Privacy Policy
This Privacy Policy applies to Coastal Veterinary Services Limited and the services we provide to clients in Larne and the surrounding areas, including community events and client communications. We may update this Policy from time to time so please check this page periodically to ensure you are happy with any changes. By using our website you agree to the terms of this policy.
Who are we?
Coastal Veterinary Services Limited, Unit 3, 100 Bank Road, Larne, Co Antrim BT40 3AW. Email us at info@coastalvetservicesandvan.com or telephone 07708414775.
Director and Veterinary Surgeon: Mrs Helen Tweed BVMS MRCVS. We provide a mobile veterinary service, offering consultations, diagnostics and surgery from our fully equipped mobile veterinary van — visiting pets in the comfort of their own homes. We also have clinic at the above address for emergency cases and out of hours provision is provided byourselves or by Vets Now Belfast.
Our principles of data protection
Transparency – You may ask us at any time what data we hold about you or request a copy of your pet’s clinical records or invoices.
Security – Your data is securely stored within our practice management system, Provet, a UK-based, GDPR-compliant cloud platform that encrypts and protects client information on secure servers. Any data breach affecting Provet would be promptly reported to us, and we would take immediate action in line with GDPR requirements.
Stewardship – We take full responsibility for safeguarding your data, maintaining its accuracy, and using it only for legitimate veterinary purposes.
How we obtain your data
Information you provide – When registering your pet, we collect your name, address, phone number(s), and email address so we can contact you and visit your premises.
Information from visits – We may make notes such as directions or access instructions to assist with future appointments.
Information from third parties – We may request your pet’s clinical history from previous veterinary practices, which can include the contact details they hold for you. If you do not provide accurate contact details, we may be unable to deliver our veterinary services, as this information is essential for care, communication, and invoicing.
Why we process your data
We process personal data only when necessary for:
• Performing a contract with you (to provide veterinary care)
• Fulfilling legal obligations (e.g. medical records, controlled drugs legislation)
• Obtaining your consent (e.g. for operations, marketing or reminders)
• Legitimate business interests, where this does not override your privacy rights
How we use your data
We use your information to communicate with you (via email, phone, or post), to provide veterinary care, to liaise with Vets Now, other vets and other third parties, support payment processing through Provet Pay and manage and improve our business using anonymised data.
How we share your data
We may share your data with:
• Third parties involved in your pet’s care (Referral practices, Vets Now, laboratories, microchip registries, cremation services, insurance companies)
• Regulators such as law enforcement, courts, or government bodies when required by law
• Potential business partners or buyers in the event of a merger or acquisition, subject to confidentiality safeguards
• Other parties only with your explicit consent. We will not pass on your personal data to any third parties without your consent unless the law requires us to do so. We do not provide any personal data to the suppliers of the medicines we administer or the pet care products we sell.
Data storage and international transfers
All clinical and client data is stored within Provet, a UK-based, cloud-hosted veterinary management system. Provet complies fully with UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018 and stores all data on secure UK servers. Your information is not transferred outside the UK or EEA unless legally required or with your consent.
Data security
We have robust technical and organisational measures in place to protect your information, including password protection, user-level access controls, encrypted storage, and staff confidentiality training. All employees of Coastal Veterinary Services Limited receive data-protection and GDPR awareness training as part of their induction.
Data retention
We retain your personal and clinical data for as long as it is required to provide services and to meet our legal and professional obligations. Typically, records are kept for seven years after your last appointment or account closure, unless a longer period is legally required.
After this time, data will be securely deleted or anonymised.
Your rightsUnder the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR), you have the right to:
• Request a copy of the personal data we hold about you
• Request correction or deletion of your information (subject to legal requirements)
• Withdraw consent for marketing or reminders
• Request transfer of your pet’s records to another veterinary practice
You can exercise these rights by contacting us at info@coastalvetservicesandvan.com or by phone on 07708414775.
Contacting us
If you have any questions about this Privacy Notice or how your data is handled, please contact: Coastal Veterinary Service Limited, Unit 3. 100 Bank Road, Larne, Co Antrim, BT40 3AW Email: info@coastalvetservicesandvan.com
Complaints
We take the processing of your personal data very seriously and are here to help with any concerns you may have. Please do contact the practice at info@coastalvetservicesandvan.com or 07708414775. If you are still not happy with how your personal data is being processed by Coastal Veterinary Services Limited or how your complaint has been handled, you also have the right to lodge a complaint directly with the Information Commissioners Office at https://ico.org.uk/concerns/ or by calling 0303 1231113.