Cookie & Storage Policy
Last updated: 29 June 2026 · Version 1.0
localStorage — and only with your consent — to save your favourites and recently viewed guidelines on your own device.
1. What Are Cookies?
Cookies are small text files placed on your device by websites. They are used for various purposes, from keeping you logged in to tracking your behaviour across the web. This site does not use cookies in the traditional sense.
2. What We Actually Use: localStorage
Rather than cookies, we use your browser's Web Storage API (localStorage), which is a standard mechanism built into all modern browsers. Unlike cookies, localStorage data is:
- Never automatically sent to a server with every request
- Stored entirely on your device
- Not accessible to us or any third party
- Under your full control and easily deletable
3. Storage We Use
The following table lists every localStorage item we may set, with your consent:
| Key name | Purpose | Type | Expires | Leaves device? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| gd_consent | Stores your consent preferences (accepted/rejected categories + timestamp). Required to avoid re-showing the banner on every visit. | Strictly Necessary | Persistent (until cleared) | No |
| gd_favourites | Stores the IDs of guidelines you have starred for quick access on the Favourites page. Contains only internal guideline identifiers (e.g. "sepsis"), never personal data. | Functional | Persistent (until cleared) | No |
| gd_recent | Stores the IDs of the last 10 guidelines you have viewed, to display your recently viewed list on the homepage. Contains only internal guideline identifiers. | Functional | Persistent (until cleared) | No |
4. Categories of Storage
Strictly Necessary
Storage in this category is essential for the site to function and remember your privacy preferences. It cannot be disabled. It includes only the gd_consent item, which records whether you have responded to the consent banner and what your choices were.
Functional (Recommended)
Functional storage enables personalised features that improve your experience. On this site, that means:
- Favourites — star any guideline to save it for quick access; these persist between browser sessions
- Recently Viewed — the last 10 guidelines you opened, shown at the top of the homepage for fast re-navigation
If you decline functional storage, the site will still work completely but your favourites and recently viewed history will not be saved between sessions.
Analytics (Currently Inactive)
We do not currently use any analytics service. This category is reserved for potential future use. If activated, it will involve only privacy-respecting, anonymised tools and will require fresh consent. No analytics data is currently collected.
5. No Third-Party Cookies
We do not use any third-party cookies. We do not load:
- Google Analytics, Google Tag Manager, or any Google tracking
- Facebook Pixel or Meta tracking
- Advertising networks or retargeting pixels
- Social media share buttons that track you
- Any other third-party tracking technology
rel="preconnect" to minimise latency, but if you prefer not to use Google Fonts, you can block them via your browser or a privacy extension. This will cause the site to fall back to system fonts.
6. Server-Side Logging
Our hosting provider (Hostinger) automatically records standard HTTP access logs as part of server operations. These logs may include your IP address and are processed by Hostinger under their privacy policy. We do not actively access or process individual log entries for user profiling.
7. How to Manage Your Preferences
You can manage or withdraw your consent at any time using the options below:
Change your storage preferences for this site:
You can also clear all site data via your browser settings:
Chrome: Settings → Privacy → Clear browsing data → Cookies and site data
Firefox: Settings → Privacy & Security → Cookies → Manage Data
Safari: Settings → Safari → Advanced → Website Data → Remove All
8. Do Not Track
We respect the Do Not Track (DNT) browser signal. When DNT is enabled, we do not activate any non-essential storage. However, as we do not use tracking technologies regardless, the practical effect is the same.
9. UK GDPR / EU GDPR Compliance
Our use of browser storage complies with the UK Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations (PECR) and UK GDPR. We obtain explicit consent before activating functional storage, provide clear information about what is stored, and offer straightforward mechanisms to withdraw consent at any time.
10. Changes to This Policy
If we introduce new storage technologies or change how we use existing ones, we will update this policy and, where required, seek fresh consent. The "Last Updated" date at the top of this page reflects the most recent revision.
11. Contact
For questions about this policy, please use our Contact page. For complaints about data processing, you may also contact the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO).