How we keep each other safe

Advice from General Osteopathic Council (GOsC)

As the lockdown restrictions imposed as a result of COVID-19 continue to be eased, many osteopaths who had closed their clinics are now returning to practice. Osteopaths are advised to use their professional judgement, in discussion with patients, to determine whether face-to-face treatment is appropriate in the individual circumstances, taking into account the likely benefits and risks and to ensure they explain these clearly to patients to ensure they gain informed consent.

For existing patients, the stringent infection control measures that osteopaths are advised to implement may lead to an experience that is different to what they had been used to before the pandemic – for example, I will be wearing personal protective equipment (PPE), spacing out appointments to allow time to thoroughly clean equipment between patients. These measures will be aimed at keeping patients and myself safe as the pandemic continues, and should not affect the high levels of care that patients are entitled to expect from osteopaths.

Patients should talk through any concerns they may have about attending for treatment in the light of COVID-19 with me in advance of an appointment.