Infection Control Policies and Procedures

Safe To Relax: 

Protecting each other through high standards of Infection Control

This policy was originally put in place in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, and mainly refers to Covid. It remains in place to continue to protect us all from Sars-CoV-2 - the virus which causes Covid-19 - and also influenza, norovirus, viruses that cause the common cold (rhinoviruses, some coronaviruses), RSV, and other infectious diseases.

Symptom Screening

Various intake forms must be completed online before each appointment, including questions to reduce the risk of an infectious person coming for a treatment; to check for possible post-Covid conditions; and to risk assess the treatment where appropriate.

Please fill these in honestly, and in the 24 hours before your appointment, check that they are still accurate. 

•    If you have recently had 'cold' symptoms or any other symptoms which could be Covid please do not attend an appointment until it has been 10 days since infection. If you don't know exactly when you were infected - please count 10 days since the start of symptoms, or from your first positive test. OR if you had a negative Covid test (eg LFT) on day 5 or 6 since symptoms started, then its fine to attend an appointment on day 7.
•    If you have been in close contact with someone with Covid-19 please do not attend an appointment for 10 days after the last time you had that contact. OR leave at least 7 full days after the close contact, having had negative LFTs (or PCR) on both day 5 and day 6. If I have any contact with someone with Covid, or symptoms which could be Covid, I will do the same.
•    If in any doubt about whether the 2 points above apply to you, please ask! E.g., If you are not sure what should count as close contact, because they tested positive some days after you had been in contact with them, and may or may not have been infectious when you saw them - please contact me to discuss it. I will do the same if I have had a possible contact, with the following 10 days of clients to discuss whether or not to reschedule.
•   If you are ill, whatever it is - please wait until you are recovered, including no temperature, diarrhoea , vomiting , and no infection related runny nose, sneezing  or coughing , for at least 48 hours.

I adhere to the same screening policy I ask for from my clients. If I have any symptoms of an infectious viral condition, such as Covid, flu, colds, RSV, or norovirus, I will cancel appointments for at least 7 days. I will do repeated LFT tests up to day 6, and if Covid is confirmed, I will cancel all appointments for 10 days since the start of symptoms, or from my first positive test.

If I discover that I was in contact with someone who was infectious with Covid-19, I will test for at least 7 full days after that close contact, and even if testing negative, contact clients booked in that period to give the option to reschedule.

In addition, if you would like me to do a Covid test on the morning of your appointment, just ask, and I'll be happy to do so.

Hygiene

Surfaces touched by clients are minimised, and a thorough cleaning and sanitising protocol is followed after each client.

Clients use the sink in the room to wash hands on arrival and if appropriate or preferred, also before departure, and I keep good hygiene including washing hands immediately before treatment.

 Please place your possessions where asked to; wash your hands thoroughly when asked to do so; and avoid touching anything unnecessarily, including the curtains, carpet and door.

An alcohol based hand sanitising gel is also provided for use, for example, if you need to remove your mask and blow your nose. However note that this is not effective against norovirus, which is only removed by thoroughly soaping and washing of hands.

Face Coverings and PPE

As of 2024, the BMA, RCN and WHO all recommend universal masking in healthcare.

I wear a reusable, washable FFP2 (Filtering Face Piece - ventilator) mask which is PPE - personal protective equipment - at the correct standard to prevent the transmission of airborne diseases like Covid. I am happy to wear the next grade up - a FFP3 - if you prefer. 

 Clients wear a face covering or mask throughout the session - from before you enter till after you leave. If you are unable to do this, please contact me to discuss it. 

If you do not have one or forget to being one, I can provide a surgical mask for you.

Less Time, More Space

Consultations are done as part of your treatment session. We will sit well apart. However, if you would prefer a consultation beforehand by Zoom or phonecall - let me know. Reduced time together reduces risk, so there is no waiting area.  Clients are asked to arrive on time. 

The standard session is an hour. However there are options to have longer sessions (up to 90 minutes maximum) for some sessions, and for Indian head massage a shorter, 45 minute session is standard.

Ventilation and Filtration

A window is open for fresh air ventilation. It is at a sufficient distance from the couch that there is no feeling of cold draught. 

HEPA air filters in both the consultation and treatment areas improves air circulation and cleans the air, including removing virus particles (aerosols). The filters provide over 6 air changes per hour.

"I felt reassured about all your detailed, careful and thoughtful arrangements in place. I was a little apprehensive about wearing a mask throughout the massage, but once I settled onto the massage couch quickly becoming relaxed by your gentle massage."
- Barbara Wilson

"You had everything set up beautifully and, although not like pre-lockdown, it all seemed sensible, safe and easy to comply with. For me, the strangest thing was the time at the end – no need to pay (having already paid), and no need to book ahead since this can now be done online. Thank you again."
- L.B.

"I felt safe, the premises are immaculate as usual which made me feel very comfortable and welcome. The mask was a disturbance at first but after few minutes it was not a problem anymore."
- Celine N

More Info: 

Technical details on Air Filter units:

4 units with True HEPA Filters, each of which has 3-Stage Filtration, a Pre-Filter, a H13 True HEPA Filter and an activated Carbon Filter, removing 99.97% of particles as small as 0.3 microns including  air pollution, pollen, bacteria, fungi, and viruses such as Sars-Cov-2. 

• 2 small Levoit LV-H128-RF on Level 3 which each clean 69.66 cubed metres of air per hour.
• 2 large Taotronic TT-AP003 on Level 3 which each clean 161 cubed metres of air per hour.

The amount of air in the space is 128 metres cubed and so the combined air purification of all 4 units is 6.69 ACH (Air Changes per Hour) or all air cleaned every 9 minutes. 

If you would like full detailed information, or to see the reasons for the measures, my Risk Assessment is viewable here.

Infection Control Walk_Through - this page goes step by step from the morning of the day of your treatment, parking arrangements, use of the building and toilets, procedures on arrival, during treatment, and for departure related to infection control - but its all pretty straightforward, and shouldn't be necessary to read this.

Risk Assessment - For more detail, or more explanations about why these procedures are in place and what other measures have been and are being taken. 

Page last updated 09/12/2024. 

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