Why we collect information
We use your answers to prepare an oral contraception consultation, support clinical screening, assign your consultation to a participating pharmacy and keep records of care and supplies made through ThePill. The pharmacist checks clinically important information and makes the final supply or referral decision.
What is recorded
- Identity and contact information, including name, date of birth, address, telephone number, email where supplied and NHS number where available.
- Your consultation answers, health history, medicines, allergies, measurements and conversation with the assistant.
- Clinical flags, the pharmacist's checks, corrections, decision, counselling, medicine supplied, regimen and quantity.
- Previous ThePill supplies and medication history recorded by you or an authorised pharmacist through this service.
- Account, access and technical information needed to operate the service, protect records and investigate problems.
Which pharmacy can see it
The assigned pharmacy sees the information needed to handle your consultation. Where a queue-acceptance step applies, only a limited preview is shown before acceptance. Full consultation access is linked to authorised pharmacy roles and the consultation assignment; ThePill is not a general patient-search directory.
For your care, the pharmacist may see relevant previous ThePill supplies and medication history linked through your account or an NHS identity match, even if you have not signed in. Shared repeat-history information omits the source pharmacy and individual pharmacist. Historical medicines must be checked with you because they may no longer be current.
AI clarification and service providers
If an answer needs clarification, the current question, example answers and your answer may be sent to Anthropic's AI service. Your stored identity details and full consultation record are not automatically included, but anything you write in that answer may be shared, including health or identifying information. The AI does not approve or prescribe medication.
Supabase provides application and database services, and Cloudflare delivers and protects the website. The pharmacy uses an NHS-assured IT system to support identity checks and maintain NHS service records. Some provider processing may take place outside the UK. The privacy policy explains these uses in more detail.
Authorised support and safety staff may access necessary information to investigate problems or handle privacy requests. This is separate from ordinary pharmacy access.
Your GP and care records
You are asked separately whether the consultation outcome can be shared with your GP. An authorised pharmacist may check demographic information through the pharmacy's NHS-assured IT system and access your Summary Care Record or another permitted care-record service when appropriate for your care. The pharmacist records whether it was accessed and the relevant reason.
Relevant details are entered into the pharmacy's usual service record. Information needed for NHS service payment and checks is handled separately from your choice about notifying your GP.
Accounts and unfinished drafts
An account links saved information to your verified sign-in. Unfinished account drafts and private code-based drafts have a seven-day access expiry from saving. A resume code should be treated like a password. Access expiry does not mean that every copy or backup is deleted at that moment.
Submitted consultations and clinical audit records are kept according to their care, NHS record and legal purposes. They are not subject to the unfinished-draft access period. Deleting an account does not necessarily delete your clinical record.
Your rights and questions
You can ask for access to your information or request correction of inaccuracies. Other rights, including restriction, objection or erasure, depend on the purpose and legal basis. Clinical records may need to be retained for care, NHS requirements, investigations or legal obligations.
Email hello@thepill.org.uk for privacy or account questions, or contact your pharmacy. Do not include unnecessary medical details or use email for urgent medical advice. You can also complain to the Information Commissioner's Office.