Zero-Transmission’ approach

As a CQC-registered clinic we plan to ensure the risk of transmission is near zero (R=0). We will achieve this by ensuring it is

Safe for our patients, doctors and staff to travel to the Clinic
Safe for our patients, doctors and staff when they arrive at the Clinic

A) Safe to travel to the Clinic

PATIENTS

We ask that patients do not use public transport to visit the Clinic, and travel to the Clinic either by foot or by car
As ~40% of our patients live within walking distance of the Clinic and an additional ~40% of our patients live within cycling distance of the Clinic, we do not foresee this to be an issue for the vast majority of our patients.

STAFF

Where staff must travel to the Clinic, we ask them to avoid public transport where possible
All staff who are unable to avoid public transport will be supplied with medical grade facemasks and surgical gloves for their journey, and be encouraged to travel at off-peak travel times

B) Safe at the Clinic The Clinic will adopt a 5 – pillar protection plan to ensure patients, staff and consultants are kept safe on arrival at the Clinic.

Taken together this protection plan aims to prevent COVID-19 infected individuals from entering the Clinic. In the event an infected person does enter the Clinic, these protocols aim for early detection and an elimination of transmission to ensure the Clinic remains a zero-transmission hospital environment.

1. COMPREHENSIVE PATIENT AND STAFF SCREENING

Pre-Appointment – all patients invited to the Clinic will be required to submit to a self-assessment form to ensure they have been free of COVID symptoms for at least 7 days at the point of booking. Evidence suggests this is the most effective way of ensuring a COVID free environment In-Clinic.
All patients and staff will be subjected to a temperature and symptom check upon arrival at the Clinic.
All patients and staff will also be required to confirm that they have been free of COVID symptoms for at least 7 days on entry to the Clinic.
Post-Clinic screening – all patients and staff will be required to notify us if they develop any COVID symptoms in the 7 days following their visit to the Clinic. This will allow us to pursue a comprehensive ‘contact trace’ and retest programme for impacted personnel.

2. TESTING

Patients – All general anaesthetic patients will be tested 72 hours before surgery using a home testing kit with the sample sent to our laboratory for analysis. A negative test will be required for surgery to proceed

Staff & Consultants – all staff and consultants will be to subject to regular laboratory testing to eliminate the risk of transmission to patients

3. PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT INCLUDING PPE

Patients – all patients will be issued with a surgical mask

Staff & Consultants

All staff and consultants will be mandated to wear full NHS England and Public Health England – recommended PPE equipment at all times, with protocols determined by the status of each individual patient interaction.
At a minimum this will include surgical gloves and a surgical mask, but may extend to medical grade respirators (FFP2+), surgical gowns, plastic apron and face visors where appropriate .

4. SOCIAL DISTANCING

Remote consultations – all clinically appropriate consultations will continue to be undertaken remotely, incl. preliminary consultations and follow ups
Socially distanced consultations and treatments
Where it is not possible to maintain distancing measures at all times (e.g. some one-to-one treatments and diagnostic activity), physical contact will be minimised,
2 metre rule – a 2m rule is in force throughout all communal areas of the clinic
Minimised waiting times – all patients are asked to arrive only 5m before their appointment, at the earliest. Consultants are being asked to run strictly to time

5. INFECTION CONTROL

Patients will be encouraged to follow frequent ritual hand sanitation protocols.

All our treatment rooms are ventilated to the standard of a minor operating theatre, and as a CQC registered facility, our communal areas are ventilated.
Deep cleaning & disinfection– we will be deep cleaning all our facilities daily and all communal areas hourly. All patient rooms will be cleaned and thoroughly disinfected between patients.
Payment protocols– we ask that all payments are paid up front before arrival at the Clinic wherever possible. Where this is not possible, we are only accepting card payments at the Clinic
Office paraphernalia – all extraneous office paraphernalia has been removed from communal spaces.

We apologise we will no longer be offering coffee or magazines. WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR COOPERATION IN KEEPING THE CLINIC SAFE FOR ALL