Before your appointment
I will need to check whether it is safe to treat you at the moment.
I will ask you a few questions by telephone, email or video call, including:
• do you have symptoms of
Covid-19 infection
According to current NHS advice, this is defined as:
• high temperature: this means you feel hot to touch on your chest or back – you do not need to measure your temperature – and• new, continuous cough: this means coughing a lot for more than an hour, or three or more coughing episodes in 24 hours – if you usually have a cough, it may be worse than usual
• anosmia: lack of taste or smell (updated 18 May 2020)
• are you considered ‘clinically vulnerable’ or ‘extremely clinically vulnerable’ and so at greater risk.
People in this category of risk include:
1) anyone aged 70 and older (regardless of medical conditions)2) anyone under 70 with an underlying health condition (that is, anyone instructed to get a flu jab as an adult each year on medical grounds) – such as:
• chronic (long-term) mild to moderate respiratory diseases, such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), emphysema or bronchitis
• chronic heart disease, such as heart failure
• chronic kidney disease
• chronic liver disease, such as hepatitis
• chronic neurological conditions, such as Parkinson’s disease, motor neurone disease, multiple sclerosis (MS), a learning disability or cerebral palsy
• diabetes
• a weakened immune system as the result of conditions such as HIV and AIDS, or medicines (such as steroid tablets )
• being seriously overweight (a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or above)
• pregnant women
People in this category of risk include:
1) solid organ transplant recipients.2) people with specific cancers:
• people with cancer who are undergoing active chemotherapy
• people with lung cancer who are undergoing radical radiotherapy
• people with cancers of the blood or bone marrow such as leukaemia, lymphoma or myeloma who are at any stage of treatment
• people having immunotherapy or other continuing antibody treatments for cancer
• people having other targeted cancer treatments which can affect the immune system, such as protein kinase inhibitors or PARP inhibitors
• people who have had bone marrow or stem cell transplants in the last 6 months, or who are still taking immunosuppression drugs
3) people with severe respiratory conditions including all cystic fibrosis, severe asthma and severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
4) people with rare diseases that significantly increase the risk of infections (such as severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID), homozygous sickle cell)
5) people on immunosuppression therapies sufficient to significantly increase risk of infection
6) women who are pregnant with significant heart disease, congenital or acquired
7) other people have also been classed as clinically extremely vulnerable, based on clinical judgement and an assessment of their needs. GPs and hospital clinicians have been provided with guidance to support these decisions
Before giving any treatment I will ask you to read and sign a consent form. You must return your completed form before your appointment can go ahead.
One of the usual diagnostic procedures for acupuncture involves looking at your tongue. Due to the possible risks at this time I may ask you to take a picture of your tongue and send it to me before you go to the clinic.
Going to the clinic
Special arrangements are now in place to safeguard you when you go for acupuncture.
Please follow whatever directions you are
given, including:
• travel light and take very little with you
into the clinic – if possible, leave bags,
coats, etc in the car
• go to the clinic alone, unless you need a
chaperone, parent or carer
• try to arrive on time – not early or late
• follow any advice displayed at the clinic
• where possible, use contactless payment
During your treatment
Changes to your treatment.
I will wear various forms of
personal protective equipment (PPE) when
I treat you. I will also explain exactly
what you need to do in the treatment room,
including:
• where and when to wash your hands
• whether and when to wear a mask, either
your own or one provided by the clinic
• any other hygiene and safety procedures
Your safety
For yours and my safety, and for those around us, more protocols are now in place.
• New disposable face masks worn for each appointment.
• Regular and vigilant hand washing routines using hand sanitiser and/or disposable gloves where necessary.
• Only disposable couch roll will be used and disposed of after each patient
• The room will be cleaned and disinfected between each patient to high standards
• Door handles and spaces disinfected between each patient
• Time will be given to air the clinic space will between each appointment, reducing the risk of infection
After your appointment
After your appointment If you develop Covid-19 symptoms or have a confirmed diagnosis of Covid-19 within 48 hours of having acupuncture.
please
immediately inform:
• NHS test and trace service
• your acupuncturist
