Centre for Sight Email Communication Notice
The term “CENTRE FOR SIGHT” includes Centre for Sight, its surgeons, nurses and administrative staff.
1. Risk of Using Email
Centre for Sight offers patients the opportunity to communicate by e-mail. Transmitting patient information by e-mail, however, has a number of risks that patients should consider before using email.
Emails and any files they contain are confidential and solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed. They and the material they contain, may not be passed on without permission of the sender. All views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Centre for Sight. If you received an email in error, please notify us.
Email communications cannot be guaranteed to be secure or error free, as information could be intercepted corrupted, amended, lost, destroyed, arrive late or incomplete, or contain viruses. We do not accept liability for any such matters or their consequences. Anyone who communicates with us by email is taken to accept the risks in doing so.
When addressed to our clients, any opinions or advice contained in this email and any attachments are subject to our terms and conditions of trade. Opinions, conclusions and other information in this e-mail and any attachments which do not relate to the official business of the firm are neither given nor endorsed by it.
These include, but are not limited to, the following risks:
- E-mail can be circulated, forwarded and stored in numerous pages and electronic files
- E-mail can be immediately broadcast worldwide and be received by many intended and unintended recipients
- E-mail senders can easily misaddress an e-mail
- E-mail is easier to falsify than handwritten or signed documents
- Backup copies of e-mail may exist even after the sender of the recipients has deleted his or her copy
- Employers and on-line services have a right to archive and inspect e-mails transmitted through their systems
- E-mail can be intercepted, altered, forwarded, or used without authorization or detection
- E-mail can be used to introduce viruses into computer systems
- E-mail can be used as evidence in court
2. Conditions for the use of e-mail
Centre for Sight will use reasonable means to protect the security and confidentiality of e-mail information sent and received. However, because of the risks outlined above, Centre for Sight cannot guarantee the security and confidentiality of e-mail communication, and will not be liable for improper disclosure of confidential information that is not caused by Centre for Sight’s intentional misconduct. Thus, patients must consent to the use of e-mail for patient information.
Consent to the use of e-mail includes agreement with the following conditions:
- All e-mails to or from the patient concerning diagnosis or treatment will be attached to and made part of the patient’s medical records, other individuals authorized to access the medical records, such as staff and billing personnel, will have access to those e-mails
- Centre for Sight may forward e-mails internally to Centre for Sight’s staff and agents as necessary for diagnosis treatment, reimbursement, and other handling. Centre for Sight will not, however, forward e-mails to independent third parties without the patient’s prior written consent, except as authorized or required by law
- Although Centre for Sight will endeavour to read and respond promptly to an e-mail from the patient, Centre for Sight cannot guarantee that any particular e-mail will be read and responded to within any particular period of time. Thus, that patient shall not use e-mail for medical emergencies or other time-sensitive matters
- If the patient’s e-mail requires or invites a response from the Centre for Sight, and the patient has not received a response within a reasonable time period, it is the patient’s responsibility to follow up to determine whether the intended recipient received the e-mail and when the recipient will respond
- The patient should not use e-mail for communication regarding sensitive medical information, such as information regarding sexually transmitted diseases AIDS/HIV, mental health, developmental disability or substance abuse
- The patient is responsible for informing Centre for Sight of any types of information the patient does not want to be sent by email, in addition to those set out above
- The patient is responsible for protecting his/her password or other means of access to e-mail. Centre for Sight is not liable for breaches of confidentiality caused by the patient or any third party
- Centre for Sight shall not engage in e-mail communication that is unlawful, such as unlawfully practicing medicine across country lines
- It is the patient’s responsibility to follow up and/or schedule an appointment if warranted
- Communication between Centre for Sight prior to consultation does not constitute a medical contractual arrangement between you and Centre for Sight
2. Conditions for the use of e-mail
Centre for Sight will use reasonable means to protect the security and confidentiality of e-mail information sent and received. However, because of the risks outlined above, Centre for Sight cannot guarantee the security and confidentiality of e-mail communication, and will not be liable for improper disclosure of confidential information that is not caused by Centre for Sight’s intentional misconduct. Thus, patients must consent to the use of e-mail for patient information.
