Terms and Conditions
Terms and Conditions
This agreement has been updated in line with GDPR legislation May 2018.
Definitions
Therapy here refers to any of the professional services that I am qualified in and provide for you at your request for your wellbeing and personal development. This could include Proprioceptive Deep Tendon Reflex, Remedial/Sports Massage and Soft Tissue Therapy, Dry Needling, Corrective Exercise and FirstBeat Wellness Coaching, either in a singular or mixed-mode form.
Commencement
Commencing or continuing therapy with me requires that you have read and agreed to this Therapy and Clinical Supervision Agreement.
Contact Methods
You agree to me contacting you via email or text message (SMS). In the event that you prefer that I only use telephone contact, please state this on your Client Intake Form where relevant.
Duration of Consulation
The initial consultation is of 60 minutes in duration for new patients. Follow up appointments are usually 45 minutes in duration unless longer is mutually agreed.
Course of Treatment and Reviews
There is no specific length in terms of course of treatment. Each patient is treated very individually. I do not enlist people on long-term treatment courses. However, it is useful to distinguish between the treatment of an acute complaint, which by definition does not require long-term treatment courses and the management of chronic pain or illness, which often requires greater time devoted to the process of healing various body systems. In the latter, I may on request provide long-term help to promote ease and wellbeing to assist conventional medical care alongside your doctors’ care.
I will review progress with you at the start of every consultation and evaluate your improvement before commencement of treatment. You are not tied into any long-term commitment and you may end sessions at any time. If I consider your needs to be beyond the limits of my competence, I reserve the right to terminate our contract or to refer you to a competent specialist. I shall discuss this with you in the session and onward recommendations may be provided.
Confidentiality
Your personal information is kept securely. Intake forms submitted through the website will be deleted from the website server once received and downloaded to online security protected hard drives. All medical information and session notes will be individually password protected. I will not share your information with other healthcare professionals, insurance companies or third parties unless specifically requested by yourself in writing. In line with UK law and my ethical codes, confidentiality will only be breached if I have concerns that you or anyone else is at risk. If this occurs, I aim to discuss this with you and any recommendations will be documented. As a registered member of the Sports Massage Association (SMA), I adhere to their ethical framework and strong code of practice to ensure that you receive a professional and competent service.
The Information I collect about you and how I use it
Upon starting therapy, basic personal information will be collected for contact and identification reasons. This is generally comprised of your full name, postal address, telephone / mobile phone number, date of birth and GP details. My client intake form contains other sections that you are under no obligation to fill out, but you may voluntarily choose to do so as it will assist me in providing you with my expertise. All the information you provide remains in your clinical file, which I am legally bound to keep archived for a minimum of 8 years after your last appointment. I take clinical notes during consultations, which may include some personal and sensitive details about your presentation or life. The intake form and any other notes I take are used solely for the purpose of supporting the services offered to you. All information you provide is strictly confidential.
Your rights
You have the right to verify the accuracy of the information I hold about you and to request a copy of my notes. I may reserve the right to charge a small administration fee if this was to become a regular occurrence. I may likewise reserve the right to charge an administration fee for the production of reports. All information held about you is for my own professional use in relation to the services I provide for you and is strictly confidential. If you would like a copy of some or all of your personal information, please put your request in writing to me via the contact details shown on the ‘contact’ page and it will be provided to you within 30 days. I always aim to keep accurate and up-to-date information, so if your details change, please keep me informed.
Data retention – How long do I keep your information for?
Your information is kept for the time necessary to provide therapy, and beyond this I hold your details for a period of time following the end of your therapy to comply with any obligations that are placed upon me by my insurers and my accrediting bodies: this is usually 8 years. After that, your file will be destroyed.
Sharing of data
There may be times where your information needs to be shared with third parties, e.g. a medical professional or specialised therapy colleagues. I will explicitly ask for your consent before doing so, and the relevant data will be sent to them securely.
Security of your data
The information you provide contained within your patient file is kept securely and confidentially in line with the Data Retention policy as stated above. Any paper notes are kept in a secure, robust, locked filing cabinet and stored within a secure building. All digital information is stored on a domestic computer hard drive, which is password protected and stored within a secure building.
Lawful basis for processing your information
The lawful basis for my holding and using your information is in relation to the delivery of a contract to you as a healthcare professional.
Session Payment
Payment must be made at the time of the session either by card payment or cash. Receipts / invoices are available on request.
Treatment Fees
Free initial consultation – duration 45 minutes
£50 for an initial appointment – duration 60 minutes
£50 for follow up appointments – duration 45-60 minutes
£75 for Fibromyalgia appointments - Duration 60-90 minutes
£220 for FirstBeat Lifestyle Assessment packages
Cancellations
A 12 hours’ notice is required to cancel your therapy session without incurring a charge. Charge for cancelation under 12 hours is 50% of the appointment fee.
Non-attendance
If you fail to attend a session without notice, the full consultation fee will be charged.
Company details
Chris Newton
​Muscle Therpies
14 Riverview Business Park
Station Road
Forest Row
East Sussex
RH18 5FS
Tel: 07917724770
Email: clinic@muscletherapies.co.uk