Covid-19 Policy for Niki Hurst Physiotherapy (from August 2020)

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Physiotherapists are allowed to practice face to face consultations.  As with other professions, it looks different to normal in order to maintain the safety of our patients and the wider public, and in order to protect the reputation of our practice and the professions during this time.

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Below outlines what you can expect from me and some expectations from you.

Attendance at The Wellbeing Clinic

• Face to face consultation will only commence once you have completed a telehealth risk assessment, consent to treat has taken place and the outcome is deemed safe.  The need for face to face treatment must outweigh the risk of Covid19 transmission.

• Clients are asked to wait outside the clinic until they are called into the clinic by the therapist as the waiting area is not available.

• It is requested that clients wear a face mask.

• Clients should ideally attend on their own. Chaperones will be subjected to the same clinical procedures as the patients. 

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 Patient entry/exit protocol

• On arrival patients will be asked to wait outside the clinic until they are called into the clinic by the therapist.

• Patients should enter the building and use the alcohol gel positioned inside the door or go straight to the toilet to wash their hands. They can then enter the clinic room. The therapist will be in full PPE and will open the door for the client so to minimise surfaces touched.

• Payment is due on the day of the appointment via bank transfer.

• Clients should wash their hands or use alcohol gel on the way out.

• Clients are encouraged to keep their mask on until they leave the clinic. 

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Treatment room protocol

• The patient and therapist will minimise contact as much as possible during the session.

• Wipe down pillows will be changed between clients.

• Disposable couch roll will cover the treatment couch

• A 15-minute gap will be left in between patients to ensure no patient crossover, allow for ventilation and leave enough time to clean the clinic.

• All contact surfaces including door handles, treatment couch, seating, pillows, electronic devices etc. will be cleaned with anti-bacterial wipes.

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Therapist protocol

• The therapist will wear PPE which is in compliance with government guidelines:  

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/wuhan-novel-coronavirus-infection-prevention-and-control & https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/910885/COVID-19_Infection_prevention_and_control_guidance_FINAL_PDF_20082020.pdf

• Non-latex gloves (single use)

• Apron (single use)

• IIR facemask (sessional use)

• Eye protection goggles/face visor if deemed necessary.

• Only one therapist and one patient will be in the clinic room at any one time. 

• Once the patient has left the premises the therapist will remove the couch roll, and then PPE will be disposed of safely. 

• The therapist will wash their hands as per NHS guidelines before and after each patient

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Uniform

• At the end of each working day uniform will be washed on the hottest wash that is advisable for the clothing. It is recommended that this is at a minimum of 60 degrees centigrade.

• It will to be washed and ironed separately from the main wash and in no more than a half full washing machine. 

 

HOME VISITS:

• Niki will organise a mutually convenient time to visit.

• Niki will outline the need for clients to notify her at the earliest time possible if they suspect any symptoms of Covid.  New clients will be requested to complete a Covid-19 screening form.

• Please open a window/door if possible optimise ventilation.

• It is requested that clients wear face-masks (a face mask can be provided) 

• The client and therapist will minimise contact as much as possible during the session.

• All contact surfaces including equipment used be cleaned with anti-bacterial wipes.

• Payment is payable via bank transfer on the day of the appointment.

On the matter of Covid19 transmission, it is well known that people can carry this illness with absolutely no symptoms of being unwell. The role of this protocol is to make an assumption that anyone in the population can be a Covid19 carrier. The overall purpose of this protocol is to minimise the risk of Covid19 transmission between patient and therapist.

 

YOUR AGREEMENT WITH ME

I advise that you consider a video consultation rather than a face to face appointment unless there is a clinical need to have hands on physiotherapy. In order for us to establish this, you will be required to complete a brief telehealth appointment prior to your initial appointment.

I reserve the right to refuse a face to face appointment if it is deemed unnecessary or unsafe. This is in line with the recommendations from our regulatory body: The Chartered Society of Physiotherapy  https://www.csp.org.uk/system/files/publication_files/F2FCountrydocMASTER.docx.pdf 

We have done everything we can to reduce the risk of our clinician and patients contracting Covid-19. However, if you come for face to face treatment, please be aware that there is no way that we can eliminate the risk of you contracting Covid-19. Please do not agree to face to face at home if either you or one of your household is in one of the higher risk groups including, but not exclusively, those who are immunosuppressed, those with underlying heart or lung conditions, those over the age of 70.

Please do not arrange a face to face appointment in if you have not been following the government guidelines for social distancing. If you are unsure of these please follow this link: https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus

Likewise, please do not arrange a face to face appointment if either you or one of your household has been ill in the last two weeks (14 days), including, but not exclusively, the following symptoms: fever of 38 or over degrees, cough, shortness of breath, loss of taste or smell, sore throat, head aches or fatigue. If you develop any symptoms in the two weeks following your consultation please notify Niki immediately.

 

Niki Hurst

August 2020