Last year was anything but settled and threw up many challenges with everyone adjusting to the ‘next normal’ both personally and professionally. Many services pulled together to keep the nation going, with new ways to deliver goods and resources in such arduous times.
Helping each other to get through a crisis
One service that we all know and love; that featured highly in keeping the nation safe and healthy, was the NHS. The COVID 19 pandemic put a huge strain on the NHS and its healthcare professionals in all departments. The way in which care and treatment have recently been administered has had to be quickly restructured and adapt to the ever-changing policies and guidelines administered.
With staff being pulled in every direction to cover and assist the large influx of cases being presented, staff have had to be highly aware of how COVID19 operates. This has enabled them to stay alert in preventing transmission and give input to collaborative planning to provide essential services.
Physiotherapy in a variety of settings
Being on the frontline, physiotherapists are used to being exposed to infections and diseases. Yet with COVID, they have been even more susceptible due to being in direct contact with patients providing vital treatment to assist in recovery during and after viral contraction.
Physiotherapists work across many collaborative areas of medicine and settings, which can include (but not limited to):
- hospitals
-
community health centres
- clinics
- GP practices
- sports centres
Professional judgement has been endlessly applied to determine where, when and how to best provide optimal care in such difficult circumstances.
How to provide primary care in the midst of a pandemic
Physiotherapy is an essential health service and as mentioned above is delivered in many settings for just as many reasons. Yet there has been a slight decline in people accessing services, due to being apprehensive for the fear of exposure or uncertainty of risk to themselves or others.
To help put your mind at ease, there are two fundamental points when considering the delivery of primary care that physiotherapists have to adhere to:
- Avoid transmission
- Provide education
Alongside this, as physiotherapists, we have the goal of restoring physical function and a duty of care to uphold patient safety. With this in mind, we thought it would be helpful to list what things you may want to consider when wanting to book an appointment.
To ensure safety, when booking or attending an appointment you will be asked a few active screening questions to decipher if it is appropriate for you to receive treatment. These may include:
- Have you recently travelled and where?
- Have you been in contact with any confirmed COVID19 cases?
- Have you any current symptoms, such as fever, cough or shortness of breath?
Ways you can help yourself
There are also ways in which you can keep yourself safe and at optimum health during the pandemic. Uncertain when lockdown may end and how we will emerge, it is important to continue certain practices, in order to minimise any risk of transmission.
Some health maintenance strategies to keep you tip-top can include:
Activity
Making sure to keep as active as possible in a safe and effective way that does not push any limitations to cause injury.
Nutrition
Good nutrition is key to boosting immunity, so ensuring you have a variety of foods and eat at regular intervals will help to keep your system healthy.
Sleep
Sleep is vital to your overall health and well-being. Though it is often neglected, sleep is important for the body to repair, help to maintain a healthy weight and decrease illness duration.
Mind
Whilst being in isolation or lockdown mental health may suffer, especially if living alone. Be sure to keep mentally active by keeping social contact digitally where possible, learning something new and completing challenges, quizzes of puzzles.
Ways in which we can help you
Being a physiotherapist allows us to be passionate about what we do and that is helping people when they need it most. With the pandemic presenting many challenges it has also enabled integral technologies to be used in providing opportunities for physiotherapists to deliver high-quality digital sessions. To ensure that everyone is able to benefit from health services, these are some ways in which physiotherapy sessions may be delivered digitally:
- Email
- Chat/messaging
- Video consultation
- Online exercise
It is important that as many people as possible are able to access our services efficiently, safely and appropriately. To achieve this we will work closely with you and offer relevant services to accommodate any needs through this time.
Together we can do this
We are transitioning from the ‘new normal’ through to what will now be the ‘next normal’, and through the highs and lows and abundant changes, we are here for you.
Physiotherapy is classed as an essential health service and therefore we are able to provide face to face consultations, adhering to the strict guidelines that Public Health England have instated.
Yet we also understand during isolation or lockdown that for those who are shielding or feel uncomfortable with meeting in person, CK Physio is offering comprehensive online consultations that can fit both your schedule and needs.
To help get the advice you need to to help ease injury, keep healthy or restore daily function, speak to one of our experienced physiotherapists who will be able to give direction and assist you in putting together a tailored programme.
Have the confidence to discuss any needs or concerns you may be experiencing, and contact us today via phone or our online booking system to book your appointment or virtual consultation. We will be able to discuss with you at length any questions or queries you may have in regards to accessing physiotherapy treatments in the UK ‘next to normal’ phase.
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