Covid-19 Policy

Last Updated 1 August 2021

This Covid-19 Policy applies to all Attending Clients scheduled to receive treatment during a Confirmed Appointment with Focused Therapy London, and where relevant any other individual who is legally or otherwise required to accompany any Attending Client to one of the Clinics during their Appointment, at the current stage of the SARS-Cov-2 pandemic.

It is the responsibility of the Appointment Owner of any Appointment Arrangement or Confirmed Appointment put in place with Focused Therapy London to ensure that they, their Attendee (where relevant) and anyone else who will be required to attend the Appointment, have read and agree to this Covid-19 Policy from this initial text to the end of the Restrictions in who is currently able to attend an Appointment section below.

The final two sections of this Covid-19 Policy are provided for information purposes only to ensure all those that are due to attend an Appointment are kept well information, and as such can be chosen to be read or not depending on whether the information provided within each section is considered of interest to the individual reader.

Updates to this Covid-19 Policy

The below information will change as more becomes known about the virus and its affects, as well as on the current laws and other UK government guidelines that have been issues in England to prevent Covid transmission. This Covid-19 Policy is found on the www.focusedtherapylondon.com/covid-19-policy Website page, and any future updates to this Covid-19 Policy will be found at this same location, therefore please always ensure to check the Last Updated date at the top of this webpage, and check back regularly to ensure that you are informed of your current agreement.

Covid-19 Policy Index

The first section below is the must read section of this Covid-19 Privacy Policy as it details specific Covid-19 medical, legal and risk mitigation assessed restrictions that apply to attending an Appointment with Focused Therapy London during the current stage of the pandemic.

These restrictions fall in to four different categories:

  • laws that currently apply in England in relation to Covid-19 that prevent individuals from entering the Clinics at the current time
  • medical conditions and other health related concerns in relation to Covid-19 that require advanced notification and written Medical Consent be provided to Focused Therapy London in order to attend an Appointment at the current time
  • medical conditions and other health related concerns in relation to Covid-19 that require advanced notification be provided to Focused Therapy London, ideally in addition to a Covid-19 Medical Risk Assessment already having been received, in order to attend an Appointment at the current time
  • the measures Focused Therapy London requires all individuals attending an Appointment to agree to when the relevant Confirmed Appointment is scheduled, in order to help prevent potential Covid transmission risk, at the current time

The second section below is for information purposes only for those who are interested in the measures Focused Therapy London and the Clinics are implementing to reduce the risk of Covid transmissions for those attending Appointments.

These details have been provided for all those visiting Focused Therapy London for an Appointment's advanced awareness, and list the specific measures that are currently being undertaken individually by both Focused Therapy London and the relevant Clinic's staff in order to help maintain as safe an indoor environment. These measures as a minimum, remain are in accordance with the current UK government English Covid-19 related laws and recommended guidelines during the current stage of the pandemic.

The third section below is for information purposes only for those who are interested in understanding the implications of recent reductions in English laws relating to Covid-19 as applied to Close Contact Services; as well as the reasons both Focused Therapy London and the Clinics continue to implement the vast majority of the previous 'Covid-Secure guidelines'.

Restrictions in who is currently able to attend an Appointment

The below information, restrictions or requirements are based on the UK government's current Covid-19 laws, latest Public Health England (PHE) information and Focused Therapy London's requirements (as detailed) for receiving treatment as the scheduled Attending Client of any Confirmed Appointment, as well as anyone who is legally or otherwise required to accompany them during their Appointment.

Covid-19 Symptoms

Covid-19 Symptoms required to request a PCR Test:

These are:

  • Fever
  • persistent or continuous Cough
  • recent loss of, or significant change to, Taste or Smell

These three symptoms are the only ones listed for anyone seeking to receive a PCR Covid Test in the UK at the current time. Many consider that this symptoms list should be significantly expanded, especially since the Delta variant has become almost entirely dominant in the UK.

