FAQs & TERMS

IS A DOCTOR’S REFERRAL REQUIRED?

A doctors Referral to attend an Osteopathy appointment is not required. Osteopathy is recognised by the NHS as an Allied Health Profession, to aid reducing painful symptoms in the Musculoskeletal System. Your first appointment will establish whether you are safe to treat and establish if your symptoms warrant any further investigations or a referral to a different modality of healthcare provision.

At James Edward Osteopathy, we’ve been working hard behind the scenes to make sure every moment during an allowed treatment is as safe as possible. Below, you can read our full risk assessment, published in line with government guidelines.

This document identifies the Covid-19-related risks that our community of self-employed Osteopaths and Manual Therapists may encounter when delivering professional services.

The following potential risks are identified and tackled: 1. Before an appointment takes place, 2. When travelling to appointments, 3. During the delivery of a service, 4. After an appointment. The findings and strategies outlined in this document are publicly available on this website as recommended by the new government guidance to help employers, employees and the self-employed understand how to work safely during the coronavirus pandemic.

Before the appointment

Risks:

• Client or someone from the household is infected with Covid-19 or is in close contact with an infected person

• Client within a vulnerable population

• Client unaware of transmission risks and additional hygiene measures required 

Mitigating actions:

As per government guidelines, we are communicating with clients at multiple touch points of their booking experience to make sure they: (a) do not show any symptoms; (b) haven’t been in contact with someone showing symptoms; (c) haven’t been abroad in the last 14 days, (d) understand additional hygiene measures and that the use of PPE will be required for their treatment. This includes but isn’t limited to: email on the day of the booking to remind them to cancel with no charge in case of exposure to the virus or showing symptoms.

When travelling to appointments

With the exception of on-site clinic visits the work carried out by our practitioner cannot be performed from their homes. Therefore, they have to travel to their clients’ homes to perform their services.

Risks:

• Contamination risk when using public transport through touching contaminated surfaces

• Contamination risk when using public transport through equipment (massage tables) touching contaminated surfaces

• Contamination through touching doorknobs and other contaminated surfaces upon arrival and departure from client’s home

Mitigating actions:

Service etiquette updated to include the following recommendations:

• Limiting the use time on public transport where possible

• Wear protective equipment while travelling (mask + gloves)

• The use of antibacterial wipes to sterilise the treatment table when travelling between bookings

• limiting the use of porous materials that may aid contamination of any droplets between households including towels, covers and couch bags

• Professionals advised to use disposable antibacterial wipes and immediately dispose of them safely if they need to touch doorknobs or other potential sources of contamination in the client’s home

During the delivery of the service

Risks:

• If a practitioner carrying out the service shows symptoms or have been exposed to coronavirus within the last 14 days

• Contamination due to practitioners’ lack of understanding of the virus, how it spread and how to prevent contamination

• Contamination due to poor ventilation in a treatment space

• Contamination due to close proximity between the practitioner and a client. This is one of the cases identified by the government where a service cannot be carried out with the 2m distance rule

• Contamination by other household members

Mitigating actions:

• Practitioners with symptoms must not practice for seven days

• Practitioners must follow a CPD-accredited COVID19 transmission prevention training provided by an independent external provider

• They are also obliged to follow an additional internal service etiquette training providing them with specific advice based on their activity

• Order mandatory PPE relevant for their specialities

• Clients are advised to be alone with the therapist in the room they receive their treatment in, without the presence of other household members

• Clients are asked to wear a face covering* during all bookings

• Clients are also encouraged to open windows or have their treatment(s) outdoors where possible

After the appointment

Risk:

• Practitioner or client develops symptoms in the 14 days following the booking

Mitigating actions:

• Clients will be contacted 14 days after their booking to confirm they haven’t developed any symptoms

• Therapists are requested to check themselves for symptoms according to NHS guidelines everyday before starting work. They are also requested to report back to us should they develop any symptoms

• Recorded booking information will allow to trace all contacts that occur in the community should any infection be reported.

*Although no clear guidelines for at-home services were provided by the government at the time, we published this precaution on Thursday 11/11/2021 to make sure our clients and practitioners are as safe as possible.

Cancellation

We maintain a fair 24 hour cancellation policy. In the unforeseen event of a late cancellation within 24 hours, a late cancellation fee of £30 may be charged to the client. In the event of a no-show or a missed appointment, the full amount of the treatment booked will be charged accordingly. 

Refer a Friend 

To help spread the word about the great work we do in the community, we are running a refer-a-friend program to get the word out about our expert therapies! Invite any of your friends or family members to have an initial consultation with one of our lovely practitioners and you will both benefit from £10 off your treatment. Share the love and refer as many people as you like! Each time you refer a friend you will receive £10 off your next appointment.

*Patient must be new to JEO THERAPIES and complete payment for their initial treatment appointment before the referrer receives their discount. Proof of friend referral must be shown before your appointment for eligibility. Subject to one reward only per appointment. Reward eligible for in-clinic appointments only.