Consent, privacy and comfort at your appointment

You should understand a proposed examination or treatment and have space to decide whether you want it. For an adult able to make the decision, consent involves a voluntary, informed choice, as the NHS explains.

Agreeing to attend a clinic is not the same as agreeing to every technique a practitioner might suggest. You can ask for explanations and discuss alternatives.

Consent is a conversation

Before treatment, ask what will happen, why it is being proposed, what benefits or drawbacks are relevant to you and what other options exist. If an explanation is unclear, say what you need in order to understand it.

The HCPC consent principles emphasise shared decisions, individual circumstances and the freedom to change your mind. The CSP likewise describes consent in physiotherapy as an ongoing process, rather than a one-off event at the start of a course.

Be specific about preferences

Tell the practitioner about areas you do not want treated, positions you cannot manage and pressure you do not like. If you would prefer each step explained before contact, say so. You do not need to disclose personal experiences to justify a preference about touch or privacy.

You might say:

• “Please explain what you are going to do before you begin.”
• “I would like to keep this item of clothing on.”
• “I do not want that area examined or treated today.”
• “Please use less pressure.”
• “I need a pause before deciding whether to continue.”
• “I would like to stop now.”

These are example phrases you can adapt. If speaking is difficult, discuss another way to signal a pause before treatment begins.

Clothing and privacy

Ask why clothing needs to be moved or removed and whether another approach is possible. The HCPC's public guidance describes privacy for dressing and undressing, appropriate covering and the option to say no. Tell the practitioner if the arrangement is not comfortable for you.

Massage practitioners on the CNHC register also have privacy and dignity requirements. Agree the boundaries of the service before treatment starts, including in home-visit or spa settings.

Companions and chaperones

Ask in advance if you would like someone with you or a chaperone provided. A chaperone is different from a friend attending for support; clarify what the clinic can arrange and whether notice is needed. If an essential arrangement is missing, discuss rescheduling rather than feeling compelled to go ahead.

For a child or someone who needs support with decision-making, ask the clinical service about the appropriate consent and safeguarding arrangements. A general adult checklist cannot decide those circumstances.

If something does not feel right

Stop the appointment or ask for time to think. You can raise a concern with the service and, where relevant, the practitioner's regulator or professional body. Keep a factual note of what happened and any booking correspondence.

MassageNear can correct directory information, but it cannot investigate clinical care or resolve a treatment complaint on a regulator's behalf. Use our contact page for listing errors and the service's own complaints route for concerns about an appointment.