privacy Policy which sets out how and why we collect, store, use and share personal information generally, as well as your rights in relation to your personal information and details of how to contact us and supervisory authorities in the event you have a complaint.
This privacy statement discloses the privacy practices for www.moorfields.nhs.uk. It applies solely to this website.
We analyse digital records which contain details such as:
- IP addresses
- webpages viewed while on the trust’s website
- web browser used
- type of digital device accessing the website
- time of day.
Where users provide us with information, that information is treated in accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998.
How to delete cookies
You can set your browser to refuse all or some browser cookies, or to alert you when websites set or access cookies. If you disable or refuse cookies, please note that some parts of a website may become inaccessible or not function properly. For a comprehensive guide to how to disable or delete cookies visit: https://ico.org.uk/for-the-public/online/cookies
Notification of changes
Information about any changes to our privacy policy will be posted on this website.
Further information
If you have any questions about our privacy policy, please contact our information governance team via email on moorfields.ig@nhs.net.