Cookies that measure website use (statistics)
Google Analytics
We use Google Analytics cookies to collect information about how you use nwas.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 nwas.nhs.uk:
| Name | Purpose | Expires |
|---|---|---|
| _ga_<unique id> | These help us count how many people visit nwas.nhs.uk by tracking if you’ve visited before | 1 year |
| _ga | These help us count how many people visit nwas.nhs.uk by tracking if you’ve visited before | 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 | Expires |
|---|---|---|
| swpext86386 | This cookie is used by SearchWP Metrics to track clicks within the search results. | Immediately |
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 North West Ambulance Service 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 nwas.nhs.uk pages. YouTube sets cookies when you visit one of these pages.
| Name | Purpose | Expires |
|---|---|---|
| VISITOR_INFO1_LIVE | Used by YouTube to count the views of embedded videos and provide bandwidth usage statistics | 6 months |
| GPS | Stores location data of the current user based on geographical GPS location | 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. | 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 | 8 months |
Google Maps
Google Maps is installed so that the user can successfully get directions to one of our locations. Google Maps will use your IP address in order to determine your current location.
| Name | Purpose | Expires |
|---|---|---|
| Google Maps | Google Maps uses your IP address to determine your location | Immediately |
Strictly necessary cookies (functional)
Cookies message
You may see a banner when you visit nwas.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 | Expires |
|---|---|---|
| CookieControl | Used by the Civic Cookie Control consent system to store the accepted cookie policy ID. | 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 | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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 | Expires |
|---|---|---|
| wpe-auth | Used to store logged in user status | session |
| wp_lang | Used by WordPress to store the users language preferences | session |
| wp_data_user_* | Used by WordPress to provide administrative functionality | various |