What to expect when you visit the Osteopath Clapham
The space
The first thing to say is that treatment takes place in an adapted space at my home. It is a large space with room for buggies and siblings, should mums bringing babies need to also bring their brothers and sisters. There are some toys but it is always wise, if bringing children, to bring their favourite playthings. Story books work well, as do snacks. There is unfortunately no reception and only limited space to sit and wait. However, there is a big garden with free parking. Patients are very welcome to wait in the garden. Some of the younger, and older, patients choose to shoot a few footballs towards the goal we currently have set up. Others are happy to wait in their car.
What happens?
When you arrive, you will be asked to remove your shoes and wash your hands.
First appointments are longer than follow ups because they include a case history. This involves asking questions about your current issue as well as your general and systemic health. Answers to these questions help me to understand what might be going on and why. For the initial neonatal examination, infants are usually undressed to their nappies. This is done to allow me to make a thorough assessment of the infant’s health, clues of which are often found in the skin. This can be declined and is not necessary for follow up treatments.
Examination of adults normally requires that they undress to their underwear. It is often important to see the spine, pelvis and limb postures. Many choose to brings shorts and women often wear sports bras. Again, undressing can be declined.
Timings
Initial appointments for adults, babies and children include the case history, examination and treatment. They take an hour. Follow up treatments for adults can be 45 minutes or an hour. Follow up treatments for babies and children are 30 minutes. Initial treatments for neurodevelopmental rehabilitation are 1 hour and 15 minutes. Follow ups are 45 minutes to 1 hour depending on the requirements of the session.
Clinical notes
Clinical notes are stored on a computer that, in line with GDPR regulations, is password protected.
Infection control procedures
To reduce the likelihood of patient contact there is a 15 minute gap between each appointment and patients entering the treatment space will do so via a different door to those leaving.
Patients are asked to wash their hands on entering the building and to use antibacterial/viral gel on leaving. Single-use hand towels can be found in the toilet for patients to dry their hands. These will be washed at the recommended 50-60⁰ to kill bacteria and viruses.
The osteopath will wash their hands and use antibacterial/viral gel before the treatment process.
All towels and couch covers are single-use, that is one per patient, and will be washed at the temperature recommended to kill bacteria and viruses.
Here at the Osteopath Clapham I work in smart but simple T-shirts. These will be changed between patients and washed at the recommended temperature.
All areas accessible to patients will be decontaminated using antibacterial/viral fluid between each appointment.
I will be wearing a face mask. It can be removed on request, if, for example, they are thought to upset babies or children.
Gloves are used for procedures such as intra-oral, intra-vaginal or per rectal work but not as a matter of course. There were three main reasons for this decision. Firstly, there is conflicting evidence with regards to safe usage, hand decontamination being thought to be more effective. Secondly, gloves desensitise the hands and therefore cloud the osteopath’s ability to examine. Finally, gloves would undoubtedly render massage-type techniques uncomfortable for patients.