Cookies are small text files that can be used by web sites to make a user’s experience more efficient.
The law states that we can store cookies on your machine if they are essential to the operation of this site but that for all others we need your permission to do so.
St Gemma’s Hospice website does use some non-essential cookies. We do not do this to track individual users or to identify them, but to gain useful knowledge about how the site is used so that we can keep improving it for our users. Without the knowledge we gain from the systems that use these cookies we would not be able to provide the service we do.
Although cookies cannot carry viruses and cannot install malware on the host computer, tracking cookies and especially third-party tracking cookies are commonly used as way to compile long-term records of individuals’ browsing histories – a major privacy concern that prompted European and US law makers to take action.
Cookies we use:
Session Cookies (PHPSESSID)
We use session cookies to record an individual users preferences that the user has specified, so that each time the user returns their preferences remain. Commonly this would be language settings, shopping carts, anything where you have indicated a preference. Where forms are used on the site, we hold the information in a session cookie so that we can improve the user experience on the site. Should a user, for example, forget to fill in parts of a form when submitting a form, we can auto-fill the values for those fields that have been filled in, thereby reducing the amount of fields a user needs to amend. This information is stored only in your browser and is destroyed once your browser is closed.
Google Analytics (__utmz, __utmc, __utmb, __utma)
These cookies are used to collect information about how visitors use our site. We use the information to compile reports and to help us improve the site for you. The cookies collect information in an anonymous form, including the number of visitors to the site, where visitors have come to the site from and the pages they visited.
Google Maps (APISID, HSID, NID, PREF, SAPISID, SID, SSID)
These cookies are used by Google to store user preferences and information when viewing pages with Google maps on them.
Mobiles and small tablets (weaverii_mobile)
This cookie is used to determine the Mobile/Full view state on mobile devices. This cookie does not contain any information of a personal nature and is stored only in your browser and is destroyed once your browser is closed.
Please note that St Gemma’s Hospice does not use cookies which can be classified as ‘tracking’ or ‘targeting’ cookies which pass information about your visit to third party advertisers.
Most web browsers allow some control of most cookies through the browser settings.
To opt out of being tracked by Google Analytics across all websites visit tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout.
To find out how to allow, block, delete and manage the cookies on all standard web browsers, go to AboutCookies.org and select the browser and version you are using. You’ll also find information about how to delete cookies from your computer.