What is a cookie?

A cookie is a small file that is sent to your computer or mobile phone which contains information that allows us to recognise that you have used our website before.  A cookie typically contains:

• The name of the server the cookie was sent from
• The lifetime of the cookie
• An unique identifier (usually a number)

Our website server sends the cookie and uses this number to recognise you when you return to a site or browse from page to page. Only the server that sends a cookie can read, and therefore use, that cookie.  This file is stored on your computer or phone hard drive.  All websites can send a cookie to your browser if your browser settings allow it. Many websites do this to track on-line traffic flow.

Cookies can be categorised from their life span:

• Session or temporary cookies:  these cookies expire when you close your browser or when the session times out
• Persistent or permanent cookies:  these are usually stored on your hard disk and survive across multiple sessions but do have an expiration date

About the cookies we use

A cookie in no way gives us access to your computer or any personal information about you, other than the data that you choose to share with us.

We use cookies to analyse data about web page traffic and improve our website in order to tailor it to visitors’ needs. This information helps us monitor the sites from which visitors arrived at The French Hospital website, to determine which pages and features within The French Hospital website are popular and deliver an improved service to website visitors.

Accepting and declining cookies

You can choose to accept or decline cookies. Most web browsers automatically accept cookies, but you can modify your browser setting to decline cookies if you prefer. Instructions on how to do so will vary from browser to browser, but you can find out more by visiting www.aboutcookies.org

Disabled cookies

Some features and functionality may be lost if you choose to disable cookies. Please note that you will have to adjust the cookie settings for each browser and device you use to visit The French Hospital website.

Use of Google Analytics

The French Hospital uses Google Analytics to analyse how many unique visitors we have to our website and how often you may visit.  We track your visit to the different pages including the sequence of the pages you view and the time spent on each page.

Google Analytics generates statistical and other information about website use by means of cookies, which are stored on your computer. The information generated relating to our website is used to create reports about the use of the website. Google will store and use this information for the purpose of evaluating your use of the website, compiling reports on website activity for website operators and providing other services relating to website activity and internet usage. Google may also transfer this information to third parties where required to do so by law, or where such third parties process the information on Google’s behalf. Google will not associate your IP address with any other data held by Google.

Google’s privacy policy is available at: http://www.google.com/privacypolicy.html and information about Google Analytics is available at: http://www.google.co.uk/intl/en/analytics/privacyoverview.html

It is possible to opt out of being tracked by Google Analytics across all websites you visit at: http://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout