COVID-19 Patient Policy

(Updated 18/07/21)

Please take a moment to fully read this Covid-19 Patient Policy. Whilst quite lengthy, we hope it demonstrates the extent we have gone to in order to keep patients and staff safe and provides details of how we would like you to play your part in this. A link to this policy will also be emailed when you book an appointment with us.

THE CHANGES WE HAVE MADE

Following the first Covid-19 national lock-down, we undertook to increase our high standards of infection control further, with a focus to reduce the risk of Covid-19 airborne transmission. Since the relaxation of government mandated Covid guidelines we have also followed suit. However should a significant rise in cases arise, a new lockdown period occur, or mandated guidelines be reintroduced, we ready with the following:

• Robust, Covid-19 specific, risk assessments, policies and procedures in place

• An updated our Medical Questionnaire to understand more about your health status

• Stringent patient contact point protocols in place

• Intervals between each patient appointment to allow for rigorous clinic cleaning and air exchange

• The best available PPE respirator (VIRIMASK) and face masks, designed and proven to protect against 99.995% of all particles sized 0.1 micron and above, including the Coronavirus, on inhalation and exhalation; keeping practitioner and patient safe.

HOW YOU CAN HELP

Please read and follow the below Covid-19 Patient Policy whenever you attend the clinic.

Unfortunately, If you do not feel you can follow this patient policy, we may not be able to accommodate your appointments during peak cases of Covid-19.

If you have any questions regarding this policy or anything else regarding booking appointments, please do not hesitate to get in touch with us on 01844 278362 or info@lumieremedispa.co.uk

Thank you in advance for your cooperation.

NEED TO KNOW - COVID-19 AND APPOINTMENTS

(Applicable during government mandated Covid-19 rules)

During peak numbers of infections both nationally and locally, Consultations and general follow up/review appointments will be provided online via secure video consultation software. You will be emailed a link to join your consultation when booking this type of appointment.

During peak numbers of infections both nationally and locally, only medical aesthetic treatment and essential medical review appointments can be provided within the clinic. Medical aesthetic treatment is considered to be where a treatment is required for medical purposes, including the treatment of aesthetic skin conditions or where you consider your treatment to be essential for your psychological health and well-being. Essential medical review appointments are considered to be where a patient needs to be seen urgently for a post treatment complication, or where an adjustment of a treatment outcome is urgently required to prevent psychological distress.

You should never attend the clinic if you or anyone you have been in contact with has tested positive for Coronavirus, within 14 days of your appointment. 

You should never attend the clinic if you have been told to self isolate because you may have been in contact with someone who has confirmed Coronavirus, within 14 days of your appointment.

You should never attend the clinic if you or anyone you have been in close contact with have experienced any of the following symptoms, within 14 days of your appointment:

• Fever/high temperature

• A new persistent cough

• New loss of taste or smell

• A new onset of shortness of breath or difficulty breathing

• A new onset of fatigue

• Muscle or body aches

• Headaches

• Sore throat

• Congestion or runny nose

• Nausea or vomiting

• Diarrhoea

Whilst these symptoms range outside of the general 3 symptoms of persistent cough, fever/temperature and loss of taste and/or smell, it is widely acknowledged that some people with Covid-19 do not experience these symptoms at all; in some cases they may experience entirely different symptoms. We have made the decision to take an approach that minimises the risks as much as possible by including some of the less common symptoms to our policy.

Only one person is allowed into the clinic for the appointment at any one time. Please do not bring friends, children or relatives.

Only bring essential belongings with you, such as a small purse/wallet and mobile phone. Please do not bring large bags/rucksacks or shopping bags in with you.

Where possible, please use the bathroom before you leave to attend your appointment. Whilst we do have a patient dedicated bathroom, reducing your movement within the clinic and need to contact surfaces, reduces your risk. Of course, should you need to use the bathroom during your appointment, we are not going to stop you and simply ask that you follow good hand-washing techniques.

PRE-APPOINTMENT SCREENING

As part of our commitment to keep all patients safe, you will be sent an appointment confirmation email that contains a link for a general “Medical Questionnaire”. It is quite detailed therefore please ensure you set aside 10 minutes to complete this and no later than 24 hours before your appointment. If you have completed this before and there is no change you do not need to do this again.

