We would like to update you on the changes that are happening at Shefford Osteopathic Clinic as a result of the lifting of lockdown from the 19th July.
As you know, we have been able to operate during the lockdowns with strict procedures in place ensuring your health and safety. For the healthcare sector, none of this has really changed with these latest announcements, so we will:
- still ask you to wear your mask, clean your hands.
- be wearing PPE, and
- be maintaining our high levels of infection control and cleaning.
As per current practice, we ask that:
- if you feel unwell that you reschedule your appointment.
- if you have an appointment and have come into contact with someone with COVID, regardless of your vaccination status, that you reschedule.
- you let us know if you have been abroad, and we are asking that you leave 10 days before having an appointment, regardless of vaccination status.
Our phone pre-screening appointments will continue as we still have to make a clinical assessment and judgement about your suitability. Plus, you must be able to give your informed consent. This will include why you want to have a face-to-face treatment, alongside any health issues you or your family have, as well as your potential exposure to COVID-19. We are seeking clarification if this amount of detail is still needed. Some information will still be required and we need to decide the best way to collect this. Any changes will happen after September.
What is changing?
From 1st August we are changing how we run our appointment diary. Up until now we have been allowing a gap between appointments to clean and air the room. Guidelines on this have now changed, however, we will still be cleaning the room after each patient and ensuring good ventilation throughout the day.
We continually monitor the advice, and our regulations, regarding how we can operate during these times. As soon as changes can be made we will reassess how we operate and the service that we supply.
Your health and safety remain of paramount importance to us. Please remember that we treat many vulnerable people. We want to ensure that our clinic environment enables all our patients to feel safe enough to have a face to face appointment.
If you have any questions or concerns about any of this, then please do get in touch.