Cookie policy
What are cookies?
Cookies are files saved on your phone, tablet or computer when you visit a website.
They store information about how you use the website, such as the pages you visit.
Cookies are not viruses or computer programs. They are very small so do not take up much space.
How we use cookies
We only use cookies to:
- make our website work
- measure how you use our website, such as which links you click on (analytics cookies), if you give us permission
We do not use any other cookies, for example, cookies that remember your settings or cookies that help with health campaigns.
We sometimes use tools on other organisations' websites to collect data or to ask for feedback. These tools set their own cookies.
Cookies that make our website work
We use cookies to keep our website secure and fast.
List of cookies that make our website work
| Cookie name | Purpose | Expiry |
|---|---|---|
| nhsuk-cookie-consent | Remembers if you used our cookies banner | When you close the browser (if you do not use the banner) or 1 year (if you use the banner) |
| supportFinderAnswers | Stores your answers on the help finder | When you close the browser |
| referralJourney | Stores your referral selection | When you close the browser |
| referralAnswers | Stores your answers from any referral details | When you close the browser |
Cookies that measure website use
We also use software called Google Analytics and Hotjar to collect performance information, such as which pages you visit or what you click on, to help us improve the website.
Your "client IP address" is anonymised before it is shared with Google Analytics, and Hotjar. This means that you cannot be directly identified from this information. No other personal information (for example, your name or address) is collected for this purpose.
We do not allow Google or Hotjar to use or share our analytics data.
List of cookies that measure website use
| Cookie name | Purpose | Expiry |
|---|---|---|
| _ga | Used to distinguish users. | 2 years |
| _gat | Used to throttle request rate. | 1 minute |
| _gid | Used to distinguish users. | 24 hours |
| hjid | Hotjar cookie. This cookie is set when a visitor first lands on a page with the Hotjar script. It is used to persist the Hotjar User ID, unique to that site on the browser. This ensures that behaviour in subsequent visits to the same site will be attributed to the same user ID. | 365 days |
| hjClosedSurveyInvites | Hotjar persistent cookie. This cookie is set once a visitor interacts with a survey invitation modal pop-up. It's used to ensure that the same invite does not reappear if it's already been shown. | 365 days |
| hjDonePolls | Hotjar persistent cookie. This cookie is set once a visitor completes a poll using the feedback poll widget. It's used to ensure that the same poll does not reappear if it's already been filled in. | 365 days |
| _hjFirstSeen | Hotjar cookie. This cookie is used to detect your first session. | The end of the session |
| hjMinimizedPolls | Hotjar persistent cookie. This cookie is set once a visitor minimises a feedback poll widget. It's used to ensure that the widget stays minimised when the visitor navigates through your site. | 365 days |
| hjDoneTestersWidgets | Hotjar persistent cookie. This cookie is set once a visitor submits their information in the recruit user testers widget. It's used to ensure that the same form does not reappear if it's already been filled in. | 365 days |
| hjMinimizedTestersWidgets | Hotjar persistent cookie. This cookie is set once a visitor minimises a recruit user testers widget. It's used to ensure that the widget stays minimised when the visitor navigates through your site. | 365 days |
| hjIncludedInSample | Hotjar persistent cookie. This session cookie is set to let Hotjar know whether that visitor is included in the sample used to generate funnels. | 365 days |
| _hjSession_### | Hotjar cookie. This cookie keeps information from your session. It also records your activity as a single session. | 30 minutes |
| _hjSessionUser_### | Hotjar cookie. This cookie detects the first page you use when you log in to your NHS account. It also recognises your next visit. | 365 days |
| hjShownFeedbackMessage | Hotjar persistent cookie. This cookie is set when a visitor minimises or completes incoming feedback. This is done so the incoming feedback will load as minimised immediately if they navigate to another page where it's set to show. | 365 days |
| _hjAbsoluteSessionInProgress | Hotjar cookie. This cookie is used to detect the first pageview session of a user. | 30 minutes |
| _hjIncludedInPageviewSample | Hotjar cookie. This cookie is set to let Hotjar know whether that user is included in the data sampling defined by your site's pageview limit. | 30 minutes |
| _hjIncludedInSessionSample | Hotjar cookie. This cookie is set to let Hotjar know whether that user is included in the data sampling defined by your site's daily session limit. | 30 minutes |
We'll only use these cookies if you say it's OK. We'll use a cookie to save your settings.