We are all going to have to make adaptations to how we operate our practices for the foreseeable future. Here we provide a series of advice and guidance on how to operate your practice safely and effectively, whilst optimising patient care.
Information and Government policy and guidance to manage the current public health crisis continues to evolve. We will update guidance in line with this advice, and in conjunction with best practice for regulated healthcare professionals working in the private healthcare sector. As has been the case throughout this crisis, definitive answers to some questions may not always be available.
Advice & Guides
Before face to face consultations can be considered in your clinic, you must prepare your practice as follows:
- You must have undertaken a risk assessment of the working environment for which you are responsible and demonstrated how you have mitigated these risks, and record these.
- You must ensure effective infection prevention and control measures including access to personal protective equipment (PPE).
To enable you to put these steps in place, please review the following guidance:
- Adapting your practice: Quick guide & checklist – a visual guide is also available in the COVID-19 Resource Hub.
- Infection control & PPE in osteopathic practice – Updated 22 September 2020
- Infection risk assessment & mitigation guide
Only once these measures are in place and recorded, should an increased level of face-to-face consultations be considered.
Management of face to face consultations: Guidance on how to determine and manage face to face consultations. Update 12 June: This guidance is now applicable to all counties within the United Kingdom and the Channel Islands.
Current categories of clinically extremely vulnerable (high-risk/shielding) and clinically vulnerable (moderate risk) patient groups – published by NHS
IMPORTANT: Presently, iO guidance states that you should not see a patient either in your clinic or in their home if they have symptoms of COVID-19 or have been in contact with someone with symptoms in the last 14 days.
In addition to the above, we would recommend you review the below:
- Guidance on domiciliary visits, including those that are shielding – Updated June 2020 – change in advice with regards to PPE disposal or domiciliary visits
- Tips on communicating with patients to provide reassurance
- Guide to telephone and video consultations in osteopathic practice
Insurance: If you have your insurance with the iO, our insurance partners are working with us to enable you to adapt your operations with safe practice protocol in place. They require members to abide by legal and regulatory requirements and make safe and appropriate clinical decisions about their work. The iO’s insurers are there to support all initiatives by not restricting cover for medical malpractice and public liability (subject to the terms and conditions of the policy), providing you take all reasonable steps to follow best practice advice.
Advice Webinars & Videos
WEBINAR: Adapting your Practice Post Lockdown, by Matthew Rogers and Halo Garrity
While there are no certainties on what a phased return will look like, osteopaths will likely need to consider some adaptations as to how they operate. Matthew Rogers, iO Head of Professional Development, and Halo Garrity, Project Manager, guide osteopaths through areas of operation and practice that may need preparation under a phased return to increased activities.
WEBINAR: Infection Control & PPE in Osteopathic Practice, by Ian Harrison and Professor Dawn Carnes
A summary of best practice advice and guidance distilled from Public Health England, the World Health Organisation and the Centre for Disease Control (USA) about the important things to consider in respect of health and social care practice in current COVID-19 environment.
Donning and Doffing of PPE for Healthcare Professionals
What to expect from your Osteopathic appointment during COVID-19
Useful Links
- England: Guidance for healthcare workers, carers and care settings
- Scotland: Guidance for primary care
- Northern Ireland: Guidance for health and social care staff, healthcare workers and providers
- Wales: Guidance for health and social care professionals: Coronavirus
Frequently Asked Questions
Have a question? Here you will find answers to some of the most commonly asked questions relating to osteopathic practice during the COVID-19 pandemic.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Safety of the public and our members is of paramount importance, and the iO is following the UK Government advice on a daily basis. Any content provided on this page is current as of the date of publishing, although such content may change quickly at short notice. The situation is unprecedented, the advice is changing rapidly and in some cases, there may not yet be definitive answers available. However, we will do our utmost to support our members and the profession throughout the period.