Following recent announcements from the devolved nations of Wales and Northern Ireland, and the Channel Islands, we are recommending to osteopaths operating in these countries that you should now consider opening out your practice to see patients other than emergency cases.
With this move, we can confirm that osteopaths operating in all areas of the UK can open to general practice following implementation of the relevant adaptations required to manage the risk of infection of COVID-19.
Since the outset of the pandemic, we have supported the ability of osteopaths to provide vital health services to the people of their communities. It is a positive step forward that we are now able to open to general practice across all the countries of the UK and provide broad ranging osteopathic care again.
If you have yet to do so, I would recommend that you refer to our website for the detail of the guidance on how to adapt your practice and the advice on the management of your face to face consultations.
While public confidence remains cautious, the adaptations that we are recommending that you put in place will help ensure that the public and those working within your practice are confident that their safety is of paramount importance. Importantly, it is also in place to protect you as practitioners.
The iO’s COVID-19 advice has been developed taking account of Government and public health bodies’ guidelines for regulated healthcare professions as its foundation, and in liaison with the regulator, insurers, and other professional bodies for those operating in private healthcare.
We still work in uncertain times, but at least the certainty of good care from osteopaths is now back again for our patients. We will continue to support you and your practices as the situation evolves, and work with you to improve the understanding of what osteopaths bring to the nation’s health. Together we will emerge stronger.
Maurice Cheng
CEO, Institute of Osteopathy