Other recognised Covid-19 Symptoms:

According to a June 2021 update from the Kings College London team running the Zoe App (Zoe App - New Top 5 Covid Symptoms), the most common five symptoms upon infection with the Delta variant now depend on how many doses of a Covid vaccine the person has had, as detailed below:

Two Doses: Headache, Runny Nose, Sneezing, Sore Throat, Loss of Smell
One Dose: Headache, Runny Nose, Sore Throat, Sneezing, Persistent Cough
Unvaccinated: Headache, Sore Throat, Runny Nose, Fever, Persistent Cough

Other recognised Covid-19 Symptoms additionally include: Chest Pain, Shortness of Breath, Abdominal Pain, Nasal Congestion, Chills or Shivers, Painful Swallowing, Sore Eyes, Red Eyes, Conjunctivitis, Loss of Appetite, Nausea, Vomiting, Diarrhoea, Blisters on Feet, Covid Fingers or Toes (similar in appearance to Chilblains), a Skin Rash on any part of the body (including the lips), as well as unexplained or unusual levels of Fatigue, Exhaustion and/or Muscle or Joint Aches.

The Lancet Medical Journal have also published a July 2021 study showing how early detection Covid-19 Symptoms differ significantly between age groups and men and woman, which can be found here: Lancet - Early Coronavirus Symptoms Study

Currently unable to enter the Clinics by law

At the current time, you are not permitted by law to enter the Clinics if any of the following apply to you:

  • you have any Covid-19 Symptoms, including anyone awaiting a Covid-19 test result. The guidance here: GOV.UK - Stay at home also uses the phrase 'symptoms that may be caused by Covid-19', so please take in to consideration the Other recognised Covid-19 Symptoms, especially in relation to the latest Zoe App findings, detailed above; or
  • you have received Positive Covid-19 Test Result within the last 10 days, whether or not you have any Covid-19 Symptoms; or
  • you are currently in a mandatory Self-Isolation Period. For details see here: GOV.UK - Self isolation; or
  • you are in a mandatory Quarantine Period after overseas travel. For details see here: GOV.UK - Quarantine

Please note: The vast array of recognised Covid-19 Symptoms, as well as the rules around when you need to self-isolate or quarantine have become a lot more complicated and confusing in England recently, especially as at the time of writing this current update the UK government has recently announced some workers will be permitted to get tested so they can avoid the usual 10 days self-isolation period to continue going to work in order to maintain critical services.

As has always been the case, all those visiting the Clinics to receive treatment come in to feel better. On this basis, you are requested as a courtesy to other visitors, staff and therapists not to visit the Clinics if you have any symptoms or recent exposure to someone with any virus, bug or illness, including Covid-19, until you can be confident that you are well. This is especially important at present with Covid-19 infections rates unstable after the removal of the majority of English Covid-19 laws, as well as increased reports of cases of both Norovirus and non Covid-19 related respiratory illnesses going in to winter. If you are in doubt as to whether you should attend an Appointment, please contact Focused Therapy London immediately to discuss any symptoms or circumstances you may be experiencing rather than running the risk of arriving at one of the Clinics and potentially making others unwell or being refused entry to the Clinic building upon arrival resulting in a Missed Appointment.

Advanced Notification and Written Medical Consent Required

Focused Therapy London needs to be notified, by no later than the time any request to schedule a Confirmed Appointment is made, if any of the following apply to the planned Attending Client and where relevant anyone who is required to accompany them during their Appointment:

  • they are Pregnant; or
  • they have had a recent Major Surgical Procedure temporarily weakening their immune system; or
  • they are already medically acknowledged as being, or believe they are significantly likely to be, Immunocompromised; or
  • they are considered to be Clinically Extremely Vulnerable (see NHS - Covid High Risk List), have received a Shielding Note or been medically recommended to Shield at any stage of the pandemic; or
  • they currently have any form of Blood Clots or Blood Clotting Issues, or have previously been diagnosed with either of these conditions and it has not been medically confirmed that these issues have since been fully resolved; or
  • they are, or have been medically advised that they should currently be, taking any form of Anticoagulant medication or Statins; or
  • they are experiencing any Long Covid Symptoms (Post Covid Syndrome), especially after recovery from mild to severe Viral Covid Pneumonia or in the case of sudden breathlessness or sharp chest pains, swelling and potential heat/throbbing/cramping in one limb, or persistent coughing or coughing up blood which may indicate a recognised post infection disorder of the blood, blood clotting issue or increase in the potential of blood clots forming

Written Medical Consent will then need to be provided to Focused Therapy London by the Attending Client, and in certain cases anyone required to accompany them, by no later than the start of the relevant Appointment, to show that a suitably qualified medical practitioner, such as their GP, considers it is safe for them to attend a close contact Appointment during the pandemic.

