Corona Policy

The aim of this policy is to keep clients safe and well.

We can see clients again in person from Monday, 13th July 2020.

I am looking at how to structure sessions for you to have the best (and safest) experience under the "new normal".
I have decided to give you a choice in the level of precautions during your treatment, the range of options is listed in my corona policy.

Virtual sessions are still available.
The Top Tips have been transformed into DIY self care.

Stay safe and sane. Hope to see you soon. With warm regards, Regina

Clients are expected to judge when it safe for them to seek treatment. Their consent is assumed when they book and attend an appointment. They have the option of a very cautious approach with the non-contact part of the treatment taking place remotely. Hand washing and sanitising facilities are provided. It is possible to provide the treatment using disposable gloves. Clients can choose if they want to wear a face covering. The therapist is prepared to wear a visor or face covering when the client is on the premises. For extra safety the therapist may wear an apron that can easily be desinfected.

Infection prevention

We will undertake infection prevention measures, including

doors will be opened for clients on arrival and departure,
clients are discouraged from touching surfaces,
any surfaces that may have been contaminated are cleaned between each contact,
clients and therapist will use good hand hygiene,
physical distancing when possible.

Please be aware that the treatment room has soft furnishings, books and other "non-essential items", which cannot be disinfected.

The massage table has brand new coverings allowing for frequent laudry and disinfection.

Covid-19 screening

At the first session (back) we will do comprehensive Covid-19 screening.

All clients asked at booking and on arrival the following:

Do you suspect you are currently infected, either with the corona virus or with any other potentially contagious condition?
Do you have a raised temperature above 38°C?
Have you lost your sense of taste and/or smell in the last few days? (Sense of smell may be tested on arrival)
Have you developed a cough in the last few days?

If the answer to any of the above questions is "yes" the treatment will be postponed. The client must inform the therapist if they develop symptoms before the appointment or post treatment. Clients will be asked to sign this at each session. Should the therapist develop Covid-19 symptoms sessions will be cancelled, possibly at short notice..

Before hands-on treatment

Initial consultation client can choose between:

virtual consultation - clients will be asked to sign consent form either remotely or on arrival,
phone consultation - clients will be asked to sign consent form prior to treatment on arrival,
in garden (weather and privacy permitting),
in treatment room with two metres distance with virsor or face covering if chosen.

Existing clients: Welcome, check-in, agreement of treatment, etc

by phone on arrival near premises,
in garden (weather and privacy permitting),
in treatment room with two metres distance with visor or face covering if chosen.

Hands-on treatment

Treatment prone (on front), side lying therapist facing away from client, and massage chair:

neither therapist nor client wear a visor or face covering

Treatment on upper body supine (on back) or side lying with the therapist facing client

therapist wears a visor or face covering
therapist and client wear visor or face covering

Treatment on lower body supine (on back) or side lying with the therapist facing client

therapist does not wear a visor or face covering
therapist wears a visor or face covering

Specialist supine head and neck treatments:

back raised so that client sits at 45° angle
therapist wears visor or face covering

Seated acupressure treatment is also possible in the garden, weather permitting.

Default in blue, unless agreed otherwise.

The guidance on visors is taken from current government advice: Keeping workers and clients safe during COVID-19 in close contact services

Payment:

Preferred choice is balance transfer before or after treatment

Account name: Touching Well
Sort code: 09-06-66
Account number: 42071571

cheque, cash or card payments are accepted.

Face coverings:

clients are encouraged to bring own
therapist provides face covering which is sanitised after use
clients have the option of purchasing face covering

To be worked out:

I am thinking about my charging and cancellation policy. I would like to be fair both for clients and myself. I do not want people to come when they suspect that they have Covid-19.

The following are options, I have not decided yet. I do invite comments.

Cancellation policy

client and therapist go halves on Corona related cancellation.
worked out individually, depending on circumstances for both client and therapist
client will be charged full price for short term cancellations, particularly for popular time slots
client pays for treatment missed and gets next treatment reduced or free

Charging policy - rationale for reviewing

there will be a longer gap between appointments due to hygiene requirements
some treatments are likely to take more time due to remote consultation
lots of extra washing and cleaning

Possible options:

charge pro rata
separate sessions for consulation and physical treatment
absorb cost, particularly for existing clients
shorten hands-on treatment time

Covid-19 screening

You will be asked to sign the before every session:

These are the most common Covid-19 symptoms.

Loss or change to your sense of smell or taste – this means you have noticed you cannot smell or taste anything, or things smell or taste different to normal.
High temperature – this means you feel hot to touch on your chest or back.
New, continuous cough – this means coughing for a lot more than an hour, or 3 or more coughing episodes in 24 hours (if you usually have a cough, it may be worse than usual).

Please sign that you:

consent to having treatment
are aware of the risks
currently do not test positive for Covid-19
currently do not have corona virus symptoms (or any other potentially contagious condition)
will cancel treatment if you have Covid-19
will inform Touching Well should you develop Covid-19 within a week of treatment

During the first session (back) we will go through the following list:

People at high risk from coronavirus include people who:

have had an organ transplant.
are having chemotherapy or antibody treatment for cancer, including immunotherapy.
are having an intense course of radiotherapy (radical radiotherapy) for lung cancer.
are having targeted cancer treatments that can affect the immune system (such as protein kinase inhibitors or PARP inhibitors).
have blood or bone marrow cancer (such as leukaemia, lymphoma, or myeloma).
have had a bone marrow or stem cell transplant in the past 6 months or are still taking immunosuppressant medicine.
have been told by a doctor they have a severe lung condition (such as cystic fibrosis, severe asthma, or severe COPD).
have a condition that means they have a very high risk of getting infections (such as SCID or sickle cell).
are taking medicine that makes them much more likely to get infections (such as high doses of steroids or immunosuppressant medicine).
have a serious heart condition and are pregnant.

People at moderate risk from coronavirus include people who:

are 70 or older.
are pregnant.
have a lung condition that is 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).