Burgess Hill Podiatry
Terms & Conditions
Welcome to Burgess Hill Podiatry. By booking an appointment with us, you agree to comply with and be bound by the following terms and conditions. Please read them carefully before confirming your appointment.
1. Bookings, Appointments, and Professional Conduct
Acceptance of Terms
Scheduling any appointment—whether online, over the phone, or in person—signifies your full acceptance of these terms and conditions.
Patient Registration
New patients are required to complete an initial intake form and provide a full medical and lifestyle history prior to or during their first consultation.
Minors and Capacity
Patients aged 18 and older with full mental capacity must manage their own bookings. For patients under 18 or adults lacking legal capacity, a parent, legal guardian, or holder of a valid Power of Attorney must manage the booking and provide consent.
Third-Party Booking Liability
Any parent, guardian, or other adult who books an appointment on behalf of another person accepts full financial responsibility for all charges incurred, including any missed appointment or late cancellation fees.
Right to Refuse Treatment & Zero Tolerance
We operate a strict zero-tolerance policy regarding abusive, aggressive, or inappropriate behaviour toward our staff or other patients. Furthermore, our podiatrists reserve the right to decline or halt treatment if a patient arrives heavily under the influence of alcohol or substances, or if a clinical assessment reveals a condition outside the practitioner's scope of practice.
2. Fees and Payments
Standard Pricing
Our treatment fees and service charges are outlined in our current pricing structure. Payment is due at the time of the appointment unless alternative arrangements have been formally agreed upon.
Private Medical Insurance (PMI)
If you intend to claim through your private medical insurance, you must obtain pre-authorisation from your insurer before your appointment. Patients are required to pay the clinic upfront for their treatment and then reclaim the cost directly from their insurer using the itemised invoice we will provide.
Insurance Liability
As you settle the account directly with us at the time of your visit, any reimbursement arrangements remain strictly between you and your insurance provider.
3. Home Visits
Eligibility and Booking
Home visit appointments are subject to practitioner availability and geographical coverage. Requests must be arranged and confirmed directly with the office in advance.
Environment and Safety
For home visits, patients must provide a safe, clean, and adequately lit environment with suitable space and seating to perform the clinical treatment. Our podiatrists reserve the right to suspend or cancel a home visit if the environment is deemed unsafe, unhygienic, or threatening.
Parking and Access
Patients requesting home visits are responsible for ensuring reasonable parking arrangements (and any associated parking permit or fee coverage) are available close to the property for the practitioner.
4. Cancellation, Attendance, and Late Arrivals
Notice Period
We require a full 24 hours' notice for any appointment cancellations or rescheduling. Cancellations must be made directly via phone or through your patient portal.
Missed Appointments
Failure to attend a scheduled appointment (or failing to grant access for a confirmed home visit) or cancelling with less than 24 hours' notice may result in a default cancellation fee charged at the standard appointment rate. Where an appointment was booked on behalf of a patient by a parent, guardian, or third party, that individual is personally liable for any applicable missed appointment or late cancellation fees.
Late Arrivals
If you arrive significantly late for a clinic appointment, your session may need to be shortened to finish on time for the next patient, but the full appointment fee will still be charged. If your arrival time makes it clinically unfeasible to proceed, it may be treated as a missed appointment.
5. Medical Consent, Scope of Care, and Treatment
Shared Decision-Making
Podiatry treatments operate on an informed, verbal-consent framework. Your podiatrist will discuss your clinical diagnosis, associated risks, and proposed management strategies before starting any treatment.
Formal Written Consent
Advanced, minor surgical, or invasive clinical pathways (such as nail surgery, steroid injections, or specialised treatments) will require formal, signed, written consent prior to proceeding.
Clinical Scope and Limitations
All diagnostic findings and treatment plans are tailored to the individual’s presenting conditions during the consultation. Follow-up recommendations or ongoing care plans are advised based on clinical necessity, and patients are expected to follow post-treatment home-care guidance to ensure safe healing.
6. Data Protection and Privacy
Record Keeping
Clinical notes, personal details, and medical histories are securely stored and retained in accordance with legal and professional standards (typically for a minimum of 7 years).
Confidentiality
All personal and medical data is handled with strict confidentiality and in compliance with applicable data protection regulations.
7. Governing Law
These terms and conditions, and any dispute arising out of them, are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of England and Wales.