Please be aware: Written Medical Consent will usually only need to be provided to Focused Therapy London once per individual. The only exception to this would be where the relevant individual has any significant change to their health since last attending an Appointment, under which circumstances this change in health should be notified to Focused Therapy London at the time the next request to schedule a Confirmed Appointment is made, and where considered necessary updated written Medical Consent will need to be provided.

Advanced Notification and ideally Covid-19 Medical Risk Assessment already received

Focused Therapy London needs to be notified, by no later than the time any request to schedule a Confirmed Appointment is made, if any of the following apply to the planned Attending Client and where relevant anyone who is required to accompany them during their Appointment:

  • they are unable to be vaccinated with any of the currently available Covid-19 vaccines - please also provide details of the relevant medical condition(s) that prevented the vaccination from being considered medically advisable; or
  • they are medically exempt from wearing a Face Mask; or
  • they are experiencing any Long Covid Symptoms (Post Covid Syndrome) which are not mentioned under the Advanced Notification and Written Medical Consent Required heading above

Please read if any of the above apply: Where any of the above circumstances apply, Focused Therapy London will need to discuss their circumstances with them during a pre-scheduled Covid Screening phone call. This is to ensure Focused Therapy London takes in to account any medical conditions that this individual has that may put them at unnecessary risk through attending a close contact Appointment during the current stage of the pandemic, especially where they have not already received a relevant Covid-19 Medical Risk Assessment (verbal or otherwise) from either their GP or other suitably qualified medical professional.

Where this individual has not already received a Covid-19 Medical Risk Assessment of this kind since the Delta variant became dominant or any new variant becomes dominant within the UK thereafter, it is always recommended that they seek their GP's opinion before considering attending any close contact Appointment.

None of the above circumstances will prevent this individual from being able to attend an Appointment with Focused Therapy London as long as advanced notification at the time requesting to schedule the Confirmed Appointment occurs, and this individual undertakes a pre-scheduled Covid Screening phone call with Focused Therapy London. The only exceptions to this will be where any medical condition(s) this individual has are considered too high a risk by Focused Therapy London for it to be considered medically safe for them to attend the relevant Clinic where no Covid-19 Medical Risk Assessment has been received; or where any reasonable additional risk mitigation measures required and notified by Focused Therapy London on a case by cases basis, to prevent any increased risk from potential Covid transmission either to or from others at the relevant Clinic, are not discussed with and/or agreed to in writing by this individual in advance of the relevant Confirmed Appointment being scheduled.

Client Required Measures

The following requirements are now necessary to be agreed to by anyone making an Appointment Booking Request to schedule a Confirmed Appointment with Focused Therapy London, to confirm on behalf of themself, the Attending Client (where another individual) and any other individual who is required to accompany the Attending Client during their Appointment, that they agree to undertake the following required measures in relation to attending a Confirmed Appointment with Focused Therapy London:

Advanced Notification where any Restrictions to attend an Appointment apply
To ensure that Focused Therapy London is notified when any Appointment Booking Request is made if any of the circumstances detailed within the Restrictions in who is currently able to attend an Appointment section above apply to anyone who will be attending the Confirmed Appointment which has been requested to be scheduled. The full name, email address and phone number of all who are due to attend the Appointment will additionally need to be provided to Focused Therapy London in these circumstances for advanced Covid Screening purposes.

Advanced Notification if Medical Acupuncture will be wanted during the requested Appointment
To ensure that Focused Therapy London is notified when the Appointment Booking Request if made if Medical Acupuncture (Dry Needling) is wanted during the Appointment. This is so that a sterilised Acupuncture kit can be prepared a day in advance of the Appointment. Where this does not occur it will not be possible to have Medical Acupuncture during this Appointment.

To ensure anyone who will attend the Confirmed Appointment is fully informed
To ensure that anyone who is due to attend the Confirmed Appointment is fully aware of this Covid-19 Policy, as well as Focused Therapy London's Cancellation / Rescheduling Policy and contact details, and that they should notify Focused Therapy London immediately should the Confirmed Appointment be required to be Cancelled or Rescheduled for any reason to avoid a Missed Appointment occurring where this could have been prevented. Additionally, to ensure they respond promptly to the pre-Appointment Covid Screening email sent to them in advance any Appointment they are due to attending (usually sent one day in advance) to confirm by reply that no circumstances detailed under the heading Currently unable to enter the Clinics by law in the section above apply to them in advance of attending the Confirmed Appointment.

