Following Government advice, as of Monday 1st June, our practices in Halesowen and Wombourne are now open again and accepting patient appointments. Whilst lockdown guidelines have been relaxed, the spread of COVID-19 continues to be a major concern, and as a result, we are following extremely strict infection control measures in order to ensure the safety of all patients and staff.
Risk Assessment
In order to make sure that our practices are safe, we have conducted an in depth risk assessment of our premises, including waiting and treatment rooms. This risk assessment will be reviewed following any subsequent changes to Government guidelines or guidance issued by the Institute of Osteopathy.
Increased hygiene and protection measures
To reduce risks for staff and patients, we will be observing heightened cleaning regimes, cleaning treatment rooms between each patient and disinfecting all hard and treatment surfaces. In addition to these steps, we will also be ensuring that washrooms are cleaned after treatment periods, or if used by a patient, with particular attention being paid to high-contact surfaces, including door handles, toilet flushers and taps.
Increased protection measures for our practices include the introduction of plastic, wipable couch covers and pillows, replacing linens. We will provide hand sanitiser and masks for patients, should they arrive without their own, and our practitioners will wear PPE as advised by regulatory bodies.
Patient distancing measures
To prevent patients from coming into contact with other patients, we have increased time between appointments (which also provides the time for us to carry out hygiene and protection measures), and ask patients to arrive five minutes before their appointment and to wait in their car or outside. We will call them in at their appointment time.
Patient screening
Before patients visit our practices, we conduct a pre-screening phone consultation to assess whether a face to face consultation is safe for the patient and our staff. We will ask the patient a number of questions with regards to any symptoms that they, or anyone they have been in contact with may have experienced. We will also determine whether the patient, or anyone in their household are in a high risk or vulnerable category.
In the case that it is deemed inappropriate to offer face to face treatment to a patient, support may be provided via a telehealth consultation.
What patients can do to prepare for a face to face consultation
For their own safety and the safety of our staff, we ask that patients wash and sanitise their hands on arrival at our practices. We can provide appropriate PPE for patients who do not have a face mask, or for patients who have been unable to maintain social distancing whilst traveling to us.
Make an appointment
Should you wish to arrange an appointment with us and require further information, we will advise you of important safety measures over the phone, or you can learn more from our detailed risk assessment and mitigation guide.
To contact our Halesowen practice, please call 0121 585 8555, or for Wombourne, call 01902 894894.
