COVID 19 INFORMATION

KATIE COPELAND PHYSIOTHERAPY LIMITED

Clinic Reopening Monday 20th July 2020

IT IS VERY IMPORTANT YOU READ THE FOLLOWING MESSAGE BEFORE MAKING A FACE TO FACE APPOINTMENT!!

In response to government guidelines and the relaxation of the socially distancing rules, we are planning to reopen the clinic on Monday 20th July.

In accordance with the guidelines advised by Public Health England, UK Government, The Chartered Society of Physiotherapy and PhysioFirst (the organisation for physiotherapists in private practice) we have put in place a number of steps for anyone visiting the clinic. It all sounds a bit daunting but we really hope this will not stop you from contacting us if you need to!!

Virtual First

We have been recommended for all patients (current or new referrals) that video/phone calls should remain standard practice in the first instance. Both Mark Curtis and I have found this to be extremely effective in subjectively and objectively assessing a patient’s problem and offering advice, self help techniques and a home exercise programme. Feedback from the patients who have received physio in this form has been extremely positive and many have indicated they would continue to use this tool for future consultations even if the clinic was back to normal opening hours and ‘hands on’ treatment available. If during this ‘virtual’ consultation the physio feels it is appropriate to see you face to face then please read the following very carefully.

Face To Face Appointments

If after the initial phone/virtual consultation, the physiotherapist and you have come to an informed decision that a face to face appointment is appropriate, and you would like to attend the clinic you must accept this does not come without some risk to you and your family/household as you will be entering a building where there are staff and other patients will have been in attendance.

However, we are putting in place the following steps which will help to minimize this risk and ensure the utmost safety of our patients and staff. We appreciate this will make your visit to our clinic different to normal, but we hope you can appreciate this is important.

Please note: We will need you to sign an informed consent before your attendance for face to face treatment. This can be either by email or through the post.

• Telephone Covid screening questions will be asked when making the appointment.
• We ask you not to arrive more than 5 minutes before your appointment time and we request you do not bring unnecessary items (bags, shopping etc) with you.
• You will be asked Covid screening questions again on arrival at the clinic for your appointment and confirmation of your consent to face to face treatment.
• You will be asked to use the hand sanitizer on arrival.
• We will do our best to ensure only one person is in reception/waiting area at any one time.
• Our receptionist will observe social distancing and the current 2m rule. She will also have a perspex protective screen directly in front of her and will be wearing PPE(Personal Protective Equipment).
• Unfortunately, no one is allowed to accompany you into the building unless the patient is a minor. The accompanying adult must also undergo Covid screening questions.
• The treating physiotherapist will be wearing the appropriate PPE This will include a disposable apron, gloves, a mask and a face visor.
• The treatment couch, plastic pillowcase, patients chair, door handles and any equipment used will be sanitized between patients as per the HCPC guidelines.
• There will be disposable paper roll on the treatment couch which will be disposed of after each patient. This will be treated as clinical waste and disposed of as per the local council’s guidelines.
• The physiotherapist will maintain a 2m distance for the majority of the treatment session. If hands on treatment or physical testing techniques are required, this will be for less than 15 minutes as per the current HCPC (Health and Care Professions Council) guidelines.
• We ask for payment and future appointments to be made over the phone on your return home.
• The toilet will be available but we ask you to inform us if you use this so we can disinfect the surfaces following your visit.
• Door handles, reception chairs and any other surfaces likely to have been touched will be sanitized between patients.

All the above, as we hope you can appreciate, has been recommended for our approach to reopening the clinic.
We will be following the evidence given to us by Public Health England, HCPC, etc very closely and we will obviously lift some of these restrictions when we can safely do so.

Physio led Pilates

Unfortunately there are currently no guidelines for allowing us to return to pilates classes but we will let you know as soon as possible when this changes.

We very much look forward to welcoming you back to the clinic but in the meantime we hope you and your family remain safe and well!
If you need any further clarification on any of the details above please contact us.