Bulletin: December 2013
Important Announcement – Three Counties Insurance to no longer provide Professional Indemnity Policies
It has been brought to our attention that Three Counties Insurance is no longer offering insurance polices to practitioners. Those who currently have insurance cover with Three Counties are advised to contact them on 01926 317300, or via the contact form on their website at https://www.3co.co.uk for further advice. Alternative insurance providers are listed on our website at: https://general-hypnotherapy-register.com/insurance-for-professional-hypnotherapists/
Please do not contact the GHR in regard to this matter as we have been provided with no information from Three Counties and would be unable to assist you further.
………………………………………………………………………………………
Enhanced GHR Website Directory Profiles – Update
Following the successful launch of our new website and in line with our commitment to further consolidate our online presence, we would again draw your attention to the latest stage of the site’s development.
*Registrants now have the option of an Enhanced Directory Profile page on the GHSC/GHR website.
Beyond the standard profile page, which *Registrants already enjoy as a benefit of their annual GHR subscription, the new Enhanced Directory Profile page will additionally include: profile picture; embedded & linked out Google maps of your practice location/s; various fields in which to enter your own written content; save profile and print profile options.
You may view a demonstration page here: https://general-hypnotherapy-register.com/your-name/
In order to ensure accuracy and to fully maintain standards, all Profiles will be reviewed and published by our specialist team. As a consequence of the additional and ongoing workload entailed, an annual fee for the Enhanced Directory Profile page of either £35 or £40 (depending on preferred payment method) will be applicable. Naturally, all subsequent updates and amends that may be required throughout the year are also included within this fee.
The Enhanced Directory Profile page is entirely optional and *Registrants who prefer not to take up this service will continue to enjoy a standard profile page on the GHSC/GHR website included as part of their annual practitioner registration fee.
If you would like to apply for an Enhanced Directory Profile page please click here
(N.B. A Training School Enhanced Directory Profile has also been created for training providers. To apply please click here.)
Once we have approved your application and received payment we will replace your current standard profile with the Enhanced Directory version.
In this technological age, we are certain you will appreciate the advantages that high profile exposure within a premier online directory can provide – and at an extraordinarily competitive price.
We shall look forward to receiving your application and the opportunity to thereby further promote your therapy services.
*Excludes Affiliates. Those registered at Affiliate status do not feature on the website and cannot therefore participate within this scheme.
………………………………………………………………………………………
.
Cancer Act 1939 – Important Notice from the Complementary & Natural Healthcare Council (CNHC). Edited version
As advised within previous News Bulletins, all practitioners need to be aware of the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) advertising codes and to make sure that any wording used within adverts, including statements made on websites, is fully in compliance. Where this does not happen, practitioners leave themselves open to complaints made both to the GHR, the CNHC (where a practitioner is registered with them), or to the ASA directly. The CNHC, with input from its Verifying Organisations (of which the GHR is one), has done a great deal of work in this area to produce wording which practitioners can use to avoid successful complaints being made.
However, another area that all practitioners need to be aware of is the Cancer Act 1939. Under Section 4 of this Act it is a criminal offence to advertise services which claim to ‘treat any person for cancer’. Use of wording that breaches this legislation can lead to enforcement action by Trading Standards, which could result in a fine or up to three months in prison. It would also lead to the advertiser having a criminal record.
Of course many practitioners do work with clients or patients who are receiving treatment for cancer. A variety of complementary therapies are now widely used in this type of work – particularly in hospitals and hospices – and are well-supported. The Act is not saying that it is not possible to work with these patients, but that it is illegal to use advertising which implies that treatment is being given for the cancer itself, as this responsibility of course lies with the patient’s relevant medical team.
The CNHC produced guidance earlier this year to support registrants who wish to advertise services for work with cancer patients. This is available on the CNHC website at CNHC Guidance – Cancer Act 1939
The Act applies to all forms of advertising, including paper, online (websites, facebook, twitter and other social media) plus the spoken word, so comes into force if you are speaking to clients over the phone or in person about your therapies before they book a session.
All GHR practitioners who mention the word ‘cancer’ in any form of advertising should consequently check this guidance urgently.
………………………………………………………………………………………
GHR Administration
Views expressed within GHR published material and any conclusions reached are those of the authors and not necessarily shared by other individuals, organisations or agencies
©General Hypnotherapy Register
back