COVID Patient Information

MEASURES TO REDUCE THE RISK OF COVID-19 TRANSMISSION
Our normal cross infection control protocols at The Foot and Ankle Centre already protects against all known pathogens which are already woven in to all clinical activity carried out at the practice.

It should be remembered that podiatry practices are already a very clean environment compared to public areas and there is no evidence of Covid-19 transmission occurring in increased rates in podiatrists or their staff.

We have collectively evaluated all of the updated guidance and observed what measures have been put in place in other countries. We feel that the measures which are outlined in this policy will reduce the risk to the minimum level at our practice.

Please be assured that all of our clinical staff will also be complying with our updated procedures to reduce the risk of cross infection on both directions. All members of our team have received further training in many different areas to ensure we have a robust system in pace.

BEFORE ATTENDING THE PRACTICE
We will carry out a pre-attendance assessment via your completed medical history and assessment forms approximately a day before your appointment and, if necessary, a follow-up telephone conversation to assess relative coronavirus infection status. Our staff will contact you to remind you of this if we have not received your completed forms. If you have any difficulties with completing the forms and you are fit and healthy to attend, as well as your entire household, we can provide you with paper forms to complete upon your arrival, which we can assist with should you require us to.

If we feel that you are at a risk of having coronavirus or influenza, even if you are asymptomatic, we will respectfully delay your booking of any appointments with us for at least 10 days. If we do not receive the completed questionnaire in time and we are unable to contact you, we may need to cancel your appointment.

ARRIVING AT THE PRACTICE
When you attend the practice, please leave your personal items within your car as much as possible.

Please DO NOT enter the building if you or a member of your household is experiencing Covid-19 or influenza symptoms.

As we have limited seating within our waiting rooms, to allow for 2 metre social distancing, we will be asking patients not to enter until 5 minutes prior to their appointment time. One adult is allowed to attend with a child or adult with disabilities; please do not bring additional family members with you unless they are happy to wait in the car or outside of the building. If you are a single parent and are unable to find childcare, please do advise our reception team.

We intend to minimise waiting inside the practice and at reception. Accordingly, appointments will be staggered so that patient do not arrive or leave at the same time as other patients as far as we are able to manage.

We request that you do the following before, during and after your appointment:

• Use hand sanitiser as you enter our building
• Use a face covering before entering the practice. If you are exempt from wearing a face covering, please do tell a member of our team.

PRACTICE PROCEDURES
All clinical and common areas, including door handles and surfaces will be regularly disinfected in between patients, in addition to our normal cross infection control procedures.

We will be providing a buffer period between patients to allow additional time for decontamination procedures, also allow for any treatments that may overrun and allow preparation time for the next patient. This will help to ensure that patients are not kept waiting unnecessarily. However, in some unforeseeable circumstances, emergencies can become more complicated than expected. We will do our upmost to keep to scheduled appointment times but given the nature of the treatments we will be providing please do accept our apologies in anticipation if we should keep you waiting.

All future appointments will be confirmed by email, text or telephone to limit your time at reception.

PODIATRY PROCEDURES
All staff will be using personal protective equipment in line with current recommendations and evidence.

We apologise in advance for the necessary reduction in social interaction that this will necessitate. Whilst our masks may make us appear impersonal and distant, please be assured we are still the same friendly team underneath it all!

SUMMARY
The vast majority of our patients are otherwise healthy, without  coronavirus and we are confident that we are able to provide care for our patients in as normal an environment as possible, whilst bearing in mind our responsibilities to mitigate risks of infection spread as far as is practically possible.

This policy will be constantly reviewed and updated as necessitated by circumstances over time.

If you have any questions regarding this policy or about your care at The Foot and Ankle Centre, please do not hesitate to contact us on 020 8524 4516.