I want to clarify the position of Bannerdale Osteopaths during the latest lockdown that was announced on the 4th January 2021. We remain Open for face-to-face and virtual appointments with the same stringent safeguarding policy in place that we have been working on since the initial lockdown in March 2020.
A lot is changing in terms of the narrative around COVID-19, especially the new variant. The country does need to act differently until we have it under control but it’s important that this is done in an informed way relative to the actual risk associated with behaviours.
I feel it is important to say that since we decided to reopen in June we have put safety first and nothing will compromise that. We took aerosol transmission as a crucial aspect of our safeguarding policy from day one and have spent thousands of pounds to increase the safety of our essential clinic. We have upgraded our air extraction rates, installed sophisticated air filtration and improved natural airflow. We don’t allow any surface to be touched by more than one person or anyone into the clinic who hasn’t passed triage and has a face covering in place. We test all our osteopaths using private tests weekly and don’t allow them to be within 2 metres of each other without being in PPE. Whilst we can never eradicate the risk completely within Bannerdale, it’s so low that even if the new variant is 70% more transmissible it’s still a minuscule actual risk you face by coming to the clinic.
The good news this time around is that we have spent the past 10 months improving the essential service we provide and now offer Gold Standard Osteopathy, this works exceptionally well as a combination of both face to face appointments and the best of our virtual service so your recovery can be as quick as possible and give you more choice about how much we do with Face-to-Face appointments at the clinic and how much you do at home using our fully integrated interactive exercise program included with Gold Standard Osteopathy. If you’ve not already moved across to it why not do it now by either booking it for your next appointment or discussing it with your osteopath when you are next in.
More info on Gold Standard Osteopathy here.
We take the safety of our patients and staff very seriously and have gone to great lengths to make sure you feel and are safe in our clinic. This means that from a COVID-19 standpoint, Bannerdale Osteopaths is most likely the safest place you can visit.
We are taking the safety of our Osteopaths and patients incredibly seriously, and will never compromise on that. Visiting our clinic is completely allowed, encouraged and totally within the spirit of the lockdown measures as we help ease the burden on the NHS as an essential service. This lockdown is likely to be the last one, but it also looks like it is likely to be in place for a while. A national lockdown is here largely to protect the NHS from being overwhelmed and we form part of the unburdening effort by helping prevent people from needing to see their GP, a Walk-in center, or hospital.
Don’t undervalue the importance of looking after yourself in these uncertain times, being healthy reduces your individual risk level and self-care is more important than ever. Getting help with what may seem like a small issue is essential, it can easily escalate and require more help.
Much of the science behind the decision to ‘Lock Down’ the country is about reducing the spread of the virus and burden on the NHS and we are fully on board with that. We want to explain how we do this and what that means for you…
Aerosol transmission:
This is something we spent a long time researching and we can safely say that with the combination of powerful air extraction, sophisticated air filtration, natural airflow and the gaps we have put in place between patients, the chance of you breathing the actual air the patient before you did is less than 1%.
Social distancing:
You will not see another person, other than your Osteopath within the clinic setting. We have stopped using our waiting area and you will be met at the door. This ensures you will NOT make any contacts while in our clinic.
NHS Test and Trace:
You will NOT make any contacts while inside Bannerdale Osteopaths. We are a Healthcare Setting and your Osteopath will NOT be a contact. That means if someone comes in and subsequently tests positive there is no need for any other patients or osteopaths to isolate as contacts. This is due to the low risk that Public Health England deems our essential healthcare setting to be. We can safely say that our clinic is ‘probably’ one of the safest places you can visit.
Osteopath testing:
Since November we have been carrying out private tests on our Osteopaths on a weekly basis. We also go to great lengths to ensure that our Osteopaths do not become contacts of each other, meaning that if the worst were to happen and one of us tests positive you could safely receive treatment from another Osteopath within the clinic.
PPE:
Your Osteopath will be wearing gloves, apron, mask and eye protection for the duration of your visit. You will also be asked to wear a face covering. There is also alcohol gel at the door for use upon entering and leaving the building.
Cleaning:
There is now a 15-minute gap between each patient, this is to ensure there is enough time to thoroughly clean all areas between patients and time to allow aerosol clearance relative to our extraction methods. Any and all surfaces that are touched by a patient or Osteopath are thoroughly cleaned between patients with hospital grade disinfectant.
Osteopath Education:
All of our clinical staff have undertaken training by the World Health Organisation on Hand Hygiene, Infection Prevention Control for Covid-19, How to Put on and Remove Personal Protective Equipment and Waste Management
Triage:
Everyone is triaged before they enter the building. This is a form in the booking emails or is done at the door before entry. Anyone not passing triage will either be switched to a virtual appointment or rearranged. We don’t allow anyone with the suspicion of having COVID-19 into the building.
Virtual Service
We also still have our nationally recognised Virtual service available for anyone, either because you are isolating, safeguarding, or simply don’t have time or do not want to visit the clinic in person.
More info on Virtual Osteopathy here.
Our full Safeguarding Policy for COVID-19:
For more details on our Covid-19 safeguarding policy click here.
Steven Ojari
Clinical Director Bannerdale Osteopaths
