Face to face treatment can continue during 3rd lock down
Posted on 1st November 2020 at 17:35
Update January 5th 2021
Despite prevalence of Covid 19 increasing and the recent notification by the Government of a third Lock-down starting at 12.01am Tuesday the 5th January 2021 our Governing bodies have advised us that face to face physiotherapy in NHS and Private settings can continue to meet the rehabilitation needs of the community. A Covid 19 risk assessment and triage of your condition continues to be required before you come to clinic. These assessments are usually done by telephone or video link the night before your appointment.
The possibility of having a face to face consultation needs to be carefully considered by both the patient/client and the treating physiotherapist.
As our client we need to inform you that in the current environment leaving your home is likely to increase the risk of being exposed to Covid 19. You must also be aware that although the majority of people who contract Covid 19 recover there are groups of people within the population that are at higher risk of suffering more severe symptoms if they develop Covid 19. The NHS defines 2 risk groups for Covid 19, High risk and Moderate risk (for more detailed info on these groups please see link https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/people-at-higher-risk-from-coronavirus/whos-at-higher-risk-from-coronavirus/ ) .
High risk or extremely clinically vulnerable patients
If you are classed as High Risk you would have received a letter from the NHS at the start of the first lockdown advising you to stay at home for 12 weeks.
Currently our preferred choice of consultation for this group is remote consults as the close proximity that can be required (within 2 metres) during face to face treatment would increase the risk of you coming in to contact with Covid 19 if the therapist had unknowingly become exposed to and been infected by Covid 19. Our use of PPE and Infection Control procedures as per Government Guidance would help mitigate this risk.
Exceptions will be made if the client and therapist feels the benefit of face to face treatment outweighs the risk of becoming exposed to Covid 19 (please note as active prevalence rates increase, risk of exposure also increases). Colchester Physiotherapy and Sports Injury Clinic is analysing ONS (Office of National Statistics) data on a weekly basis so that we can allow you to make an informed choice in relation to the benfits of physio versus the risk of exposure.
Moderate risk or clinically vulnerable patients.
People who are classed at moderate risk or clinically vulnerable will not have received a letter. This group includes people who;
• are 70 or older
• are pregnant
• have a lung condition that's not severe (such as asthma, COPD, emphysema or bronchitis)
• have heart disease (such as heart failure)
• have diabetes
• have chronic kidney disease
• have liver disease (such as hepatitis)
• have a condition affecting the brain or nerves (such as Parkinson's disease, Motor Neurone disease, Multiple Sclerosis or Cerebral Palsy)
• have a condition that means they have a high risk of getting infections
• are taking medicine that can affect the immune system (such as low doses of steroids)
• are very obese (a BMI of 40 or above)
We are happy to consider face to face consultations for this group subject to a risk assessment and triage via phone or video link. During the risk assessment we will discuss the benefits of both remote or face to face treatment in relation to your condition versus the risk of exposure to Covid 19 and the potential for more severe symptoms being experienced if you were to contract Covid 19. We continue to use PPE and follow current guidelines on infection control to mitigate the risk of exposure to Covid 19.
Patients considered as being not clinically vulnerable.
Depending on your preference Face to face or Remote treatment can be considered, however for new injuries a risk assessment via telephone or video link will be required to determine whether the benefits of face to face treatment outweighs the risk of you becoming exposed to Covid 19 and the likelihood that you would suffer severe symptoms from the virus.
Patients who are considered not clinically vulnerable but have people in their household that are.
It is important to consider other more vulnerable people in your household and the risks that would be incurred by them if you were to become infected with Covid 19.
How to arrange a face to face consult
From reading the information above, if you feel you may benefit and are eligible for face to face treatment under current guidance, please contact us or book online.
Regular updates will be available via our blog page on our website www.colchesterphysiotherapy.com
Colchester Physiotherapy and Sports Injury Clinic
Craig Fowlie and Associates Limited
North Colchester Business Centre, 340 The Crescent, Colchester CO4 9AD
01206 579631
www.physioreallyhelps.com
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Author
Craig Fowlie
Craig is a highly specialized physiotherapist with post graduate qualifications in Acupuncture and Sports and Exercise Medicine.
He has worked with Professional Rugby sides in New Zealand and has assisted Great Britain Table Tennis at the World Team Championships and Olympic Qualifiers in Qatar and Germany. He is a consultant for the Governments Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme and has published and presented research in the Journal of Physiotherapy and the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy Annual Conference.
Outside of work he enjoys participating socially in triathlon and running.
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