Dear friends,
How are you?
It’s been a few months since the world changed and we found ourselves compelled to slow down the entire global human economic machine to nothing but essentials… Many of us probably realised what we do is not as essential as we thought it was :).
And now we are being asked to get back to work, so to speak. So this is my humble first draft at how things are going to operate for the moment at our Well4ever Clinic turned greenhouse at 20 Lower Richmond Road.
The Hippocratic Oath states ‘first do no harm’. In order to do our bit in helping prevent the spread of Covid we are asking all clients to please not visit the clinic:
- If you have a fever, a persistent cough, loss of sense of taste/smell or any cold symptoms.
- If your child or family member has been ill in the 14 days preceding your appointment.
- If you are shielding or have received a letter from the government to say you are vulnerable.
Please feel free to book a remote herbal consultation. We will also not be charging for Covid related cancellations, we will just reschedule your appointment for a later date.
New procedures / protocols at w4e:
- When you arrive I will check your temperature at the door with a non-touch forehead thermometer, like the ones you use for kids. If it’s higher than 37.8 C I will ask you to reschedule and come back another time (we wont charge a cancellation fee).
- On entry to the clinic I will offer you antibacterial gel, alcohol swabs or ask you to wash your hands.
- Please wear comfortable loose clothing so you can have acupuncture without undressing. I won’t be providing blankets, towels or pillows any more, only couch rolls on the treatment tables so they can be sprayed and wiped before and after every patient. If you feel you must use any of these, please bring them with you.
- Please also bring your own water, face mask, antibacterial gel, gloves and any other PPE you want to use.
- If you do not have a mask, a new disposable surgical mask will be provided for you by us. New laws in England state that you must wear a face covering when entering a shop from 24/7/2020.
- I will be using PPE such as masks and/or a shield and, if required, aprons that I will change for every patient. I will also be washing hands and using gels as guided etc.
- In addition, the reception will be unattended to limit the number of people in the clinic. There will be no waiting room or tea for now, and only one patient at a time.
- We will minimise face-to-face contact and talking as well as reduce the total time you spend in the clinic to an hour or so. The time we spend in closer proximity will be reduced to what is absolutely required for me to perform the acupuncture treatment itself.
- We will have the consultation part of the session remotely before your appointment – online, by video or audio on the day or the day before your treatment.
Online Bookings
Also we are excited to announce our brand new 2020 upgrade into the world of online booking, please check it out and give me feedback. Good or bad is acceptable 🙂
To book online, choose your appointment type and then the time and day. Let me know if you want moxa or cupping so we make extra time for that. Please only select one add-on each time, and only if you need it. Be conscious that reducing face-to-face contact time, reduces the risk for everyone.
On booking an appointment you are accepting responsibility for your own health and recognise that you come to the clinic at your own risk.
Health Update
That’s for your time in clinic. Now for the ways that you communicate your health update with me:
- By filling out online forms available on our new booking system, please be as detailed as possible.
- Signing updated COVID-19 consent forms.
- If you are shielding or have received a letter from the government to say you are vulnerable please refrain from booking an appointment at this time for your own safety. Instead you can book a remote herbal consultation.
- Pre-treatment consultation 15 or 30 minute Zoom call. On the day of or day before your session
Finally, I am looking forward to getting back into clinic, seeing all of you again, doing acupuncture after having the longest break since I started my practice…
and very excited to share with you some of the research that i’ve been reading about herbal medicine protocols that help treat patients with a positive dx and also preventative protocols that boost the immune system and can keep us all healthy now and in the future as the virus mutates and changes.
I will hopefully get around to publishing a blog with references to these so you can all learn about them 🙂