Pandemic: Updates on Practice
Update: June 2022:
Please do not come into the clinic if you have any Covid19 symptoms or have tested positive for Covid in the past 10 days. I will continue to clean and ventilate the room between patients, wear appropriate PPE and, as some patients I see are clinically vulnerable, I will still ask you to wash your hands and wear a mask on arrival. Thank you for your ongoing cooperation with these procedures. For more details please tap on the button below.
Update: Feb 2022:
On reviewing the clinic’s risk assessment, in line with updated government guidelines alongside advice from the British Acupuncture Council, we will continue with ‘careful’ practise to minimise the risk to patients and the spread of the virus. We will continue to clean and ventilate the room between patients, wear appropriate PPE and I will still require you to complete a Covid screening form before attending the clinic and wash your hands and wear a mask on arrival. Thank you for your ongoing cooperation with these procedures.
Update: 19/4/2021:
On reviewing the clinic’s risk analysis in line with updated government guidelines alongside advice from the British Acupuncture Council, we will continue with ‘careful’ practise to minimise the risk to patients and the spread of the virus. We will continue to clean and ventilate the room between patients, wear appropriate PPE and I will still require you to complete a Covid screening form before attending the clinic and wash your hands and wear a mask on arrival. Thank you for your ongoing cooperation with these procedures.
Update: 12/4/2021:
As of April 12th 2021, we are open for routine appointments under Covid secure 'careful practice' as per the British Acupuncture Council and government guidelines. Please keep in mind that procedures are in place in order to minimise the risk of spread of the virus and I thank you for your cooperation with these.
Update: 5/1/2021: Lockdown 3
The clinic is remaining open during the current lockdown to provide vital medical services (high care and urgent need only) under Covid secure careful practice as per the British Acupuncture Council guidelines and government legislation. Please keep in mind that procedures are in place in order to minimise the risk of spread of the virus and I thank you for your cooperation with these.
I am pleased to confirm that the British Acupuncture Council, under the authority of the Professional Standards Agency and in line with government legislation just released, has given it's members permission to remain open to treat patients with high medical needs or who are in need of urgent medical care only. Please contact me for further details.
Update: 2/12/2020:
As of December 2nd, we are open for routine appointments under Covid secure 'careful practice' as per the British Acupuncture Council and government guidelines. We are also able to offer cosmetic facial acupuncture as per these guidelines. Please keep in mind that new procedures will be in place in order to minimise the risk of spread of the virus and I thank you for your cooperation with these.
Update: 5/11/2020: Lockdown 2
I am pleased to confirm that the British Acupuncture Council, under the authority of the Professional Standards Agency and in line with government legislation just released, has given it's members permission to remain open to treat patients with high medical needs or who are in need of urgent medical care only. Please contact me for further details.
Update: 15/8/2020:
As of July 4th, we are open for routine appointments under Covid secure 'careful practice' as per the British Acupuncture Council and government guidelines. From 15th August, we are also able to offer cosmetic facial acupuncture as per the guidelines. Please keep in mind that new procedures will be in place in order to minimise the risk of spread of the virus and I thank you for your cooperation with these.
Update: 4/7/2020:
As of July 4th, we are open for routine appointments under Covid secure 'careful practice' as per the British Acupuncture Council and government guidelines, We are currently unable to offer cosmetic facial acupuncture as per these guidelines. Please keep in mind that new procedures will be in place in order to minimise the risk of spread of the virus and I thank you for your cooperation with these.
Update: 11/6/2020:
The British Acupuncture Council under the advice of the Professional Standard’s Authority has now given it's members permission to treat people with 'high levels of mental or physical distress for the relief from chronic conditions and continuity of treatment' as well as emergency cases (urgent care which must be justifiable to the governing body and to our insurance company), as long as we meet certain criteria.
Having ploughed through pages of guidelines, attended some very long meetings, completed a risk assessment and made my practice secure, I am now able to offer this service.
As of July 6th, we are expecting to open for more routine appointments under Covid secure 'careful practice' as per the British Acupuncture and government guidelines, Therefore, I am now taking bookings from this date.
Please keep in mind that new procedures will be in place in order to minimise the risk of spread of the virus and I thank you for your cooperation with these.
Update: 11/5/2020
I hope this message finds you and your loved ones safe and well. Whether you are home schooling, whilst trying to work from home, self isolating, concerned about your health, job or finances, or are simply fed up of being stuck at home, I am very aware that this crisis has created all sorts of issues/traumas. I have been doing some on-line training which will hopefully enable me to help with the emotional aspects of these once I'm back up and running, alongside the treatment of immunity and for good health.
Our governing body is meeting this week to review the government's latest position, so we should have more details over the next week or so about re-opening for face-to-face appointments and I will certainly update you when I have more information. I'm very much missing my hands-on work and very much look forward to seeing you again as soon as it's considered safe to do so. Stay safe and well.
Update: 23/3/2020
Sadly, the acupuncture clinic is temporarily closed for face to face consultations due to the recent outbreak and government guidelines. However, remote consultations may be possible and worthwhile in some cases (see details below). Hope to see you again soon. Stay well.
Update: 20/3/2020
Over the past couple of weeks I’ve been thinking about how I can support patients from afar during this challenging crisis to help maintain their health. Clearly acupuncture doesn’t lend itself to remote working easily. However, I do believe we can do something. It’s time for us all to adapt our working practices and lifestyle and think outside the box. So I’m considering offering patients a telephone/FaceTime/Skype/Messenger video consultation in a similar way to how I work in clinic. I’d listen to your concerns, discuss your symptoms and guide you through a process of applying gentle pressure on certain acupuncture points based on a traditional Chinese Medicine diagnosis. As always, I would give lifestyle advice which I think is more important than ever at this current time. Specific details will follow at some stage but I would charge half my usual price for these remote appointments. Of course, this isn’t as good as having the real thing itself, but it’s better than nothing at all in my opinion. I’m just wanting to make you aware that I haven’t forgotten you. Stay well.
