Appointment precautions during Covid-19

Precautions for Safety and Health

Safety precautions.

As you will be aware all public places have created new rules for visitors to follow for their safety and the safety of others. Please read through the following before coming for an appointment at the West Edinburgh Acupuncture Centre within the Edinburgh Natural Health Centre. If you have any questions, please let Jonathan know: 07950-012501.

These combine advice from the British Acupuncture Council and current Government requirements.

Social distancing

We ask all visitors to the clinic to maintain a two metres distance from all other people at all times. The only exception to this is with your practitioner (Jonathan!) who will let you know when it is appropriate to approach under two metre and for how long.

For social distancing reasons, unless you require assistance for specific support and care needs, we ask you to come ALONE for the appointment where possible unless a chaperone, parent or carer is required.

Please wear a clean mask as you enter the clinic area. Although this is often not required, we do require it within the clinic and request you put it on outside before entering.

As much as possible please leave accessory items (bags and coats) in your car, or travel with as little as possible, except – if  you are coming for an appointment when you expect to be using the couch – for the bed-sheet, pillow and blanket mentioned below.

Picture of your tongue

As Jonathan often uses tongue diagnosis to improve his treatment, would you please take a photo of your tongue (in daylight, NOT sunlight) and text or email it to him beforehand? If preferred, print out a colour copy and bring that with you. This means you should be able to keep your mask on throughout the treatment.

Before arrival

If you or someone you live with develops symptoms of Covid-19 by the time of the appointment, please contact Jonathan before attending the clinic.

Important – a Form to bring with you!

Please bring with you, newly completed before EACH appointment, a copy of the form downloadable here.

Entering the clinic

We have spaced out patient arrivals and departures so that all visitors to the clinic can remain physically distanced and to give time for cleaning between appointments. 

The door to the clinic will normally be locked between patients.

• You will receive a specific time for arrival, confirmed by the scheduling software. Please be ready at the door at exactly that time. Failing that –
• When you arrive, please text Jonathan so that he can meet you at door when you arrive. Please realise you may have to wait until he is free before he can meet you.

Hand-washing

Please wash your hands with alcohol immediately upon entering. 

Face mask and respiratory hygiene

We recommend that you wear ordinary surgical masks to the clinic. Please bring your own and put it on before entering. If you need to sneeze or cough while in the clinic, please do so into a disposable tissue and throw it away immediately. There will be a pedal bin for this. Please wash your hands immediately after doing so. (As mentioned, there will be alcohol-based hand-cleansing facilities for this.)

Payment

Direct payment online into the centre’s bank account is the preferred method:

• Account = Edinburgh Natural Health Centre
• Sort code = 09-06-66
• Account number = 40970141

Couch sheets and blankets

If you come for any treatment on the couch, each time you come would you please bring with you –

• a bed-sheet to cover the couch and to lie on;
• a pillow (inside a pillow-case) – more than one pillow if you wish;
• a blanket or something warm to lie underneath and
• a bag in which to place these to take with you when you leave.

(Extra marks for matching sets!)

To reduce danger of cross-contamination, you should lay these out for yourself before climbing on to them on the couch. After the treatment you should remove, bag them and take them with you.

The couch itself will be sanitised between appointments.

Booking appointments

The scheduling system for clinic appointments has re-opened – initially for Saturdays only. 

For the moment Clinic starts at 0930 and ends at 1730.

For new patients up to 2 hours are scheduled their first time.

So … if possible please book appointments well in advance to be sure of getting the time you want!

Appointments: www.brief.me.uk

(This website: www.acupuncture-points.org)