Case history

I will take a full case history which will include you or your child’s medical history (as far back as birth and time during pregnancy if relevant) and current general health along with your presenting complaint.

Patient examination

For the purpose of examination you or your child will be asked to undress to your underwear (or nappy for a baby) if you are happy to. This allows me to examine you or your child globally and consider the relevance of different parts of the body to your presenting problem. 

If you do not feel comfortable undressing this is also ok, but I would appreciate loose clothing and no denim material to be able to examine properly. Or bring shorts and a vest top as necessary. 

As part of the examination, you may be asked to perform some movements and I may then move different areas of your body to see how they are functioning. Depending on your individual case, additional tests may be performed such as taking your blood pressure or testing your reflexes (an infant’s primitive reflexes are tested routinely). During a “cranial Osteopathy” examination, I will place my hands on various parts of the body to look at deeper and subtler rotations, torsion, pulls, compressions, inflammation etc. in the tissues. This is a passive and gentle examination. 

Evaluation

Once I have completed the examination I will then let you know what I think is causing the problem and discuss possible treatments with you. This will include the treatment options available and their effects, the type of treatment recommended and the aims of the treatment. 

Occasionally patients need to be referred to their GP for further investigation or care and in this situation I am happy to write a letter as to why we feel this is necessary. This is normally only carried out with your permission. 

Osteopathic treatment 

There are many different techniques and treatment types that osteopaths can use and I will discuss these with you. I may advise you with regards to exercises, diet, work posture etc., as is relevant to you or your child’s case. If you have any concerns after the treatment please contact me for further advice. 

Although a lot of treatment I give is gentle, it can have big effect, so for a day or two after treatment don’t do anything too vigorous whilst your body adjusts to changes made, as the day after treatment you may feel a little sore, and tired. Most patients have a good night’s sleep following the treatment itself. 

How I use the information that you share with me

The information you provide to me is strictly confidential; should information need to be shared with another health professional I will only do this with your consent.  Please see my privacy policy situated at the bottom of this page. A Copy of the policy is also available to view at the clinic. 

Questions or concerns 

If at any stage of your consultation you have any concerns or questions, please discuss them with me and I will be happy to provide further information. 

I always hope that your visit to me will have been helpful. However, if for any reason you are unhappy about any aspect of your consultation, please email or speak with me so I can then advise accordingly.

Privacy Notice

(Why we collect your personal data and what we do with it)

When you supply your personal details to the practitioner 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 treatment. Your requesting treatment and our agreement to provide that care constitutes 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 treatment.

2. We have a “Legitimate Interest” in collecting that information, because without it we couldn’t do our job effectively and safely.

3. We also think that it is important that we can contact you in order to confirm your appointments with us or to update you on matters related to your medical care. This again constitutes “Legitimate Interest”, but this time it is your legitimate interest.

4. Provided we have your consent, we may occasionally send you general health information in the form of exercises or advice. 

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.

At Alternatives clinic, your medical records are stored on paper. If it has been less than 4 years since your last visit, these are stored in a locked filing cabinet, and this office is always locked out of working hours. One osteopath uses the filing cabinet, and individual records are only accessed when relating to treatment.

If it has been more than 4 years since your last visit, your medical records will be stored off site in a locked filling cabinet, in a locked room. One Osteopath has access to the filing cabinet and individual records are only accessed when relating to treatment.

If you have booked or have been booked in via the online booking system your contact details are stored securely on Acuity software. The data is password protected and the password is changed regularly. You can read the Acuity privacy policy at https://www.squarespace.com/privacy/ 

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 treatment 

• At Felicity Hancock Osteopathy, we use Rehab My Patient to provide exercise plans, so your name and email address may be saved on their server. This is password protected and passwords are changed regularly. You can read the Rehab My Patient Privacy Policy at www.rehabmypatient.com/privacy_policy 

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 need to be sent to what is referred to in the jargon as the “Data Controller”. Here are the details you need for that:

Felicity Hancock Osteopathy at Alternatives Clinic

Felicity Hancock

07541668880

felicity@felicityhancock.com

Alternatives, 15 Kingsley Road, Norwich, Norfolk, NR1 3RB

If you are not satisfied with our response, then you have the right to raise the matter with the Information Commissioner’s Office.