Terms Of Use - Cathedral Connect

Cathedral Eye Clinic LTD
(Last updated: 25/11/2025)

These Terms of Use govern access to and use of the Cathedral Eye Clinic online clinical referral portal, Cathedral Connect (“Connect”). By creating an account or submitting referrals through Connect, you confirm that you accept these Terms of Use and agree to comply with them. If you do not agree to these Terms, you must not use Connect.

About Us

Connect is operated by:

Cathedral Eye Clinic Limited, registered in Northern Ireland (Company No. NI071731)
Registered office: 89–91 Academy Street, Belfast, BT1 2LS.

References to “we”, “us”, or “our” include Cathedral Eye Clinic and their authorised staff.

Purpose of Connect

Connect is provided for the secure submission of clinical referrals and supporting information from:

  • Optometrists
  • General Practitioners (GPs)
  • Other authorised clinicians
  • Internal staff submitting referrals on behalf of the patient

It must only be used for genuine medical referrals and associated clinical communication.

Eligibility and Access

Access is restricted to authorised individual clinicians with a registered Portal account. Each user must maintain the confidentiality of their login credentials and must not share their account with others. Any unauthorised use of your account must be reported immediately. We reserve the right to suspend or remove access where misuse is suspected.

Clinical Responsibility

The referring clinician is responsible for:

  • Ensuring the accuracy of patient information submitted
  • Confirming the referral is clinically appropriate
  • Ensuring the patient understands the purpose of the referral
  • Confirming they hold a lawful basis to share the patient’s data under UK GDPR

Cathedral Eye Clinic assume responsibility only for clinical decisions made after receiving the referral. We are not responsible for delays, omissions, or inaccuracies in the information provided by the referrer.

Data Protection & Controller–to–Controller Data Sharing

Both the referrer and Cathedral Eye Clinic act as independent data controllers for the purposes of UK GDPR. By using Connect, the referrer confirms that they:

  • Have a valid legal basis (e.g., provision of healthcare, legitimate interests) to share patient information
  • Have provided appropriate privacy information to the patient, where required
  • Will only submit information necessary for the purpose of referral

Upon receipt, we process the patient’s data for:

  • Medical assessment
  • Diagnosis and treatment
  • Clinical administration
  • Safety, quality and regulatory requirements

Connect is not a data processor for the referrer; it is a secure transmission tool used to transfer data between two independent healthcare providers.

Responsibility to Inform the Patient

The referring clinician is responsible for ensuring that the patient is aware that their personal data will be shared with Cathedral Eye Clinic for the purposes of referral, assessment, diagnosis and treatment. By submitting a referral through Connect, the referrer confirms that the patient has been informed of the nature of the data being shared, the purpose of the referral, and that the clinician has a lawful basis to transmit the patient’s information.

The referrer also confirms that the patient understands that Cathedral Eye Clinic clinicians and authorised staff will access their data for clinical and administrative purposes. Cathedral Eye Clinic is not responsible for any failure by the referrer to meet these obligations.

Cross-Border Referrals from the Republic of Ireland

Clinicians submitting referrals from outside the United Kingdom, including from the Republic of Ireland, acknowledge that they act as independent data controllers under their applicable data protection law, including the EU GDPR.

By submitting a referral through the Portal, the referrer confirms that:

  • they have a lawful basis under EU GDPR to process and transfer the patient’s personal data;
  • the patient has been provided with appropriate privacy information;
  • the transfer of the data to the United Kingdom is lawful under the EU–UK adequacy decision;
  • only information necessary for the purpose of referral has been submitted.

Upon receipt, Cathedral Eye Clinic process the patient’s personal data as independent data controllers in accordance with the UK GDPR, the Data Protection Act 2018, and applicable healthcare regulatory standards.

No additional agreements or Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs) are required for such transfers due to the United Kingdom’s adequacy decision granted by the European Commission.

Information Security

Users must:

  • Access Connect using secure devices and networks
  • Not attempt to bypass, disable, or compromise Portal security
  • Not upload any malicious or harmful code

We do not guarantee uninterrupted access. Connect may be unavailable due to maintenance, updates, or technical issues. Any security concerns related to Connect should be reported immediately.

Acceptable Use

Users must not:

  • Use Connect for non-clinical or inappropriate purposes
  • Submit fraudulent, irrelevant, or misleading information
  • Share login details with unauthorised persons
  • Use Connect to harass, defame, or harm others
  • Attempt to access data belonging to other users or patients

Misuse may result in suspension or permanent account removal.

Intellectual Property Rights

All Portal content, branding, design, software, text and graphics are owned or licensed by Cathedral Eye Clinic Limited. Users are granted a limited licence to access and use Connect for clinical referral purposes. No other reproduction, distribution, or modification is permitted.

Liability

We are not liable for:

  • Errors or omissions in referrals submitted by users
  • Loss arising from delays or Portal downtime
  • Indirect or consequential loss
  • Clinical decisions made by referrers

Nothing in these Terms excludes liability for death or personal injury caused by our negligence or for any liability that cannot be limited under law.

Changes to Connect or Terms

We may update Connect or modify these Terms at any time. Continued use of Connect after changes indicates acceptance of the modified Terms.

Termination of Access

We may suspend or terminate a user’s access where:

  • These Terms are breached
  • Security risks are identified
  • Access is no longer appropriate for the user’s clinical role

Governing Law

These Terms are governed by the laws of Northern Ireland. Any disputes shall be subject to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the Northern Ireland courts.

Contact Us

For technical or clinical support:
Patient Care Team
Telephone: 028 9032 2020
Email: info@cathedraleye.com

For data protection matters:
Data Protection Officer: Benji Aiken
Email: ben.aiken@cathedraleye.com