Terms and Conditions
Flourish Acupuncture
Set out below are the terms and conditions on which Flourish Acupuncture provides services and products to its patients. Please ensure that you have read and fully understood our Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy prior to booking a consultation, treatment, or purchasing any products or services from us.
Using our website, booking a consultation or treatment, making a payment, or placing an order with us indicates your acceptance of these Terms and Conditions and our Privacy Policy and confirms that:
- you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by them; and
- you are at least 18 years old when entering into this agreement for yourself.
Overview
All practitioners at Flourish Acupuncture are fully qualified and trained to meet the requirements of the British Acupuncture Accreditation Board and practise acupuncture in compliance with the requirements of the Professional Standards Authority for Health and Social Care.
British Acupuncture Council regulates Nicole Hamer, who is a fully insured member.
The following constitutes a legal agreement between a buyer (“you” or the “Patient”) and Flourish Acupuncture with respect to the use of our website and the purchase of treatments, services, or products.
If you do not agree to these Terms and Conditions or cannot comply with them, please do not book a consultation or treatment, make a payment, or access the website. We are happy to discuss any questions or concerns before booking.
The current versions of our Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy are available on the Flourish Acupuncture website.
By booking, attending, or proceeding with treatment, you confirm that you have had the opportunity to read these documents.
We will always assess whether treatment is suitable for you based on the information available and our professional judgement. We cannot guarantee the results of any treatment, as outcomes vary between individuals and depend on many factors. If we believe treatment is not appropriate or unlikely to be beneficial, we will explain this to you where appropriate.
Our website is intended to provide general information regarding our services and does not constitute medical advice.
Consent to Treatment
By booking and attending an appointment with Flourish Acupuncture and signing the relevant consent form(s), you confirm that:
- you have provided accurate and relevant health information to the best of your knowledge
- you understand the nature and purpose of acupuncture and associated therapies offered
- you have had the opportunity to ask questions before and during treatment
- you understand that responses to treatment vary between individuals and outcomes cannot be guaranteed
- you understand that consent is an ongoing process and that you may pause or withdraw consent to treatment at any time
You understand that acupuncture involves the insertion of sterile single-use needles into specific points on the body and that adjunctive techniques may also be offered where clinically appropriate and discussed with you in advance. These may include:
- moxibustion
- cupping
- gua sha
- electro-acupuncture
- auricular (ear) acupuncture
- ear seeds
You acknowledge that acupuncture and associated therapies may involve some risks and side effects including, but not limited to:
- minor bruising or bleeding
- temporary soreness or aggravation of symptoms
- dizziness or fainting
- fatigue or emotional release
- temporary skin marking or discolouration following cupping or gua sha
- rare risks including infection, burns, accidental injury, nerve irritation, or pneumothorax
You agree to inform your practitioner of any changes to your health, medication, pregnancy status, or medical investigations as soon as possible, as failure to disclose relevant information may increase the risk of adverse reactions or affect the suitability of treatment.
Acupuncture is a complementary therapy and does not replace appropriate medical diagnosis or emergency medical care.
Professional Boundaries and Chaperones
Some treatments may involve acupuncture points on the abdomen, hips, upper legs, shoulders, or back. Appropriate draping, privacy, and professional boundaries will always be maintained.
Patients are welcome to request a chaperone where appropriate.
Children and Young People
Patients under 18 years of age must have consent provided by a parent or legal guardian prior to treatment.
A parent or guardian may be required to remain present during treatment sessions where appropriate.
Any patient attending for treatment who brings a child with them must also be accompanied by another adult to supervise the child during treatment. No child under the age of 16 may be left unattended within the clinic at any time.
Failure to bring a supervising adult where required may result in the appointment being cancelled and charged for.
Clinic Appointments and Treatments: Appointments and Cancellations
If you are unable to attend your appointment, please contact us as soon as possible.
Appointments cancelled or rearranged with more than 48 hours’ notice may be refunded or rescheduled free of charge.
Appointments cancelled or rearranged between 24 and 48 hours before the appointment time may incur a cancellation fee of 50% of the appointment value.
Appointments cancelled with less than 24 hours’ notice, or missed appointments, may incur the full appointment fee.
These terms apply to both prepaid and non-prepaid appointments.
If you arrive late, treatment time may need to be shortened and the full appointment fee will still apply. Very late arrivals may result in the appointment being cancelled and charged in full.
Repeated late arrivals, cancellations, or non-attendance may result in treatment being discontinued at our discretion.
Prior to your appointment, we may provide preparation guidance relevant to your treatment. Failure to follow this guidance may result in cancellation of the appointment, reduced treatment time, or additional charges.
You will be asked about your health prior to treatment and periodically thereafter. We reserve the right to request an updated medical history and undertake a further chargeable consultation where:
- 18 months or more have passed since your last appointment; or
- the treatment focus changes significantly, including from non-fertility to fertility-related treatment.
Some consultation questions may include personal or sensitive topics relevant to diagnosis and treatment. You may decline to answer any questions you are uncomfortable with.
Flourish Acupuncture will endeavour to ensure appointments run to time. However, should we need to cancel or postpone your appointment, we will make every effort to contact you as soon as reasonably possible.
Clinic Appointments and Treatments: Payment by You
Prices are reviewed periodically and may change without notice.
If additional procedures or therapies are recommended during consultation or treatment, expected costs will be discussed beforehand where possible.
Payment for treatment is due on the day of the appointment unless otherwise agreed in advance.