Where it has been assessed that there is a significant outbreak of Covid cases you will be sent a Covid-19 Wellness Questionnaire. Please ensure you complete this as soon as possible before your appointment so that your answers can undergo a final  pre-screening process by a Nurse Practitioner.

We hope you will understand that this is to ensure your safety, as well as the safety of others. Should it not be possible for you to attend the clinic as a result of this pre-screening process, we can certainly provide you with online consultations and clinical skincare advice to keep your skin in tip -top condition. We will not be able to see you unless you have completed this form before your appointment during these times.

If you have any issues accessing or completing the forms, please let us know as soon as possible and we will be happy to complete these over the phone for you.

ARRIVING AT YOUR APPOINTMENT During Peak Cases of Covid19

DO NOT arrive early for your appointment, yet please be on time as this can cause delays for the next patient.

When you arrive, please come in with a face mask on and notify the receptionist of your arrival, who will inform you of where to be seated. Very rarely we may be at maximum capacity for the seating area and you may be asked to wait outside. For this reason, please dress appropriately for the weather, just in case. Please do not take offence, we are trying to keep you and others safe.

Very occasionally, as a result of knock-on delays and increased cleaning schedules, we may run up to 15 minutes late, therefore please do not worry if we haven't collected you from the waiting area and accept our apologies in advance. If you have not been contacted 15 minutes past your appointment time, please speak to the receptionist for an update.

During peaks of Coronavirus outbreak we may change our rules on waiting inside the clinic and you may be asked to wait outside or in your car. Please wait in your car until your practitioner calls you on your mobile. Please do not take offence, we are trying to keep you and others safe!

INSIDE THE CLINIC During Peak Cases of Covid19

We ask that you wear a face mask that securely covers your nose and mouth at all times when in the clinic, except when you are asked to remove it for assessment and treatment. Unfortunately, If you are not able to wear a face mask for any reason, we will not be able to accommodate an in-clinic appointment for you at this time.

Where possible please try to avoid touching door handles and surfaces with your hands, or use a clean tissue to do so, dispose in the bin, and sanitise your hands.

Where possible, but keeping your physical safety in mind, try not to touch surfaces within the clinic unless you need to. 

Upon entering the clinic you will be asked to sanitise your hands. We provide a variety of ways for this (handwashing, alcohol gel or alcohol wipes).

A 2-meter social distancing policy is adopted throughout the clinic, with both patients and practitioners wearing protective face masks. During peak numbers of infections both nationally and locally, your practitioner will wear a sealed, highly effective, full-face mask, called Virimask. This employs HEPA14 two-way filtration, proven to filter 99.995% of all particles sized 0.1 micron and above, including the coronavirus, on inhalation and exhalation; keeping practitioner and patient safe. Please do not be alarmed by the appearance of this when worn by your practitioner; it is certainly a case of function over fashion.

As a paperless practice, we use an Ipad for you to sign your treatment consent forms, as well as a chip and pin payment machine for card payments. In addition to our cleaning protocols performed in-between each patient, we also have a policy on how to use these safely. It only takes a moment and your practitioner will talk you through this, step by step.

You will be asked to read and sign our Covid-19 Risk acknowledgement form, as well as your treatment consent forms at your first appointment.

During peak numbers of infections both nationally and locally, we will ask you to make payment before your treatment begins. Credit/debit card, contactless, or immediate bank transfer payment methods are preferred. If you need to pay with cash, we will ask you to count this directly into a quarantine cash box. Please make sure you have the correct amount as there will not be any change available. 

If possible, set up apple-pay or google-pay apps on your phone in order to make higher value contactless payments.

TREATMENTs During Peak Cases of Covid19

Once your consent forms have been completed and payment has been made, we will take before photos of the intended treatment areas and ask you to sit on the treatment couch.

Your practitioner will then begin donning their remaining Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) and the preparation of your treatment.

You may be asked to remove your mask if access to your lower face is required as part of your treatment. Please be reassured that your practitioner will continue to wear facial mask protection.

Following your treatment you will be asked to remain on the couch whilst your practitioner removes PPE, except for their mask.

You will have your after photo taken and you may then get off the couch.

You will then be asked to sanitise your hands and don your face mask before you leave.

It is advised that you sanitise again ,with your own personal hand sanitiser, once you have left the building.

POST TREATMENT

We would really appreciate you letting us know if you experience any symptoms of Covid-19 following your appointment with us. We may need to isolate staff members and inform other patients.