BENDY BUDDHA TERMS AND CONDITIONS Revised February 2024

Acupuncture clinic

Clinical reasoning and risk assessment remain the fundamental principles for considering care, and practitioners at Bendy Buddha will ensure the following processes are in place:

  • screening for infectious disease prior to any face-to-face appointments

  • infection prevention control measures including mask use as advised, buffers between appointments, stringent cleaning and infection control procedures. Masks and hospital grade hand sanitiser are available for use at the clinic

  • transmission precaution measures includes ventilation of premises between patients

  • accurate documentation of appointments is maintained to aid contact tracing if required

PAYMENT

Once a booking has been accepted by Bendy Buddha, the client will have entered into an agreement to have treatment based on these Terms and Conditions.

Payment for treatment is due in full either in advance or at the end of your session. Online and contactless payment options are available via the booking system, online banking, or paywave at the clinic.

CANCELLATION

If for any reason you cancel a treatment with less than 24 hours’ notice, the full treatment fee remains payable for the reserved time slot. This fee is payable within 7 days or at the next session, whichever is earlier.

Should you run late for an appointment, your practitioner may not be available beyond the time slot reserved for you, and in some cases, it may not be feasible to start the session. If at all possible, please inform your practitioner of any delay. Your session may be cancelled if they have not heard from you within 15 minutes of the agreed appointment time.

DISCLAIMER

While treatments offered at Bendy Buddha aim to address your health concerns, it cannot replace the care of a General Practitioner. We recommend that you notify your GP regarding any conditions for which you are seeking treatment(s) so that a shared care plan can be established if suitable.

During your initial consultation you should inform your practitioner of any medical conditions you have and those you have suffered in the past and provide updates at subsequent sessions if any of the discussed aspects change. It is your responsibility to check with your GP in case you suffer from a condition and/or are in doubt whether to have treatment.

CONSENT FOR ACUPUNCTURE TREATMENT

As a registered acupuncturist with the Chinese Medicine Council of New Zealand and ACC treatment provider, I have agreed to follow the Councils competency and standards for the profession.

Purpose of Treatment: The purpose of the treatment is to address your condition, i.e. the reason you are seeking treatment. Acupuncture is a healthcare service that is based on Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM).

Nature of Treatment: Your treatment may include acupuncture, moxibustion, cupping, electric stimulation, acupressure, Tui Na (Chinese medical massage), Gua Sha (dermal friction), Infra-Red (heat lamps), Chinese herbs or supplements, therapeutic exercises and dietary counseling based on the fundamentals of Chinese Medicine.

Risks of Treatment: Before commencing treatment please be aware that there are associated risks. Although practitioners cannot anticipate all of the possible risks and complications that may arise with each individual case, you should be aware that the side effects outlined below may occur. If there are particular risks that apply to your case, your practitioner will discuss these with you.

Acupuncture is a safe method of treatment, but it may have side effects including: bruising, minor bleeding, numbness or tingling at or near the needle site, which may last a few days. You may also experience some muscle soreness and petechiae (due to cupping or gua sha), which may also last a few days. Drowsiness may occur in a small number of patients, and if affected, you are advised not to drive. In a small percentage of patients, nausea can occur, and symptoms may become worse before they improve. Please advise your acupuncturist if worsening symptoms continue for more than 2 days. Potential but unlikely risks of acupuncture include fainting, spontaneous miscarriage, nerve damage, and organ puncture. Infection is another possible risk, however since this clinic uses only sterilized, disposable needles while maintaining a clean and safe environment, this is unlikely. Burns and scarring are potential risks of using moxibustion. Be commencing treatment you acknowledge these risks but understand that you may stop treatment at any time.

PROTECTION OF YOUR PERSONAL DATA

During your treatment consultation you will provide relevant personal information relevant to maintaining our patient-practitioner relationship and used for tailoring your treatment. This information will be kept confidential and will be stored securely and maintained accurately by updating it as advised by you.

COMMUNICATIONS

You may occasionally receive information and updates from Bendy Buddha. Your information won’t be disclosed to others, and you will have the option to opt out of communications.

Bendy Buddha reserves the right to change these terms and conditions at any time by posting new terms and conditions on this site.