Re-Opening after Lockdown 2.0 and Availability, Including Christmas and New Year

I am available for appointments from Wednesday the 2nd of December. Those on my mailing list have received information on how to book and a link to my online booking service. If you are not on my mailing list, contact me and I will email this to you.

Despite having reduced our infection levels to half the National average, Lancaster District will be, with the rest of Lancashire, going back into Tier 3 - the highest Tier of restrictions. However Close Contact Services / Personal Care - which Holistic Therapies are classed as - will be permitted in all Tiers in all areas of the UK, so I will be able to open for all treatments, as previously adapted to be compliant with Government and Industry Covid-19 Guidance and my Risk Assessment.

I hope you will feel confident to come for a treatment if you need one in December, and that it will still be a relaxed and enjoyable experience. Here's some links which go through the changes that are in place to keep you and I safe:

Summary of Holistyx Covid-19 Infection Control Measures
Summary of Holistyx Safety Procedures for Clients

If you are thinking of buying a gift voucher, please see Holistyx Gift Vouchers 

Lockdown 2.0 - Is it Possible to Provide Treatments During Lockdown?

Holistyx closed on Thursday 5th November 2020 under advice from Federation of Holistic Therapists that all Massage Therapists and Holistic Centres were required to do so. 

However, it then came to my attention that in 

The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (England) (No. 4) Regulations 2020 
p32, Part 3, Businesses permitted to stay open are listed as: 
47. Dental services, opticians, audiology services, chiropody, chiropractors, osteopaths and other medical or health services, including services relating to mental health.

I am listed for all therapies I practice on the FHT Complementary Healthcare Therapist Register, which has been accredited by the Professional Standards Authority for Health and Social Care, a body accountable to Parliament. 

So I should be allowed to open, and various Professional Associations have discussed this clause with BEIS (Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy) and received conformation that under certain circumstances, Massage and other Therapeutic Services will be recognised as permitted. However, there is some disagreement within the Complementary Healthcare sector (eg between different Professional Associations) about how to interpret this legislation, and what the criteria are.