Covid-19 | panacea

COVID-19 SAFETY/HYGIENE PROCEDURE AT PANACEA

IN ACCORDANCE WITH GOVERNMENT GUIDELINES

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PLEASE NOTE: TREATMENT WILL NOT COMMENCE WITHOUT COMPLETION OF SCREENING FORM WHICH WILL BE SENT PRIOR ANY APPOINTMENT.

Dear Client

Soft tissue therapists are now able to return to work but there will be some changes in how your appointment will proceed in order to continue to prevent the spread of infection. I list below some of the changes you can expect.

Firstly, if you are experiencing any Covid-19 symptoms, please postpone or cancel your appointment. I will be taking your temperature upon arrival and there will also be a consent form to complete regarding your exposure to Covid-19. If you are considered a high‐risk client, it may not be possible to see you at this time but feel free to discuss this with me.

If you are a first‐time client, your initial consultation will take place via telephone or videoconferencing, rather than during your appointment. I will thereafter send via email or some other alternative method all necessary consultation forms/consent forms for you to complete prior to your appointment. If you are an existing client there will be a short update consultation, via telephone of videoconferencing, prior to your appointment to discuss your needs and any Covid-19 issues. Again, the consent forms will be sent to you prior to your appointment. All consultation and consent documents should be signed and brought with you to your appointment or emailed beforehand. Please bring you own pen and water if needed, as I can no longer supply this. If you have a face mask, please wear this but if you don’t, I will supply you with one to wear throughout your session. It would also be helpful if you wear clothing which is easy to remove and avoid wearing jewellery. Please only bring a chaperone or legal guardian if necessary.

On arrival for your appointment, I shall be waiting at the front gate (wearing a mask) to give you your parking permit for placing in your car. Please could you wear a mask (I can provide masks if needed). Please refrain from touching anything from the moment you arrive through to your departure, I shall open all gates and doors. Once you’ve placed the permit in the car and come back to the front gate, I will squeeze hand sanitiser into your hands and walk you to the treatment room. You will be required to remove your shoes at the door as you enter the premises. There will be a container in which to put your clothes when you undress.

The clinic room will have been thoroughly disinfected and all linen and face cradles replaced for each client. I will take your temperature (which will be recorded on your consultation paper). I shall be taking my own temperature twice a day and completing and Covid-19 Therapist Declaration form which will be signed by me and handed to you for safe keeping.

RECEPTION AREA

There are hand sanitisers supplied in the reception area for client use. All Soft furnishings in the practice room (and reception) will be covered with couch roll and all unnecessary soft furnishings and bric‐a‐brac will have been removed.

I have elected to let clients see me prepare the couch for their treatment using clean cotton towels, couch paper on top of the cotton towels with cotton towel coverings to maintain client modesty. The couch will have already been sanitised before your arrival however, should you wish to have it sanitised again in your presence, I have no objection in doing this – I want clients to feel at ease knowing hygiene has been fully carried out.

I will be wearing personal protective equipment throughout your appointment which includes a mask (as well as full facial shield during treatment), disposable gloves and apron. Do not be concerned about the use of gloves, it will not affect your session. The session will continue as usual, with the exception there will be no skin-to-skin contacts and no unnecessary chatting should be avoided to prevent droplet formation. When the session is over, please leave all the linens, untouched on the couch and try not to touch anything as you leave. Please keep your mask on until you exit the premises. It is also recommended that you register for a Track and Trace app to maintain our safety (when available).

DURING TREATMENT

Only Sports/Swedish Massage, Reiki treatments for the moment. For your treatment, I require you to continue wearing a mask. I shall be wearing a mouth/nose mask as well as a full face shield for increased protection. I shall be wearing a disposable apron and gloves (latex or latex free for allergies). PLEASE NOTE: during your treatment, I shall only be working with my hands due to no skin to skin contact which rules out the use of my arms/elbows. I will continue wearing my protective equipment throughout the appointment. A clean oil dispenser will be used for each client. After treatment, while you are getting dressed, I shall throw away all used couch paper, placing used cotton towels in the lidded washing basket (washed at 95 degrees). I will then proceed to sanitise the couch twice. PLEASE NOTE: It is important that sanitising and facial masks should be worn by both parties throughout the appointment. At the end of your appointment, I shall walk with you to the gate and wait for you to hand the parking permit back to me. I shall sanitise both our hands at that time.

MY RETURN TO THE TREATMENT ROOM

I shall dispose of all my used protective equipment and proceed to sanitise handles/seating area and toilet if used during your appointment as per the cleaning checklist.

TOILET FACILITIES

During your visit, should you wish to use the toilet/sink, I have placed anti-bacterial hand wash, hand sanitiser and disposable paper hand towels. Please use the bin provided next to the toilet to dispose of used paper hand towels – please don’t flush these down the toilet. I have also placed a bleach spray should you wish to use on the toilet seat/sink area. I will also be cleaning the toilet/seat throughout.

PAYMENT OF YOUR TREATMENT

All treatments are to be paid via bank transfer on the day of your appointment either in advance or immediately after your treatment before leaving the premises. If you have to pay with cash, please bring the correct money and place it in the supplied envelope.

APPOINTMENTS

My appointment slots will be staggered between each client (as suggested by Government guidelines). This enables enough time to sanitise the reception seating area/handles, checking/sanitising toilets, disposing of all PPE used and also to change my clothing i.e. T-shirt and leggings. Even though I shall be wearing a disposable apron, I would feel more safer changing workwear between clients. Again, these will be washed at high temperature.

MONITORING THE SAFETY WITHIN PANACEA

A cleaning checklist is in place for use between clients which will be recorded with times throughout the day. The treatment room will be thoroughly disinfected between clients and at the end of the day when all bins will be emptied in the general waste bin. All used cotton towels will be washed at 95 degrees.

I look forward to welcoming you back to the practice.

Yours sincerely

Debby Murray