COVID-19 Policy

Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, I can provide online consultations. However, regarding in-office consultations, these will be assessed on an individual basis.

Changes to the practice:

• The office seating in the waiting room and the consultation desks have been arranged for appropriate physical distance.
• We will maintain a safe distance.
• Good ventilation is provided.
• Soap dispensers in the toilets are maintained, and everyone is encouraged to wash their hands.
• Hand sanitiser containing at least 60% alcohol is available in the offices, waiting room.
• We schedule appointments at specific intervals to minimise and ideally avoid the use of the waiting room.
• You/we are happy to wear a face mask if you can, and I can provide masks for the session.
• Credit card pads, pens and other frequently touched areas are carefully disinfected after each use.
• Contactless payment is preferred where possible.
• Physical contact is not allowed (handshake)
• Waste bins are easily accessible and disinfected after each session.
• Waste is disposed of frequently.
• Common areas are thoroughly disinfected regularly.

Face-to-face consultations

However, if there is a resurgence of the pandemic or other health issues, we may need to meet online (Practice better, Zoom or Skype) or by phone. If you have any concerns about the online consultation, we will address each point together.

If I feel it is necessary, you will understand that I may decide to revert to online sessions for everyone’s benefit.

Risks of opting for in-office consultations:

The risk of exposure to coronavirus (or other public health risks) is increased. And, this risk may increase if you travel by public transport.

Our responsibility to minimise exposure

For face-to-face consultations, we agree to take certain precautions to protect everyone, you, me and our families, from exposure, illness and possible more severe consequences. If you do not adhere to these safeguards, it may cause us to start or revert to an online consultation arrangement.

• We will only keep your face-to-face appointment if you are symptom-free.
• You will not attend a consultation if you have symptoms that may be related to covid-19.
• You will wash your hands or use an alcohol-based hand sanitiser when you enter the building.
• We will follow the safe distance precautions we have in place in the waiting room and the consulting room.
• You will wear a mask in the waiting room.
• We will keep a distance of 1m, and there will be no physical contact (e.g. no handshaking).
• We will try not to touch our faces or eyes with our hands. Or we will wash or disinfect our hands immediately.
• We will take steps between appointments to minimise our exposure to the virus.
• If we are exposed to other infected people, we will inform each other.
• If a resident in your home or mine tests positive for infection, we will inform each other.

I may change the above precautions if additional local or government guidelines are issued. If this happens, we will discuss the necessary changes.

If you or I become ill or show any symptoms

You understand that I am committed to keeping you and all our families safe from the spread of this virus. If you come to an appointment and have a fever or other symptoms or think you have been exposed, I will have to ask you to leave the office immediately. We can follow up with a teleconsultation if required.

If you test positive for coronavirus, I will inform you to take the necessary precautions.

Your confidentiality in the case of infection:

If you test positive for coronavirus, I may be required to inform the local health authority of your presence at the practice. If I must report this, I will only provide the minimum information necessary to collect the data. I will not go into detail about the reason(s) for our consultations. If you attend face-to-face consultations, you agree that I may do so without signing an additional release.

During consultation hours:

• The distance between the chairs has been increased.
• The consultation desks are wiped down between appointments.
• Please ask if you need a face mask.
• Please wear a face mask in the common areas of the building – stairs and waiting room.
• I will wash my hands between each client.
• I will keep social contact to a minimum and keep my distance.
• I may cancel your appointment at short notice if I am not well or if government guidelines require it.
• The practice is disinfected at the end of each day.
• Face-to-face consultations will be significantly reduced.
• Anyone who is self-isolating will be asked to suspend their sessions or do their consultations online.

Alternative options for consultations:

I am happy to provide online or telephone consultations to anyone who requests them, whether you have symptoms or not.
Please contact me in advance if you would like to arrange an online session, and I will send you a link to access this service. I use a secure, GDPR compliant online platform called Zoom. I can also use Skype.
If you have never used Zoom before, here is a guide to Zoom support.

What I will do if I or someone at the institution where I practice is symptomatic:

In these circumstances, I will contact you without delay by phone or email. If you have recently changed your email address or telephone number, please inform me.
I will then inform you, after the period of self-isolation, when the practice reopens.

What you should do if you are symptomatic:

• If you are experiencing any coronavirus symptoms, such as a new persistent cough or fever, you should not attend your upcoming appointment.
• Please contact me via E-mail at contact@dounyaadman.com, text or leave a voicemail on – 07 377 163 704

In these circumstances, we can either suspend sessions until you are ready to resume, or sessions can continue online.

Review Process:

• The above procedure will be reviewed regularly and may change at short notice based on government guidelines. I will continue to keep you updated on any further actions regarding this matter.

• For information on protecting yourself from the Coronavirus, you should always follow the latest Government advice. For up to date guidance, visit https://publichealthmatters.blog.gov.uk/.

If you have any questions or concerns concerning the above, please do not hesitate to contact me.

If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact me. I will be more than pleased to answer you within 48 hours.