Chartered Physiotherapy & Sports Injury Clinics

We have been eagerly anticipating news this week from the Government and our Clinical professional bodies in relation to the easing of lockdown and phased re-opening.

We are positively encouraged that we are all moving in the right direction. However, in light of all the latest advice, Progressive Physiotherapy Ltd will remain closed for face to face in person services at this current time. However we are hopeful that in the near future we will be able to offer urgent face to face consultations where appropriate.

The protection of the health and wellbeing of our patients, team, their families and our wider community has always been and continues to be central to all of our decisions.

There are a number of key factors that we have considered when deciding whether it is appropriate to re-open for face to face services. These include:

• Legal, regulatory and professional responsibilities
• Risk assessment of the working environment for which we are responsible
• Infection prevention and control measures
• Access to personal protective equipment (PPE)
• ‘Virtual first’ approach alternatives available
• Patient risk assessment and clinical reasoning
• Patient consent for treatment

There is no doubt and it has been acknowledged that the public need and desire to access services such as physiotherapy will rise in the coming weeks. The significant number of people with injury and illness who, because of prolonged and strict social distancing and shielding measures, now increasingly the need of support from physiotherapists. However, our duty of care means we have a legal responsibility to provide a reasonable standard of care to our clients and to act in ways that protect their safety. By offering face to face services, we do not believe at this time we can justify this.

The Chartered Society of Physiotherapists have today produced comprehensive guidance for us. Given the potential seriousness and gravity of transmitting and contracting COVID-19, we cannot justify that the benefits of seeing people with musculoskeletal injuries is greater than the risk of infection transmission at this time.

That said, guidance is changing all of the time and we are reviewing our position on a regular basis.

We already have many measures in place and have carried out a comprehensive risk assessment, so that when we decide it is the right time to open our doors, we will be able to offer the safest possible environment for all.

In the meantime, our virtual services are the safest way for us to help you. We have had overwhelmingly positive feedback from our patients about our virtual physio service so far.

Stay safe!