Arrival time and gaining entry to the Clinic
To ensure that anyone who is due to attend the Confirmed Appointment gains access to the relevant Clinic no earlier than a three minutes in advance of their notified Appointment Start Time, and is provided with Focused Therapy London's mobile phone number to text upon their arrival so they can be greeted in person at the Clinic's front door. Slightly early arrival will usually prevent overcrowding in the relevant Clinic environment and allow additional time for any completion and signing of relevant Covid Screening forms before the Appointment is due to start. Where a text message is sent to Focused Therapy London more than three minutes in advance of the Appointment Start Time, Focused Therapy London will often not see or be able to respond to this immediately due to undertaking sterilisation protocols in the treatment room in advance of the Appointment. Under these circumstances those attending the Appointment will be required to wait outside the Clinic until these sterilisation protocols are fully completed, following which the text message will be read and you and a reply provided to confirm that your therapist is on their way to greet you.

Wearing of a Face Mask
To ensure that anyone who is due to attend any Confirmed Appointment scheduled at the current time, agrees to wear a face mask over both their mouth and nose at all times within the Clinic building, except where they are notified verbally by Focused Therapy London it can be temporarily removed or adjusted in certain limited circumstances during treatment; or where Focused Therapy London has been notified in advance that they are medically exempt from needing to do so (see requirements provided under the heading Advanced Notification and ideally Covid-19 Medical Risk Assessment already received in the section above). A fluid resistant surgical face mask is available to be provided free of charge by Focused Therapy London where wanted, needed or under any circumstances where the one being worn is not considered suitable for any reason.

Provision of written Medical Consent in a timely fashion
To ensure that anyone who is due to attend the Confirmed Appointment that is required to provide written Medical Consent as detailed under the heading Advanced Notification and Written Medical Consent Required in the section above, or was otherwise notified in writing by Focused Therapy London when the Confirmed Appointment was requested to be put in place, is made fully aware that this written Medical Consent will need to be provided to Focused Therapy London by no later than at the start of the relevant Appointment to prevent a Missed Appointment occurring.

Follow the required measures implemented by the Clinics
To ensure that anyone who is due to attend a Confirmed Appointment agrees to follow the required Covid transmission risk mitigations put in place by the Clinics when attending an Appointment. These required protocols apply to all visitors to the Clinic environments, and are as follows:

  • to not visit or attempt to enter the Clinic environments where the current laws in England in relation to Covid-19 legally prevent you from doing so; and
  • to not enter the Clinic environments unless you are there to either receive treatment during an Appointment, or are legally or for any other legitimate reason required to accompany this individual to their Appointment; and
  • to wear a Face Mask over both mouth and nose at all times within communal areas of the Clinics, except where medically exempt from being required to do so; and
  • to either wash your hands or use the alcohol based hand sterilisers provided upon entering, leaving and on any reasonably required basis when visiting the Clinic environments; and
  • to only use bathrooms which have been allocated for visitor, rather than staff, use (North London Clinic only); and
  • to maintain social distancing as much as is practically possible when visiting the Clinics, taking in to account and being respectful of the fact that others visiting or working at the Clinics will continue to be at significant high risk should they catch Covid-19, even where they may have already been able to be double vaccinated against the virus; and
  • to avoid any unnecessary time spent in the reception area (Central London Clinic only), and any use of waiting areas at either Clinic to prevent any potential overcrowding issues occurring in communal areas and lower risk of potential Covid transmission; and
  • that visitors bring their own bottled drinking water with them to the Clinics as this is currently recommended (Central London Clinic only) or is currently unable to be provided (North London Clinic only); and
  • not to bring large items, such as suitcases or large bags, to the Clinic where this can be avoided, to allow more social distancing space for other visitors and minimising the amount of additional cleaning requirements that are already being undertaken due to the pandemic

Measures put in place to prevent Covid Transmission

Many of the 'Covid-Secure' laws previously put in place by the UK government for England were removed from the 19th July 2021. These have currently been replaced by UK government guidelines that all businesses are expected and recommended to implement by the UK government to keep staff, other therapists and visitor to the Clinics safe during the current stage of the pandemic, alongside standard Health and Safety laws, which together now combine in this new Covid-19 Policy.