Consent to the use of e-mail includes agreement with the following conditions:
- All e-mails to or from the patient concerning diagnosis or treatment will be attached to and made part of the patient’s medical records, other individuals authorized to access the medical records, such as staff and billing personnel, will have access to those e-mails
- Centre for Sight may forward e-mails internally to Centre for Sight’s staff and agents as necessary for diagnosis treatment, reimbursement, and other handling. Centre for Sight will not, however, forward e-mails to independent third parties without the patient’s prior written consent, except as authorized or required by law
- Although Centre for Sight will endeavour to read and respond promptly to an e-mail from the patient, Centre for Sight cannot guarantee that any particular e-mail will be read and responded to within any particular period of time. Thus, that patient shall not use e-mail for medical emergencies or other time-sensitive matters
- If the patient’s e-mail requires or invites a response from the Centre for Sight, and the patient has not received a response within a reasonable time period, it is the patient’s responsibility to follow up to determine whether the intended recipient received the e-mail and when the recipient will respond
- The patient should not use e-mail for communication regarding sensitive medical information, such as information regarding sexually transmitted diseases AIDS/HIV, mental health, developmental disability or substance abuse
- The patient is responsible for informing Centre for Sight of any types of information the patient does not want to be sent by email, in addition to those set out above
- The patient is responsible for protecting his/her password or other means of access to e-mail. Centre for Sight is not liable for breaches of confidentiality caused by the patient or any third party
- Centre for Sight shall not engage in e-mail communication that is unlawful, such as unlawfully practicing medicine across country lines
- It is the patient’s responsibility to follow up and/or schedule an appointment if warranted
- Communication between Centre for Sight prior to consultation does not constitute a medical contractual arrangement between you and Centre for Sight
3. Instructions (Best Practices)
To communicate by e-mail, the patient shall:
- Limit or avoid use of his/her employer’s computer
- Inform Centre for Sight of changes to his/her e-mail address
- Put the patient’s name in the body of the e-mail
- Include the category of the communication in the e-mail’s subject line, for routing purposes (e.g., billing question)
- Review the e-mail to make sure it is clear and that all relevant information is provided before sending to Centre for Sight
- Inform Centre for Sight that the patient received an e-mail from Centre for Sight
- Take precautions to preserve the confidentiality of e-mails, such as using screen savers and safeguarding his/her computer password
- Withdraw consent only by e-mail or written communication to Centre for Sight
Please note the following:
- By emailing us your details you are accepting that we will respond to that email address. This acts as your consent.
- Email sent by Centre for Sight and its staff is not encrypted and therefore like all unencrypted email may be intercepted or used by others
- Submitting a web form or sending an email to Centre for Sight and or receiving email from Centre for Sight or its staff or doctors will not establish a doctor-patient relationship. If you have or suspect you have an urgent health care problem, please consult with your health care provider immediately
- Centre for Sight replies are not intended as medical advice. Accordingly you cannot rely on them as
- A diagnosis of your medical condition
- As a confirmation of your medical diagnosis or
- As a recommendation of one or more treatments
How do I find out about changes to email communication – terms & conditions?
We keep our email communication terms & conditions under regular review and we will place any updates on this webpage. We may change the content or services found on our website at any time without notice, and consequently our email communication terms & communications may change at any time in the future. Your continued access to or use of the website will mean that you agree to the changes.
Find out more about our Privacy Policy and general Terms & Conditions.
Last Updated On: 5th November, 2020
Next Review Date: 5th November, 2024
Whom to contact if I have question about email communication – T&Cs?
Please contact us if you have any questions about our email communications terms & conditions:
Gael Ogunyemi Director of Operations on enquiries@centreforsight.com
Or write to us at:
Centre for Sight Limited,
Hazelden Place,
East Grinstead,
West Sussex
RH19 4RH