Marketing consent vs appointment messages

Not every message needs marketing consent. The system draws the line the same way privacy law does, and applies it automatically.

Appointment messages (always sent)

Messages that are part of running the patient's own care and bookings do not need a marketing opt-in, and are sent to every patient with contact details:

• Booking confirmations, and the 48-hour and 24-hour reminders.
• Aftercare advice and the post-treatment check-in.
• Cancellation notices, no-show follow-ups and booking recovery.
• Waitlist slot offers (they asked to be told).

Marketing messages (opt-in only)

Messages that promote the clinic only go to patients who have opted in:

• Birthday greetings and offers.
• Review requests.
• The rebook nudge and treatment rebooking recalls.
• Any campaigns you send yourself.

The two consent flags

Each patient's record has separate Marketing email and Marketing SMS tick boxes, editable on the patient's page. Email consent gates the marketing emails; SMS consent additionally gates marketing texts (a patient can happily receive marketing emails but no marketing texts). Photo marketing consent is a third, separate thing again.

Opting out is automatic

Patients do not have to ring you to opt out. Texting STOP switches off their SMS marketing consent; the unsubscribe link in marketing emails opens a page that switches off both marketing flags in one click; and a bounced or complained-about email address has email marketing switched off automatically. Your consent flags therefore stay honest without housekeeping, which is exactly what a data protection inspection wants to see.