Accepted payment methods may include:
- card payment
- bank transfer
- cash
Where applicable, card details may be securely stored through our GDPR-compliant booking or payment provider for the purpose of reserving appointments and processing agreed cancellation or non-attendance fees in accordance with these Terms and Conditions.
If payment remains outstanding seven days after reminder, we reserve the right to suspend further appointments until payment has been received.
Interest may be charged on overdue balances at a rate of 4% above the base lending rate of the Bank of England.
Clinic Appointments and Treatments: Payment by Insurer
Where treatment is funded through private medical insurance, you remain responsible for ensuring that your treatment is covered by your insurer.
In most cases, patients are required to pay for treatment on the day of their appointment and subsequently claim reimbursement directly from their insurer. An invoice or receipt can be provided on request for this purpose.
Where we process claims directly with insurers:
- you must provide accurate and complete information;
- you remain responsible for any balance not paid by your insurer;
- if payment is not received from the insurer within 30 days, we reserve the right to invoice you directly.
Any products, adjunctive therapies, or services not covered by your insurer remain your responsibility.
Invoices can only be issued in the name of the person receiving treatment.
Communication
By providing your contact details, you consent to Flourish Acupuncture contacting you regarding:
- appointments
- clinic administration
- invoices
- treatment-related communication
- service updates
Communication may occur via email, telephone, or text message.
Marketing communications will only be sent where you have explicitly opted in and consent may be withdrawn at any time.
Electronic communication is not always secure and should not be used for urgent or emergency medical matters.
Confidentiality and Data Protection
We process personal and special category health data in accordance with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR), the Data Protection Act 2018, and our Privacy Policy.
Your personal and medical information is collected to:
- provide safe treatment
- manage appointments
- maintain clinical records
- comply with professional and legal obligations
Clinical records are stored securely using GDPR-compliant systems and are retained in accordance with professional, insurance, and legal requirements.
Information will remain confidential and will not normally be disclosed without your consent unless:
- required by law;
- necessary for safeguarding purposes;
- necessary to protect life or prevent serious harm.
You may request access to your records in writing with appropriate proof of identity. We aim to respond to such requests within one month where possible.
Treatment Outcomes
Whilst many patients report positive outcomes from acupuncture treatment, individual responses vary and no guarantee can be given regarding specific results.
Proceeding with treatment confirms your understanding and acceptance of this.
Liability
Nothing in these Terms and Conditions excludes or limits liability where it would be unlawful to do so.
It is your responsibility to provide accurate and complete medical information relevant to your treatment. Flourish Acupuncture will not be liable for issues arising from withheld or inaccurate information.
To the fullest extent permitted by law, Flourish Acupuncture shall not be liable for indirect, consequential, or economic losses arising from the provision of services or use of the website.
Gift Vouchers
Gift vouchers:
- are redeemable only at Flourish Acupuncture;
- are valid for 12 months from the date of purchase;
- are non-refundable and non-transferable;
- cannot be redeemed after expiry.
Where treatment costs exceed the voucher value, the difference must be paid.
Conduct in Clinic and on Clinic Premises
Patients and visitors are expected to behave respectfully towards practitioners, staff, other patients, and property.
The following behaviour may result in refusal or discontinuation of treatment:
- attending under the influence of alcohol or recreational drugs;
- threatening, abusive, aggressive, manipulative, or discriminatory behaviour;
- repeated non-attendance;
- theft or damage to property;
- behaviour likely to compromise safety, wellbeing, or professional standards.
Patients are expected to follow any parking, access, or safety instructions relevant to the clinic premises.
Refusing or Discontinuing Care
We promote and uphold the privacy, dignity, rights, health, and wellbeing of all patients and practitioners.
We reserve the right to refuse, discontinue, or defer treatment where clinically, professionally, ethically, or safely appropriate.
Reasons may include:
- treatment no longer being clinically appropriate;
- treatment needs falling outside our professional scope;
- concerns regarding patient safety;
- lack of therapeutic benefit following review;
- failure to disclose relevant information;
- repeated failure to follow reasonable treatment or aftercare advice;
- practitioner illness, professional limitations, or changes in circumstances;
- inappropriate or unsafe behaviour;
- refusal to comply with these Terms and Conditions.
Where appropriate, we may suggest alternative practitioners or services.
Courses of Treatment
Unused sessions from prepaid treatment courses may be refunded minus a £10 administration fee.
Any complimentary or free sessions included within a course hold no monetary value and are non-refundable.
Courses of treatment must be completed before their stated expiry date.
Website Terms
By accessing our website, you agree to use it lawfully and responsibly.
All content on the website, including text, images, branding, and graphics, remains the intellectual property of Flourish Acupuncture unless otherwise stated and may not be reproduced without permission.
Information provided on the website is intended for general educational purposes only and does not constitute personalised medical advice.
While reasonable efforts are made to keep website content accurate and up to date, no guarantees are made regarding completeness, accuracy, or uninterrupted availability.
Flourish Acupuncture is not responsible for the content of external websites linked from this site.
Third Party Rights
These Terms and Conditions are solely between you and Flourish Acupuncture. No third party shall have rights under the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999 to enforce any part of these Terms.
Our Right to Amend These Terms
We reserve the right to revise these Terms and Conditions from time to time.
The version in force at the time of your booking or treatment will apply unless changes are required by law or regulatory obligation.
Law and Jurisdiction
These Terms and Conditions are governed by English law.
Any disputes arising in connection with these Terms and Conditions, your treatment, or use of the website shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the English courts.