Safer Internet Day: How Releaf keep online users safe

Safer Internet Day was introduced over 20 years ago in 2004, when around 66% of UK adults had access to the internet. Launched as an initiative to promote the safe, responsible, and positive use of digital technology, Safer Internet Day raises awareness of issues that can occur online, and aims to equip people with the knowledge they need to protect themselves from falling victim.

Most would argue, this campaign is more important now than it has ever been before because now it’s estimated adults in the UK spend 76% of their waking hours online. 

This statistic comes from screen time data analysis, and implies that by the time the average Brit reaches 65, they will have spent around 27 years of their life in some sort of digital environment. 

And with access to news, entertainment, shopping, banking, and even healthcare using the internet, really, it’s not entirely surprising this figure is so high. But, with so many services available online it can be hard to know which ones are legitimate, and that’s why this year's Safer Internet Day theme is: ‘Too good to be true? Protecting yourself and others from scams online’.

At Releaf, we know how critical online safety is. We’ve implemented numerous procedures and protocols to ensure our patients remain safe, and their privacy is protected and secure, throughout every step of their journey. What better time to give a recap of these processes than Safer Internet Day? 

Let’s dive in: 

What is Releaf?

Releaf is a CQC regulated healthcare provider in the UK. 

Our GMC registered specialist doctors can legally prescribe medical cannabis flower and or medical cannabis oil to adult patients here in the UK, if it's believed they may be of benefit for symptom or side effect management. 

These treatments are not routinely available through the NHS, but eligible patients can access them legally through certain private medical cannabis clinics like Releaf. 

Is Releaf a scam?

No, Releaf is not a scam. 

It’s understandable to be wary of things that seem too good to be true, and it’s crucial to do your due diligence before entering any personal details, especially those concerning your health, identity, or finances. 

One way of verifying Releaf’s legitimacy is by looking at the Care Quality Commission’s website where it states the ‘CQC register Releaf Clinics to carry out the following legally regulated services: Treatment of disease, disorder, or injury.’ 

The Care Quality Commission is the independent regulator of health and social care services in England, overseeing protocols and procedures in hospitals, GP surgeries, dentists, mental health services and private healthcare providers like Releaf. 

How do Releaf protect users online?

Website encryption is one of the key ways we keep those using our website safe. 

‘What is website encryption?’ you may be wondering. Well, website encryption ensures that any and all data transferred between Releaf’s server and the user’s browser (such as Google Chrome) is unreadable to anyone who tries to intercept it. 

It does this by scrambling the data. For example, if someone tried to hack into our server to retrieve any personal information, medical history, contact details or appointment bookings, all that would appear is meaningless code that cannot be deciphered. Without this encryption, hackers would be able to view and exploit this sensitive information. 

Website encryption is also applied to activity on our blog and education articles, as well as on our patient portal, to ensure that interactions and communications remain private and protected from prying eyes.

How do Releaf protect their patients' privacy?

Releaf protects their patients' privacy in a number of ways. 

Firstly, every staff member at Releaf, regardless of their interaction with patients, has completed a DBS check. In addition to this, we’ve all completed data security, GDPR, and Data Protection Act training to ensure we are dealing with private and personal information in a legal, ethical, and reputable manner. 

We also designed our own bespoke state-of-the-art platform called the Releaf Patient Portal, which ensures privacy in a number of ways - the most apparent being the implementation of password protection on accounts. 

To dive further, as opposed to having patients request their own health records from their GP and manually submit them like most medical cannabis clinics in the UK do, at Releaf patients can simply provide their NHS number, and we’ll request this information safely and securely on their behalf. As a standard, we also request that patients upload all their necessary documentation, such as proof off address, directly into the portal to avoid any potential email interception.

And, if that wasn’t already enough, we’ve installed two-factor verification processes on our patients medical cannabis cards. This ensures when the QR code is scanned, an email is sent to the patient so they can confirm access to their current prescription before any information is displayed, meaning these documents can only be viewed with the patient’s permission. 

How do Releaf protect their patients financially?

With the digital sphere rapidly evolving and expanding every day, it's becoming even harder to protect yourself financially when issuing online payments. This is why we’ve implemented Stripe payment systems, as well as a money-back guarantee on initial consultations, to keep our patients protected. 

Stripe payment system 

In the UK, we were the first medical cannabis clinic to incorporate Stripe - a payment system that prioritises security and simplicity. After an initial ID verification check, Stripe allows patients to pay for their prescriptions by entering and saving their credit or debit card details, or simply using Apple Pay and Google Pay. 

In comparison to bank transfers, card payments have many benefits, including traceable transactions, smoother refund processes, and often protections over disputes or fraudulent activity. Stripe protects this sensitive payment data using encryption, and requires all payments take place over HTTPS networks for optimal security. 

Stripe ensures these payments are processed compliantly, following UK and global regulatory guidance, such as the PSR (Payment Systems Regulator), and by complying with PSD2 (Payment Services Directive 2). Stripe also meets the highest security standard for handling payment data, minimising fraud risks, and protecting sensitive customer information, or in other words, it’s achieved PCI DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard) Level 1 certification. 

Releaf’s money-back guarantee

We’ve also introduced a money-back guarantee on our initial consultations as a risk-free proposition, to give people extra confidence, and comfort, when exploring new treatment options like medical cannabis. 

If our team decides cannabis-based medicines may not be the right fit for you during your initial consultation or MDT review, and you have supplied all the necessary information truthfully, you are entitled to your money back and these refunds are automatically issued within 14 days. 

Final thoughts

In a world where the internet plays such an integral role in our day to day lives, choosing online spaces that are safe is essential, and as an online healthcare provider we know this especially to be true. 

At Releaf, we’ve implemented these policies and procedures to prioritise the cyber security and safety of our patients and online readers, and we’re proud to participate in events like Safer Internet Day. 

To learn more about Releaf’s commitments to patient excellence and safety, head over to our patient charter, or check out our FAQ, blog, or education section for further information.

Or, if you’d like to find out if medical cannabis might be right for you, head over to our fast and free eligibility checker.