Cookies that measure website use (statistics)
We use Google Analytics cookies to collect information about how you use nth.nhs.uk. You can opt out of Google Analytics cookies by installing the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on. You can read Google’s overview of data practices within Google Analytics. Our Privacy Notice has more information about the data we collect using Google Analytics cookies and information we receive from other digital services. We use the following Google Analytics cookies on nth.nhs.uk:
| Name | Purpose | Category | Expires |
|---|---|---|---|
| _ga_<unique id> | These help us count how many people visit nth.nhs.uk by tracking if you’ve visited before | Statistics | 1 year |
| _ga | These help us count how many people visit nth.nhs.uk by tracking if you’ve visited before | Statistics | 2 years |
SearchWP
SearchWP is used by our site search engine “SearchWP” to track common search terms and help improve how we optimise the site.
| Name | Purpose | Category | Expires |
|---|---|---|---|
| swpext86386 | This cookie is used by SearchWP Metrics to track clicks within the search results. | Statistics | 1 week |
Cookies set by other websites (marketing)
Some of our pages may contain content from other sites, like YouTube or Vimeo, which may set their own cookies. These sites are sometimes called ‘third party’ services. This tells us how many people are seeing the content and whether it’s useful.
In addition, if you share a link to an nth.nhs.uk. page, the service you share it on (for example, Facebook) may set a cookie. We have no control over cookies set on other websites – you can turn them off, but not through us.
YouTube videos
We use YouTube to show videos on some nth.nhs.uk. pages. YouTube sets cookies when you visit one of these pages.
| Name | Purpose | Category | Expires |
|---|---|---|---|
| VISITOR_INFO1_LIVE | Used by YouTube to count the views of embedded videos and provide bandwidth usage statistics | Marketing | 6 months |
| VISITOR_PRIVACY_METADATA | Used by YouTube to store the user’s cookie consent state for the current domain | Marketing | Marketing |
| GPS | Stores location data of the current user based on geographical GPS location | Marketing | session |
| YSC | Used by YouTube to prevent spam, fraud and abuse. The YSC cookie ensured that requests to YouTube and Google are being made by the user, and not by other sites. | Marketing | session |
| PREF | YouTube uses the ‘PREF’ cookie to store information such as your preferred page configuration and playback preferences like explicit autoplay choices, shuffle content, and player size. For YouTube Music, these preferences include volume, repeat mode, and autoplay | Marketing | 8 months |
Spotify
We use Spotify to play audio content/podcasts on some nth.nhs.uk. pages. Spotify sets cookies when you visit one of these pages.
| Name | Purpose | Category | Expires |
|---|---|---|---|
| sp_landing | This cookie is set by Spotify to implement audio content from Spotify on the website and also registers information on user interaction related to the audio content. | Functional | 1 day |
| sp_t | This cookie is used to implement audio content from Spotify on the website. It also helps in collecting information on user interaction with this audio content. | Marketing | 1 year |
Strictly necessary cookies (functional)
Cookies message
You may see a banner when you visit nth.nhs.uk. inviting you to accept cookies or review your settings. We’ll set cookies so that your computer knows you’ve seen it and not to show it again, and also to store your settings.
| Name | Purpose | Category | Expires |
|---|---|---|---|
| CookieControl | Used by the Civic Cookie Control consent system to store the accepted cookie policy ID. | Functional | 1 year |
Google reCAPTCHA cookies
In some limited circumstances, we may use Google reCAPTHCA to help us detect fraudulent activity. We also use Google reCAPTCHA for spam prevention. Some of the data collected by reCAPTCHA cookies is forwarded to Google. See the Google Privacy Policy and the Google Terms of Service.
| Name | Purpose | Category | Expires |
|---|---|---|---|
| rc::c | We use Google reCAPTCHA on this site to make sure that information (for example, in forms) is entered by a human and not by automated software. | Functional | session |
| rc::b | We use Google reCAPTCHA on this site to make sure that information (for example, in forms) is entered by a human and not by automated software. | Functional | session |
| rc::a | We use Google reCAPTCHA on this site to make sure that information (for example, in forms) is entered by a human and not by automated software. | Functional | persistent |
Other essential cookies
Essential cookies keep your information secure while you use our website. We do not need to ask permission to use them.
| Name | Purpose | Category | Expires |
|---|---|---|---|
| wpe-auth | Used to store logged in user status | Functional | session |
| wp_lang | Used by WordPress to store the users language preferences | Functional | session |
| wp_data_user_* | Used by WordPress to provide administrative functionality | Functional | various |
| __cf_bm | Used by Cloudflare as strictly necessary to provide the services requested by users | Functional | 30 min |
| wfwaf-authcookie-* | Used to check user capabilities when logging in, and to manage access across the website. | Functional | 1 day |
| wf_loginalerted_* | Used to help site administrators know whether there has been a user login from a new device. | Functional | persistent |
| wfls-remembered-* | Used by MFA users when logging in, this cookie allows them to log in with the same browser without requiring MFA each time. | Functional | session |