On Sunday 6 September 2020, the Victorian Government released its ‘Roadmap for reopening Victoria’ (the Melbourne Roadmap), which outlines its approach to reopening across the state. The Melbourne Roadmap details a timeline and steps for our service to reopen to all, subject to the advice of the Victorian Chief Health Officer.

KEY DATES FOR RETURNING TO FACE TO FACE TREATMENTS

Under current advice, the key dates for our service are as follows:

Monday 13 September to Sunday 27 September

Our service operates under the First Step of the metropolitan Melbourne Roadmap, providing face to face treatments for URGENT care only.

From Monday 28 September

Our service operates under the Second Step of the Melbourne Roadmap. All AHPRA registered allied health professions (OSTEOPATHY ONLY) to provide essential face to face services if;

• to prevent a significant deterioration in functional independence which would result in an escalation of care needs (such as increased frequency in treatment, significant increase in pain, specialist input, or substantial increase in recovery time as a result of delayed care)
• for assessment and diagnostic purposes for those people whose care has been delayed during stage 4 restrictions, and where further delay likely to result in deterioration (e.g. diagnostic imaging and assessment for prescription of assistive technology)

From Monday 26^th October

Our service operates under the Third Step of the Melbourne Roadmap. All our services will return to face to face treatments, including Osteopathy, Myotherapy, Remedial Massage and Clinical Pilates.

WHAT THIS MEANS?

• If you are feeling well and have been managing your symptoms with your home care, we will be requesting you reschedule your appointment until after the 26^th of October (Third Step).
• If you didn’t qualify for urgent care in the First Step, but you are experiencing increased pain or difficulty in caring for yourself or a family member due to delayed care, then you can make an appointment with an Osteopath to be assessed during the Second Step.

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

Some of you may feel anxious about returning to the clinic for face to face treatments. The advice from the Victorian Chief Health Officer and the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC) is that allied health services are low-risk environments, and they can operate with appropriate health and safety measures in place – unless otherwise instructed by the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). Restrictions on allied health services were put in place to reduce the number of people moving around the community, not because services are unsafe places for patients or staff.

As well as having a COVIDSafe plan, we will be following a number of additional health and safety measures, including:

• Temperature checks and hand sanitiser use upon arrival
• Concierge service for arriving and departing the centre
• Additional cleaning throughout the day
• Hand sanitiser stations throughout the clinic
• Single use linen

WHAT ARE WE ASKING FROM YOU?

Please remember to adhere to the following;

• Take your temperature just prior to your appointment (anything 38 degrees or above please CALL 9570 3388)
• Practise good hygiene and wash hands prior
• Please wear a face mask to your appointment

Thank you for your ongoing support during these past months as we have worked together as a community to slow the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19). We know it’s been a challenging time for everyone.