Privacy policy

I take your privacy seriously and will only use your personal information  to provide the services you have requested.

Why do I need to collect your personal data?

When you supply your personal details to me they are stored and processed for 4 reasons 

(the terms in italics are the relevant terms used in the Data protection Act 2018, which includes the General Data Protection Regulation).

1. I need to collect personal information about your health in order to provide you with the best

possible treatment. Your request for treatment and my agreement to provide that care

constitutes a contract. You can, of course, refuse to provide the information, but if you were

to do that I would not be able to provide treatment.

2. I have a Legitimate Interest in collecting that information, because without it I  would be unable to provide you with treatment  or practice herbal medicine effectively and safely.

3.It is important that I can contact you in order to confirm your appointments

with me or to update you on matters related to your medical care. This is your legitimate interest.

4. If I have your consent, I may occasionally send you general health information in the

form of marketing emails. You may withdraw this consent at any time – just let me know

by any convenient method.

I have an obligation as a registered herbalist to keep your records for 8 years after your most recent appointment (or age 25, if this is longer), but after this period you can ask me to delete your records if you wish.

Otherwise, I will retain your records indefinitely in order that I can provide you with the best possible care should you need to see me again at some future date.

Your records are stored:

• On paper, in secured location at my home which is always locked when not attended 
• On my office computer in the case of correspondence, referral letters, invoices etc.    These are password-protected, backed up regularly, and the computer is securely stored when not in use. 

I will never share your data with anyone who does not need access without your written consent.

Only the following people/agencies will have routine access to your data:

• Me, so that I can provide you with treatment
• Admin staff, because they organise my diary, and coordinate appointments and reminders (but they do not have access to your medical history or sensitive personal information).

You have the right to see what personal data of yours I hold, and you can also ask me to correct

any factual errors. Provided the legal minimum period has elapsed, you can also ask me to erase

your records.

I hope that you will be confident that I am treating your personal data responsibly, and that I am doing everything I can to make sure that the only people who can access that data have a genuine need to do so. 

If you feel that I am mishandling your personal data in some way, you also have the right to

complain. Complaints need to be sent to what is referred to in the jargon as the Data Controller.

Here are the details you need for that:

Data Controller, [Robyn Volkers 9 Chapel Row Ludlow SY8 2NL] 

If you are not satisfied with my response, you  then have the right to raise the matter with the Information Commissioner’s Office.

Privacy policy updated Sept 2025