Health
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SURVIVING LOCKDOWN
Progress Report from The Wellhead Practice
s we go into September, it will have been three months since we re-opened on June 1st – a quarter of a year already; where did that time go? It only seems like yesterday that the Prime Minister gave his announcement at the end of March that meant we closed our doors and rang to cancel all patient appointments until further notice. Overnight, I felt like I had taken early retirement! Fast forward ten weeks and, with a new minimalistic practice layout; changes to our operational procedures; a lot of inconvenient but necessary PPE and over four hundred phone calls to screen and re-schedule patient appointments (thank you Fiona for your tenacity on this one!), the Wellhead Practice was lucky enough to be back up-and-running. Without hesitation, our receptionists and clinicians alike, who were able to return to work at this time, sprung into action, implementing the changes needed to adhere to the new guidelines aimed at keeping patients and ourselves safe. A big thank you goes out to each of you. As a result, we managed to get our osteopathy, podiatry and our ear syringing clinics open and, despite shorter days and fewer appointments for social distancing and cleaning reasons, we were able to work through the backlog of patients that passed the new health screening questions. Perhaps to be expected, there was some trepidation in the few days before re-opening. What if patients decide not to show up? How will they be after being isolated for so many weeks
and what will it be like to work in the PPE all day, both physically and interacting with patients? The reality was not as bad as I thought it would be. Yes, it was hot, more tiring, and I was grateful for the shorter day if I am honest, but we could not have asked for more compliant and courageous patients. Some had waited weeks for their appointment, only able to receive advice over the telephone from us, but they took onboard the new set of ‘rules’ that Anne and Karen relentlessly go through with each and every one of them, prior to an appointment. For me, and I’m sure I speak for all the clinicians, it was great getting back to work seeing smiling patients (you can still tell from the eyes!) It certainly made the first few days that bit easier. As September arrives, we remain busy with a good, steady stream of new patients across the clinics. We welcome back Jake, our sports massage therapist, and Amy who completes our team of four podiatrists / chiropodists. We shall hopefully be extending our workday slightly to increase our appointment availability, but will continue to screen all patients at the time of booking and then once more the day before their appointment. Like everyone else, we have our fingers crossed that we shall move to COVIDfree times, sooner rather than later. Until then … stay safe!
Philip Hakim Osteopath
T: 01778 392832 E: enquiries@thewellheadpractice.co.uk
www.thewellheadpractice.co.uk 46
Bourne
13 Abbey Road, Bourne, PE10 9EF S E P T E M BE R 2 0 2 0
