Cancellation Policy
Should you have the need to cancel your appointment outside 24 hrs of your intended appointment, no charge will be applied.
Should your cancellation be within 24hrs of your intended appointment unfortunately 100% of the appointment fee is due. Body Mechanics Soft Tissue Therapy will no longer take a 50% deposit on booking (as of 1st January 2024).
Body Mechanics Soft Tissue Therapy reserves the right to amend this policy and apply deposits for online bookings at anytime.
Payment is to be made by credit/debit card at the end of the appointments with all fees due. Unfortunately there are no exceptions.
Privacy Policy
(Why we collect your personal data and what we do with it)
When you supply your personal details to this clinic they are stored and processed for 4 reasons:
1) We need to collect personal information about your health in order to provide you with the best possible outcome. Your requesting, and our agreement to provide that care constitute a contract. You can, of course, refuse to provide the information, but if you were to do that we would not be able to provide our services.
2) We have a “Legitimate Interest” in collecting that information because without it we couldn’t do our job effectively and safely. We also think it is important that we can contact you to confirm your appointments with us or update you on matters related to your medical care. This again constitutes “Legitimate Interest”, but this time it is your legitimate interest. Provided we have your consent, we may occasionally send you general health information in the form of articles, advice or newsletters. You may withdraw this consent anytime – just let us know by any convenient method.
3) We have a legal obligation to retain your records for 8 years after your most recent appointment (or age 25 if this is longer), but after this period you can ask us to delete your records if you wish. Otherwise, we will retain your records indefinitely in order that we can provide you with the best possible care should you need to see us at some future date. Your records are stored:
– On paper, in locked cabinets.
– On our office computers. These are password-protected and backed up regularly. We will never share your data with anyone who does not need access without your written consent. Only the following people/agencies will have routine access to your data:
– Your practitioner(s) in order that they can provide you with our services.
– Other administrative team but they will not have access to your medical notes, just your essential contact details.
4) From time to time, we may have to employ consultants to perform tasks which might give them access to your personal data (but not your medical notes). We will ensure that they are fully aware that they must treat that information as confidential, and we will ensure that they sign a non-disclosure agreement.
You have the right to see what personal data of yours we hold, and you can also ask us to correct any factual errors. Provided the legal minimum period has elapsed, you can also ask us to erase your records. We want you to be absolutely confident that we are treating your personal data responsibly, and that we are doing everything we can to make sure that the only people who can access that data have a genuine need to do so. Of course, if you feel that we are mishandling your personal data in some way, you have the right to complain.
Complaints relating to data and privacy need to be sent to our Data Controller: Mr D Patmore-Hill, 07581798177, 5 Manor Gardens, Buckden, St Neots PE19 5TN.
If you are still dissatisfied with the response or do not receive a response within 30 days, then you can complain to the Information Commissioners Office (ICO): Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow SK9 5AF, 0303 123 1113, https://ico.org.uk/global/contact-us/email
Code of Ethics, Conduct and Practice
Members of The Institute of Sport & Remedial Massage, who have been awarded certification, having met the requirements, are required to uphold the professional standards outlined in the following code of ethics, conduct and practice.
Code of Ethics
Members are required to:
– Represent their qualifications honestly, including their educational achievements and professional affiliations, and will provide only those services they are qualified to perform.
– Be aware of contraindications for massage and bodywork, and refrain from therapy where appropriate.
– Acknowledge the limitations of sport and remedial massage and bodywork and refer clients on to appropriate health professionals when necessary.
– Provide services only where there is reasonable expectation that it will be advantageous to the client.
– Consistently maintain and improve their professional knowledge, developing a portfolio of education.
– Conduct their business and professional activities with honesty, integrity, and respect the views and beliefs of their clients in regard to gender, ethnic origins, cultural background, sexuality, lifestyle, age and social status.
– Refrain from unjust discrimination against clients or other healthcare professionals.
– Ensure that clients have an understanding about what is involved in their sessions and that voluntary informed consent is obtained either verbally or in a written form prior to sessions commencing.
– Respect the client’s right to refuse or terminate services at any time, regardless of prior consent given.
– Members may exercise the right to refuse services to any person, or part of the body, for just and reasonable cause.
– Any ISRM member undertaking research must adhere to the code of ethics and standards laid down by the Education Research Trust.
Code of Conduct
Professional
– Members should be sensitive to a client’s modesty at all times, and provide appropriate draping in a way that ensures their comfort and privacy.
– Physical examinations or therapy upon children under the age of 16 (18 years for Scotland) must be in the presence of their parent or guardian. Therapy can be given in the presence of a chaperone, who must be a responsible adult, with written consent from the parent or guardian.
– Where a client is already receiving medical treatment for their presenting condition, our services should not be commenced without prior consent from the respective practitioner.
Personal
– Members who have been convicted of a criminal offence or have accepted a police caution for any of the following must inform ISRM. Each case will be considered individually and a decision made in the light of the circumstances of the case: Violence, Abuse, Sexual misconduct, Supplying drugs, Drink-driving offences where someone was hurt or killed, Serious offences involving dishonesty, Any serious criminal offences for which you received a prison sentence.
Code of Practice
Records
– Members should maintain contemporaneous and up-to-date records of all clients in regard to medical history, presenting complaint, assessment and procedures performed.
– The record keeping process should be as transparent as possible, and clients should be made aware that records are being kept.
– All records should be kept according to the 8 principles Data Protection Act (1998). These state that data must be:
– Fairly and lawfully processed
– Processed for limited purposes
– Adequate, relevant and not excessive
– Accurate
– Not kept for longer than is necessary
– Processed in line with your rights
– Secure
– Not transferred to countries without adequate protection.
– Where a member works as part of a group practice or clinic, members should ensure that the practice or clinic is registered under the Data Protection Act (1998) where appropriate.
– Records must be kept in a secure place, adequately safeguarded and not accessible to third parties. Computerised Records must be kept secure from unauthorised access. Members are advised to seek advice relating to the requirement to register under the Data Protection Act where client records are computerised.
– Members should safeguard the confidentiality of all client information. Disclosure to third parties, including other healthcare professionals should be only with the client’s written permission. (Where information is disclosed to other parties, advice should be sought relating to the requirement to register under the Data Protection Act. Where Credit Card payments are taken by individuals not covered by a group Data Protection Registration, it is recommended that advice is sought relating to the requirement to register.)
– Client records need to be kept for seven years, in the case of children 5 for years after their 21st birthday, for terminally or seriously ill clients records should be retained indefinitely.
Personal
– Members must hold adequate professional insurance cover.
– Full members may use the designation ISRM after their name.
Premises
– Therapy areas must be hygienic, safe and equipped to clinical standards. Any couch used must have an adequate working weight for the client and techniques used.
– Therapy rooms and public areas all must comply with current health and safety regulations.
Advertising
– Any Advertising must be legal, decent, honest, truthful and in accordance with the British Code of Advertising Practice.
– Full Members may use the logo of the ISRM on business stationery & cards.
– Nothing may be published in the name of ISRM without prior agreement from ISRM.