The government wants everyone to receive good care. That is why the government has laid down in law what good care entails. And what should be done if people have a complaint about healthcare. This is stated in the Healthcare Quality, Complaints and Disputes Act (Wkkgz).
Do coaches and masseurs fall under the law?
When a practitioner – such as a coach or masseur – treats clients with health problems, this falls under the Wkkgz. Tijs Breuer regularly receives clients who have been referred by a doctor, physiotherapist, psychotherapist or other practitioner. In that case, the law therefore applies.
Two examples:
- Loosening muscles with a sports or deep tissue massage, giving relaxation massages for leisure, tantra massages aimed at experiencing sensuality and treatments aimed at injury prevention do not fall under the Wkkgz.
- Treatments that are aimed at pain relief, healing, tackling stress and burnout symptoms or actions as a result of which individual clients run a chance / risk of damage, do fall under the Wkkgz. So if you come to a masseur or life coach with a care question, this treatment usually falls under the law.
Coaching
Most coaching programs therefore do not fall under this law. A different form of quality assurance applies to coaching by Tijs Breuer, including the STiR . code of conduct. Tijs Breuer is a registered professional counselor and affiliated with STiR. The STiR complaints procedure, complaints officer and disputes committee therefore apply.
Massage and body work
Body work and certain massages often fall under this law, because many clients come by with very specific physical or mental health problems or issues. If the problem is incorrectly assessed, the treatment can cause physical or mental damage to clients.
It is very common for someone to walk around with muscle pain, stiffness or confusion the day after treatment. For that reason, I always ask to make contact after 1 or 2 days to let us know how things are going. If necessary, aftercare is provided.
Damage
Damage sounds like something 'major', but it can happen that you experience 'damage' as a result of an incorrect assessment or a mistake in the treatment, for example because your complaints have become worse instead of relieved. You can also think of a careless act, negligence, incorrect advice and the like, in activities that are directly related to the practice of a profession (treatment). Please discuss this with me as soon as possible, so that I can see what I can do for you to resolve the complaint. If we cannot find a solution, the law offers the certainty that there is a complaints procedure, a complaints officer and a disputes committee.
Reporting point
When National Health Care Hotline people can get advice if they have complaints about the quality of care. This hotline maintains contacts with the Health and Youth Care Inspectorate (IGJ), which monitors the quality, safety and accessibility of care.
You can read more information in the brochure from the national government or view the video lesson in understandable language.