Consulting with a medical herbalist involves a shared commitment to your health and treatment. These Terms & Conditions explain what you can expect from my practice and your responsibilities as a patient. Please read them carefully before booking your first consultation.

 

Professional Services

Fiona Heathcote is a qualified medical herbalist and full member of the National Institute of Medical Herbalists (NIMH). Services include clinical consultations, individualised herbal prescriptions, and nutritional and lifestyle advice.

 

Patient Registration and Consent

Before your initial consultation, you will be asked to complete a Patient Registration Form, including your medical history, together with a Consent Form covering clinical assessment, treatment and the processing of your medical information.

 

Completed forms must be returned at least five days before your appointment. This allows sufficient time to review your medical history, current medications and any potential contraindications or herb–drug interactions.

 

You must provide accurate and complete information about your health, including existing medical conditions, diagnoses made by other healthcare professionals, medications, supplements, allergies and relevant investigations.

 

Incomplete or inaccurate information may affect the safety and appropriateness of your herbal treatment. If the required forms are not received within this timeframe, your appointment may need to be rescheduled.

 

Appointments and Deposits

Consultations currently take place online by video using Google Meet. Face-to-face consultations at the Wonersh clinic will be available later.

 

Initial consultations typically last 60–90 minutes, while follow-up consultations last up to 45 minutes.

 

You can book a consultation or new patient package directly online. The free 15-minute introductory video call is optional. Choose a 20% deposit or full payment when booking. Any remaining balance is due before your online consultation, or before the first online consultation for a package. Initial consultations and package first appointments must be booked at least five days ahead to allow time for registration and consent forms. Fiona arranges the included package follow-up manually; no further consultation fee or deposit is payable for that included appointment.

 

Cancellations and Rescheduling

Please provide at least 48 hours’ notice if you need to cancel or rearrange your appointment.

 

Where at least 48 hours’ notice is given, payments for the cancelled consultation will be refunded or transferred to a rearranged appointment. For packages where treatment has already begun, the Consultation Packages provisions below apply.

 

For cancellations made with less than 48 hours’ notice, or missed appointments, some or all of the 20% deposit may be retained to cover reasonable losses arising from the cancellation, taking account of any savings or replacement booking. If you paid in full, the same limit applies and the remaining payment for the cancelled consultation will be refunded. For packages where treatment has already begun, the Consultation Packages provisions below apply. Your statutory consumer rights are unaffected.

 

Exceptional circumstances will be considered at my discretion.

 

If I need to cancel your appointment, you will be offered an alternative date or a refund of any payment made for the affected appointment.

 

Consultations and Treatment

Herbal treatment is individually tailored to your health concerns and may include herbal prescriptions, nutritional guidance and lifestyle recommendations.

 

Please inform me of any changes to your health, medications or supplements during treatment.

 

Herbal medicine may be used alongside conventional medical treatment where clinically appropriate. You should not discontinue or alter prescribed medication without consulting the healthcare professional responsible for prescribing it.

 

Where further medical assessment, investigation or referral is indicated, I may recommend that you consult your GP or another appropriate healthcare professional.

 

For online consultations, a face-to-face assessment may be recommended where physical examination is clinically necessary.

 

If you experience a suspected adverse reaction to a herbal medicine, stop taking it and contact me for advice. Seek urgent medical attention if symptoms are severe.

 

Herbal Prescriptions and Follow-up Care

Herbal prescriptions are individually formulated and reviewed according to your clinical presentation and response to treatment.

 

Repeat prescriptions may be provided where clinically appropriate. The frequency of follow-up consultations is determined by clinical need, taking account of your condition, progress, medications and any changes in your health.

 

A follow-up consultation may be required before further herbal medicine can be prescribed.

 

Fees and Payment

Consultation fees, packages and herbal medicine prices are listed on the Fees & Booking page of this website.

 

Booking payments are processed through Wix Payments. You can choose a 20% deposit or full payment at checkout. If you pay a deposit, Fiona will provide instructions for settling the remaining balance before your online consultation, or before the first online consultation for a package. Cash payments are not accepted.

 

Herbal medicines are charged separately unless included within a consultation package. The cost of your prescription will be confirmed before dispensing.

 

Payment for herbal medicines is required before they are dispensed or posted.

 

Postage and packaging costs are payable by the patient and will be confirmed before payment.

 

Consultation Packages

Consultation packages are available for adults and children under 16. Details of what is included and the applicable fees are provided in the Fees section.

 

Additional herbal medicines or quantities are charged separately.

 

If a package is cancelled after treatment has begun, any refund will take account of the consultations and medicines already provided, subject to applicable consumer rights.

 

Returns and Refunds

Herbal medicines are individually formulated and prepared for each patient.

 

Once dispensed, bespoke herbal preparations cannot normally be returned or refunded because of a change of mind.

 

This does not affect your statutory consumer rights where medicines are faulty, incorrectly supplied or not as described.

 

Confidentiality and Data Protection

All personal and medical information is treated confidentially and stored securely in accordance with UK data protection legislation.

 

Information may be shared with other healthcare professionals where appropriate and with your consent, or where required or permitted by law.

 

Further details about how your information is collected, used and stored can be found in my Privacy Policy.

 

Medical Disclaimer

Information provided on this website is for general educational purposes and does not constitute individual medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

 

Herbal medicine may be used alongside conventional medical care where clinically appropriate. Patients should inform their medical herbalist of all prescribed medications, supplements and existing medical conditions.

 

This practice does not provide emergency medical services. In a medical emergency, call 999 or attend your nearest Accident & Emergency department.

 

Website Content

All original text, images and other content on this website are protected by copyright and may not be reproduced or used commercially without prior permission.

 

Governing Law

These Terms & Conditions are governed by the laws of England and Wales.

 

Contact

For questions about these Terms & Conditions, please contact:

 

Fiona Heathcote

 

Medical Herbalist

 

fiona@heathcoteherbalist.co.uk

 

Last updated: October 2026