The Health Commitment Statement sets the standards that health & fitness centres and users can reasonably expect from each other in regards to the health of the user.
The HCS is the evolution of the PARQ, which has existed for the past 15 years. The HCS reflects government policy and legal trends, which aim to shift responsibility for personal health from the operator to the user. The Fitness Industry Association is taking the lead in allowing operators to be more accessible while facilitating a better working relationship between fitness and medical sectors in the community. This has also provided an opportunity to align the HCS to the skills and expertise of fitness professionals established through REP’s.
The HCS has been developed by Fitness Industry operators, medico-legal professionals and health providers to support the evolving requirements of users and operators.
·Develop the current PARQ to simplify access to activity facilities for users.
·Assist the Health, Medical and Fitness industries to work in harmony while supporting initiatives to encourage the nation to become more active.
·Bring health and fitness clubs in line with virtually all other sports and active leisure in relation to health matters.
·Demonstrate respect for members by placing responsibility where it belongs, with the individual member.
·Be consistent with current Government policies in encouraging every individual to take responsibility for his or her own health.
·Offer the opportunity to clubs to maximise their membership.
·Be in keeping with current trends in legislation and case law.
·Be consistent with a more modern approach to individual responsibility in medicine and the law.
·Provide the opportunity for a uniform approach across the health and fitness industry, producing greater clarity and reducing costs.
·Offer a simple solution in plain English, which is accessible to fitness instructors, staff and members.
·Remove stress and anxiety from staff in relation to health of members.
The HCS has been designed with for users in a gym environment and with all operators in mind, allowing flexibility with its usage.
On purchase, the HCS will be branded to suit the operator.
The HCS may be accessed by individual sites, or by an operator’s head office in order to provide greater operating control.
The HCS should be drawn to the attention of gym users. It is not necessary by law that the user indicates receipt of the HCS. However, should an operator in the future wish to be able to prove that a user has seen the HCS, the operator may want the user to indicate receipt of the HCS. This may be achieved in various ways, according to the most suitable practice of individual operators.
1. Online – Users that are purchasing online contracts could read an online copy and tick a box to indicate they have read the HCS.
2. HCS copy visibly placed on reception with a term added to the user agreement that makes reference to the visible HCS. The user signs the agreement thereby confirming they have read the HCS.
3. HCS copy visibly placed at reception with a term included in a signing-in book or guest book that makes reference to the visible HCS.
4. HCS copy printed off and signed individually by the user and recorded in the members’ notes in a private and confidential location.
It goes against the principle of autonomy and also is not in line with judicial precedence to ask users to divulge details of their medical history.
If a user tells you that they have a medical condition, you should reiterate point 1 of the HCS under “Our commitment to you” and “Your commitment to us”.