We are open!
Are we open...yes we are!
We remain open for osteopathic treatment to help you get back to doing what you like best.
Despite the recent changes in restrictions in December 2020, we are pleased to confirm that we are able to remain open to provide our healthcare services to you, and you are allowed to travel to attend your face-to-face appointments.
If you would prefer a remote consultations with self-treatment plans then we can do that too. Good for those that are self-isolating or would prefer this - just ask us for more details.
Let us reassure you that we, of course, continue our vigilance in following the guidance of Public Health England, our governing and professional bodies.
See you soon!
1st January 2021
Holy Moly Guacamole!
This month's healthy recipe: Guacamole
Here is a regular weekend lunchtime favourite in the household of our Osteopath Zena Hewett. A nutritious, delicious recipe full of tasty, colourful ingredients. If you have only ever had the yucky stuff from the supermarket and haven't taken to it - this is completely different.
"We like to make it extra stinky for the weekend, so tend to put in more garlic as I am not seeing patients...we call it Stinky Saturday, or occasionally Funky Friday!" says Zena, "but the joy of it is that you can make it just how you like it in terms of flavour and texture and I like it chunky!"
There are so many known benefits from these ingredients that include lots of antioxidants, Vitamins A, B, C, E and K, iron, copper, folate. Did you know that avocado has more potassium than bananas and is high in fibre too?
All in all a great immune supporting, nutritious lunch, side or snack.
Enjoy 🙂
Covid processes & terms and conditions
Our Covid-19 processes
Reminders & forms:
- Email reminder sent 2 days before your reserved appointment.
- Covid-19 pre-screening form will be on the reminder email for you to complete and submit no later than 5pm the day before your appointment to allow time for the Osteopath to read, assess clinical suitability and take any action required.
- Additional automated sms final reminder sent in the afternoon 1 day before your session to ensure you have submitted your forms.
On the day:
- Remove jewellery (chains, dangly earrings, bangles, bands etc) and watches at home which is safer than leaving them in your car on the day. They can be a vector for cross infection.
- What to wear - we are not able to use couch covers, or towels to cover you currently, so although you are welcome to continue to have treatment in your underwear - as most patients do and is preferable for us - you may also, if you would prefer, wear any of the following items that still give you full range of movement:
✔ Underwear, lightweight loose shorts or cotton-type leggings, t-shirt or vest.
✘ Avoid racer back bras, compressive 'hold-it-all-in' or sport type leggings/shorts. Jeans and other normal trousers are also not suitable as they limit palpation (specialised touch) and movement.
We may ask you to move or remove an item - such as remove a t-shirt - to closer examine an area but you may put them back on after if it is your preference to do so.
- Only bring essential items with you. Do not bring bags or heavy/large coats into the practice. Please check that your phone is set to silent or off.
- Wait in your car if you arrive early as we will be disinfecting and ventilating between patients at that time and will not be able to let you in early.Â
- Come to the door at your appointment time, wearing a mask. Please stand 2 metres back from the door – you will be admitted on time.Â
- Arriving more than 5 minutes late will mean that you unfortunately cannot be seen but will still be charged, so give yourself plenty of time please. Running to time for infection control protocols must be adhered to very strictly at the moment. Please call (safely) if you anticipate arriving late.
- Your Osteopath will be wearing PPE as per PHE guidance – apron, mask, gloves.
- You will be asked to sanitise your hands and exchange your mask for a fluid resistant mask that we will provide for you, and your temperature will be checked. please update us if anything has changed since completing your Covid screening form.
- Chaperones are still welcome if required, as are essential carers, and a parent of a child patient. Please forewarn us as they will also need to be triaged and screened ahead of the appointment to be present in the practice, otherwise please attend on your own.
- Currently we cannot allow access to the toilet for patients or visitors except in emergency.
Terms and conditions
Payments:
We now take prepayment at booking for all appointments. We can no longer take payment at the practice at the time of your appointment. This is help reduce contact time and touch points in the practice in light of the current circumstances. Prepayment is required to confirm your booking.
- Online bookings – paid online during the booking process.
- Phone or consulting room bookings – email payment link will be sent by our admin team for payment. You will receive the invoice 2 weeks before your booking and this must be paid no later than seven days before your appointment. If your appointment is booked for within the next 7 days, you will receive an invoice within 24 hours of speaking with us and payment will be due within 24 hours of invoice, or immediately upon receipt if the appointment is within the next 48 hours. Payment MUST be paid on time for us to secure your booking, or your appointment may be postponed or cancelled.
- We do not accept cash or cheques.
- Our refund policy is found within cancellation/rescheduling policy below.
Cancellation/rescheduling policy:
We ask for at least 48 hours notice* if you are unable to attend your reserved appointment so that we have time to offer the space to another person in need like you, and also to help you to avoid the cancellation fees. Please call to let us know as soon as possible so that we can reschedule with you.
- More than 48 hours notice – carry forward the full fee for your next treatment (fully refunded if preferred).
- 24-48 hours notice – carry forward 50% of the full fee for your next treatment (or 50% refunded if preferred).
- Less than 24 hours notice – no refund, this does not give us enough time to offer the time to someone else.
- Non-attendance without notice – no refund, this does not give us enough time to offer the time to someone else.
*The exception to this is, in light of the current pandemic, if you, or any member of your family, is feeling unwell or Covid-19 is suspected then there is no fee due for a late cancellation but we would ask for as much notice as you can give. You will be able to reschedule after 14 days if all is well, please help to keep us all protected.
The fee may be waived in other serious, exceptional circumstances at the discretion of the Osteopath.
Satisfaction:
We hope that you are extremely satisfied with your experience with us, as we love to help you improve your health and get back to doing what you love best.
We much appreciate positive reviews on Google and Facebook as it really helps our visibility as a small business, and other people just like you love to read how others have got on.
If you do have any concerns, or have been unhappy with your experience with us, we are very sorry to hear that. Please speak to us as soon as possible as we would like the opportunity to change things to your satisfaction as we want everyone’s experience to be a positive one. We can also provide you with our complaints process to you if you remain unhappy.
Revised 29th May 2021
Zena Hewett
Corona virus update
Update from Chichester Osteopathic Centre - Corona virus / Covid-19 update
The practice is still open and will remain so long as the government guidelines allow it to remain so in these challenging times. Be assured that I take both your health and my health very seriously.
Changes
I have made a number of changes over the last few weeks which you will spot at the clinics. These are in line with advice from our professional bodies, Public Health England (PHE) and the government. These include removing couch covers, changing to wipe-clean pillows and bolsters, and anti-virucidal swabbing down all treatment room surfaces between patients. Temporary removal of magazines and water dispenser in the waiting room. Handwashing continues as ever with individual hand drying towels, with hand sanitiser also available for you to additionally use.
Pre-appointment screening
If you have an appointment booked, you will receive a call direct from me a day or so before to ask a few screening health and travel questions before your visit to ensure that it is sensible for you to attend. If you are in a more vulnerable category - typically those over 70 years old, or those who have an underlying issue such as for e.g. respiratory, or heart conditions or diabetes – then the advice is not to attend. I will of course inform you if my health, or that of my family, changes and we, ourselves, need to self-isolate.
Alternatives to your usual appointment
If you are in the group having to isolate at home, are unable (or unwilling) to get to the practice then I still have an option for you! I am now offering online telehealth / video consultations which are really beneficial and a great way of still getting a diagnosis, advice for self-management, lifestyle, nutrition and movement / exercise homecare. Even without the hands-on treatment here is still loads that can be done to help you manage and progress at home - I am here to help any way that I can.
These consultations can be booked online or through the booking team as usual. If you’re not sure about a video call, it’s very easy and I will explain how to access it via a smartphone, tablet or computer, but I can offer a phone consultation also if you wish.
Moving forward
We are all in this situation together which is a strange feeling, and I hope that we can all cooperate and support each other through these challenging times.
Please follow and like my page on Facebook – Zena Hewett Osteopathy - as I will be putting out lots of general health information and tips to help support you (Instagram and LinkedIn to follow shortly.
Thank you for your loyalty, and good health to you and yours. I hope to see you again soon.
Kindest wishes
Zena Hewett
Osteopath
** Online video / telehealth consultations now available! **
Really useful if you are unable to travel to the practice for hands-on osteopathy for whatever reason but still require help and advice from our experienced Osteopath.
These will be followed by an email with all the recommendations made for your self-management plan, and links to tailored advice for movement and exercise.
You just need a smartphone/computer and a reasonably good internet connection.
Let us help you 