This includes regular sanitisation of surfaces and use of hand sanitiser as well as maintaining our usual high standards of cleanliness, including regular thorough hand washing. We will ask you, on arrival to the clinic, to either sanitise or wash your hands before your consultation can commence.

Also, we ask that if you, or anyone you have been in contact with, has been travelling to/ from one of the proscribed regions, you MUST notify us before arriving for your consultation. Kindly be aware that a decision may have to be made to reschedule if we believe you are a potential infection risk.

The current advice on this is as follows:

Territories affected are in two groups:

Group 1: All parts of each of the following countries: Bahrain; mainland China; Iran; Italy; Republic of Korea.

Group 2: Cambodia; Hong Kong; Japan; Kuwait; Laos; Macau; Malaysia; Myanmar; Singapore; the Swiss cantons of Ticino and Basel Stadt; Taiwan; Thailand; Vietnam.

There is also a significant number of cases in the Swedish regions of Värmland and the Stockholm region, parts of Norway and certain regions in France, notably Alsace-Champagne- Ardenne-Lorraine and Bourgogne-Franche-Comté.

In relation to Group 1 territories, the guidance is unchanged: if you have recently (in the past 14 days) been to a territory in Group 1 or have spent time with someone who has visited these areas, self-isolation for 14 days must take place.

In relation to Group 2 territories, the position is that if you have recently been to a territory in Group 2 or had contact with someone who has, self-isolation for 14 days prior to return is only required if any symptoms of the virus are evident. This must be enforced if a close family member were to visit a Group 2 territory and subsequently develop cold or flu-like symptoms; in this instance, you should remain away from the clinic.

UK government advice on the virus and how to receive medical advice can be found at:  https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-information-for-the-public

Further updated information can be found on the Foreign Office website: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/travel-advice-novel-coronavirus?f24_pid=d464afa8-24a6-4dc0-9924-bfbc9d0bd1fa&utm_campaign=COVID-19%20update&utm_source=force24&utm_medium=email&utm_content=textlink

We are determined to do all we can to minimise the risk to our clinic community and to safeguard the health of our patients (many of whom are considered to be within vulnerable categories) and staff.

Thank you for your support.