Covid-19 policy

COVID-19 / Procedures and adaptations to practice inline with Government guidelines and Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP) recommendations for patients and staff.

Booking an appointment

• The Physiotherapist will have a discussion with you to explain how to complete a Risk Assessment & Consent Form prior to an appointment being arranged for a home visit (clinic – coming soon ) appointment. This can be sent as a link via text message or email. For those unable to complete this online the therapist will assist over the phone and gain an electronic signature on arrival. The therapist will advise what services you can access based on the information gained on these forms and offer face to face appointment or recommend a virtual assessment.
• Clients will be unable to access a face to face appointment if they are deemed extremely vulnerable or shielding. Virtual assessments can then be arranged or support emailed to facilitate self management.
• Clients will not be able to access face to face appointments if they have identified any of the risk factors to deem they potentially have been exposed to or suffering with COVID-19 symptoms.
• Only the client is permitted to be present, no family or friends to be present.*
• *Where a chaperone is essential, this must be identified on the Risk Assessment & Consent Form and have been discussed with their therapist, prior to attending the appointment. The chaperone’s name, address and phone number should be included in the appointment notes to support Contact Track & Tracing.
• Payment should be made by debit / credit card/ online via bank transfer or card reader. Payments by cash should be in exact amount only – change will not be available.

Home Visits

• Patients will need to wear a face covering or mask. Single use face masks can be provided if you have been unable to source your own but it is encouraged to have your own personal face covering or mask for each appointment.
• You are to wash your hands before your therapist arrives for the visit.  

Accessing the Clinic 

• There will be no waiting room available, clients are asked to remain in their cars until the time of their appointment before entering the building. If there is any delay to their appointment time the therapist will contact them to make them aware of this.
• Patients will need to wear a face covering or mask. Single use face masks can be provided if you have been unable to bring your own but it is encouraged to have your own personal face covering or mask for each appointment.
• You will be encouraged to put your face mask on then to use hand sanitiser made available of entering and leaving the premises.
• Patients will not have access to the toilet facilities.
• Patients are permitted to bring their own water bottle with them which they must take with them when they leave the clinic. They are not permitted to bring any other food or drink onto the premises.

Staff

• All staff must launder their uniforms after each shift following the government guidance: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/wuhan-novel-coronavirus-infection-prevention-and-control/reducing-the-risk-of-transmission-of-covid-19-in-the-hospital-setting#staff-uniform
• Long hair should be tied up.
• Hand washing guidance should be followed before and after each client and additional use of hand sanitiser: https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/healthy-body/best-way-to-wash-your-hands/

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE):

Staff will follow these guidelines for all patients:

• Disposable nitrile gloves (single-use, to be changed in between every patient.)
• Disposable plastic apron (single-use, changed in-between every patient)
• Fluid-repellent mask (sessional)
• The use of Glasses and / or visor for close-proximity treatments will be risk assessed for each patient and required where there is risk of coughing / aerosol generated procedures (to be disinfected between patients)

Cleaning

• Between each appointment (where applicable), therapists will clean with disinfectant antiviral spray and sani-wipes: Plinth, stool, chair, laptop, card reader, door handles, plus any equipment used. Door handles on interior and external doors will be cleaned after each use.
• The clinic will be deep cleaned at the end of each working day.
• All general waste bins will be emptied at the end of every day.

Clinical waste will be placed in the yellow clinical waste bags and the following disposal guidance be followed for home visits:  https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/ppe-waste-from-home-healthcare-workers-treating-patients-with-covid-19-rps-c5/ppe-waste-from-home-healthcare-workers-treating-patients-with-covid-19-rps-c5