On the above basis, the following standard measures have been implemented by Focused Therapy London in conjunction with the Clinics own measures, for those attending any Appointment with Focused Therapy London at the current time. These measures include required actions on the part of all Appointment Attendees, and where relevant anyone who is legally or otherwise required to accompany them during their Appointment, when visiting the relevant Clinic in order to minimise potential Covid transmission risk.

Focused Therapy London Implemented Measures

Based on guidance from virologists and having referred to air purification specifications recommended for dentist working safely during the pandemic, Focused Therapy London is currently using additional measures to minimise risk from potential airborne Covid transmission in the treatment room, at the same time as implementing the UK government's current guidelines for close contact Appointment providers as detailed below:

  • wearing a medical grade respirator protective face mask during all Appointments, as well as on public transport, non home based indoor spaces and crowded areas; and
  • using an air purifier with a True HEPA H13 medical grade filter in addition to natural ventilation within the treatment room to remove breathed out aerosols in this environment. The medical grade filter specifications and air changes per hour achieved are on par with those recommended for dentists undertaken invasive dental procedures during the pandemic; and
  • has already received two doses of Covid-19 vaccination, with the second dose received more than three weeks ago. This has been shown to provide some protection against catching Covid-19, but does not prevent onward transmission of the virus where an infection occurs; and
  • ensuring a minimum 30 minute gaps is implemented between each Appointment for appropriate surface and equipment sterilisation protocols to be undertaken and to allow suitable time to both air purify and ventilate the treatment room in advance of and in between Appointments; and
  • using 80% alcohol spray to sterilise all used equipment and other necessary surfaces; and
  • undertaking regular hand washing or use an alcohol based steriliser in such a way that it will remove or destroy the Covid-19 virus whilst at the Clinic environments; and
  • ensuring clean towels, couch covers and couch paper are used for every Appointment

Clinic Implemented Measures

The Clinics have each undertaken their own risk mitigation assessments, and have confirmed to Focused Therapy London that they will both be implementing the UK government's current guidelines to minimise potential risk of Covid transmission. Where slight variations occur between the Clinics these have been noted below for each Clinic for your advanced awareness.

The current implemented measures the Clinics are undertaking are as detailed below:

  • to ensure enhanced cleaning and sterilisation protocols are undertaken on a suitably regular basis within the Clinic buildings. These focus on the treatment rooms in use on any given day and designated bathrooms available for use at the Clinics; and
  • to ensure therapists greet their clients in person when they arrive at the Clinic rather than let them enter the building unaccompanied where no reception staff are available to greet them, to ensure that they are legally allowed to enter the Clinic building and help guide them through the required measures that should be undertaken on their arrival; and
  • to continue to display scannable QR Codes and other UK government recommended Covid-19 notices within the Clinic buildings, for voluntary use by clients and to enhanced their awareness of measures that are encouraged be undertaken to help minimise potential Covid transmission risk. There is no longer a legal requirement for visitors to the Clinics to register by scanning a QR Code or equivalent signing in sheet, but the UK government encourages continuation of these measures for ongoing Track and Trace purposes; and
  • to provide suitable hand cleaning facilities and/or alcohol based hand sterilisers throughout the Clinic buildings; and
  • to utilise natural ventilation within the Clinic buildings where practical whilst maintaining a secure environment; and
  • to prevent any potential overcrowding in communal areas of the Clinic buildings as much as reasonably practicable; and
  • to prevent anyone being in the Clinic buildings who does not have a valid reason to be there, which prevents visitors being able to have others enter the Clinic building unless there is a legitimate need to them to do so; and
  • to restrict time spent by visitors in communal use waiting areas as much as possible

Recent changes to the laws in England relating to Covid-19

The following accordion information is provided for reference purposes only. To understand the implications of recent reductions in English laws relating to Covid-19 as applied to Close Contact Services; as well as the reasons both Focused Therapy London and the Clinics continue to implement the vast majority of the previous 'Covid-Secure guidelines', please see details in the accordion below: