Cookie Policy - HS Health Group Ltd.

What cookies and similar technologies we use on hshealthgroup.co.uk, why we use them, and how you can control them.

Table of Contents

What are cookies?

Cookies are small text files placed on your device when you visit a website. They help the site function correctly, remember your preferences, and provide us with information about how the site is used. Similar technologies (such as browser local storage and tracking pixels) may be used alongside cookies and are covered by this policy.

How we use cookies

We use cookies on hshealthgroup.co.uk to:

keep our website secure and functioning correctly, including our booking and enquiry forms;
protect our forms from spam and automated abuse using Google reCAPTCHA;
understand how visitors find and use our site, via Google Tag Manager and analytics, so we can improve our content and services;
remember display preferences, such as whether you have dismissed a notice.

We do not use cookies to build advertising profiles of patients, and we never use cookies to collect clinical or health information you have shared with us as a patient.

Categories of cookies we use

Strictly necessary cookies

Required for the website and booking forms to function – for example, maintaining your session while you complete a multi-step enquiry form, or enforcing security measures. These cannot be switched off, as the site would not work correctly without them, and they do not require consent under UK PECR rules.

Functional cookies

Remember choices you make (such as a selected clinic location on our booking form) to improve your experience on return visits.

Analytics & performance cookies

Set via Google Tag Manager, these help us understand which pages are visited, how visitors navigate the site, and where we can improve. Data is aggregated and used for site improvement, not to identify you personally.

Third-party & security cookies

Google reCAPTCHA sets cookies to distinguish genuine visitors from automated bots on our Contact Us and Booking Enquiry forms. Our image delivery service (ShortPixel) may also use minimal technical cookies to optimise image loading performance.

Cookies used on this website

The table below lists the cookie categories confirmed as in use on hshealthgroup.co.uk. Exact cookie names and durations should be verified with a live cookie scan and kept up to date as tools change.

Cookie / Provider	Category	Purpose	Typical duration
_ga, _ga_*, _gid (Google Analytics, via Google Tag Manager, container GTM-KPQ543JH)	Analytics	Distinguishes and counts unique visitors; measures site usage	Up to 2 years
_gat	Analytics	Throttles request rate for analytics collection	1 minute
_GRECAPTCHA (Google reCAPTCHA)	Necessary / Security	Distinguishes humans from bots on our forms	Up to 6 months
PHPSESSID / WordPress session cookies	Strictly necessary	Maintains your session while browsing and completing forms	Session (deleted on browser close)
wp_* (WordPress core)	Strictly necessary	Core website functionality	Session to 1 year, tool-dependent

Where a cookie consent banner is shown on our site, you can accept or reject non-essential cookies at any time using the preference options it provides. You can also control or delete cookies through your browser settings:

Please note that blocking strictly necessary cookies may prevent our booking and enquiry forms from working correctly.

Google (Analytics, Tag Manager, reCAPTCHA): policies.google.com/privacy

Changes to this policy

We may update this Cookie Policy from time to time as we add, remove, or change the tools and cookies used on our website. Please check back periodically, especially before consenting to non-essential cookies.