Last updated: 01-Mar- 2021
1.Introduction
Association of Simply Treatments (ASTs for short) is a great association helping to link customers to alternative medicine therapists and will offer memberships clearly career path and Continue Professional Development guideline which also benefit for both employer or employees.
All our member offer Professional alternative medicine treatments, such as: Acupressure, Acupuncture, Auricular Acupuncture, Auricular Therapy, Beauty Therapies (Make up, Waxing, Threading or Nails), Counselling, Cosmetic Acupressure, Cupping, Electro-Acupuncture , Gua Sha, Herbs, Holistic Education Therapy, Massage, Moxa, nutrition suggestion ,Orthopaedic and Spinal Acupuncture, Qi Gong, Tai Chi, Tui Na, Traditional Chinese Medicine treatments, Moxibustion , and Yoga ,etc.
This document is a guidance for the protection of patients and explains to people outside the profession the high standards by which we operate. Should situations occur; the ASTs will investigate fully before offering a written explanation by the Committee.
Members should read and understand the content of this document and conduct their professional activities in accordance with the Code of Professional Conduct and the Code of Practice with any rulings made by the ASTs committee engaged in enforcing the Code of Conduct and Practice. Failure to comply may itself be subject to disciplinary measures on the grounds of professional misconduct.
2. Health and Safety principle
All the ASTs Members are obliged to comply with local health authority safety, hygiene and sterilization requirements, government regulation ( Health and Safety at Work Act 1974). Members insurance must include public liability insurance.
2.1. Work environment
Floors, passages and stairways must be of soundproof, properly maintained and free from obstruction. Electrical equipment will be maintained in a safe condition and suitable for use. The provision and maintenance of a comprehensive first aid kit is required in all workplaces. All workplaces shall have suitable and sufficient lighting, heating and ventilation provided and maintained as appropriate.
2.2.Follow UK Fire Safety regulation Advice
Appropriate fire precautions shall be maintained at all times. Means of emergency escape in case of fire shall be maintained and shall be kept free from obstruction at all times in accordance with government fire regulations.
2.3.Safety of storage
Safe storage shall be provided for all equipment and items required for treatment. All storage must be suitably clean and in such a place so as to avoid any risk of contamination.
2.4. Standard treatment room condition
This section describes the standards treatment room condition deemed by the ASTs as an acceptable minimum level of practice. Failure to meet with these standards would leave the member exposed to criticism by his or her peers and may result in disciplinary action by the Committee.
Both the shop generally and the treatment rooms particularly must be clean, tidy and capable of being easily maintained in this condition.
A cleaning schedule should be created and implemented with assigned responsibility to ensure maximum effort in this direction.
The treatment room should be provided and maintained in a clean and hygienic condition and must be supplied with a hand-wash basin which includes the provision of hot and cold water or water at suitably controlled temperature. A liquid soap dispenser and paper towel holder should be in close proximity, solid soap bars will not be used as these can harbor bacteria and increase the possibility of cross contamination.
Proper arrangements shall be made with a licensed waste disposal contactor for commercial or sharp needles. Two types of bins clearly marked for clinical and non-clinical waste e. This waste should be clearly marked and stored before being collected and disposed by a licensed contractor.
2.5. Treatment room facilities hygiene
2.5.1.Treatment room facilities should be kept clean and free from blood residue
2.5.2.To sterilize the couch and other surfaces Anti Bacterial spray is highly recommended.
2.5.3.Any Towels or disposable paper towel roll must be used on treatment couches and be changed and cleaned after each use and free from stains.
2.5.4.Needles, trays, cups and other facilities
- Any instrument which may have come into direct contact with skin or blood must be immersed after each use in a recommended dilution of Sodium Hypochlorite for at leASTs one hour .
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- In view of the risk involving the transmission of blood-borne infection, all needles and other disposable instruments must be well-sealed and its contents must be disposed of in a manner approved for clinical wASTs e.
2.6. Treatment Sterilise Principle
2.6.1.Prepare the Treatment
Ensure that your hands and finger nails are thoroughly cleaned with liquid soap and warm water immediately before any treatments procedure.
If the patient’s skin is visibly dirty then the area should be washed using soap and water and dried with a paper towel.
Ensure that areas of the patient’s body where moisture may collect are swabbed with isopropyl alcohol before needling. the swab should be wiped over the skin for 30 seconds and the skin left to dry for another 30 seconds in order to render any bacteria inactive
2.6.2.Completing the Treatment
When removing needles, ensure that your hands are washed immediately prior to the removal. Place the spent needle immediately into the sharps container without letting them touch any other surface in the treatment room.
When sealing the point should blood be drawn, apply moderate pressure to the affected area with a clean swap or cotton wool bud and dispose of the material immediately in the appropriate wASTs e container.
Finish by washing again with liquid soap and warm water to avoid cross contamination with the next patient. Please note; these hand-washing procedures apply with all TCM treatments.
2.7. Call-out service
The treatment is carried out in a well light, clean room with ready access to a clean wash hand basin and general hygiene is established. All facilities used must disposable and well-sealed and guide by Treatment Sterilise Principle (in clause 2.6.)
Use in a portable sharps container; any soiled or contaminated non-sharps items are disposed of in the appropriate manner; other waste products are carefully bagged separately for disposal in line with local environmental health department guidelines. Ensure that your patient is well enough before you leave.
2.8. Public liability insurance
All members should have public liability insurance to reduce risk of claims caused by public liability. And for members offer Call-out service should enquire insurance company the specific policy for mobile service. 3.Treatment prognosis and prohibitions
In most cases, benefits of treatments would be expected to show some signs of improvement after 6 sessions of treatments or 30 days of herb products. However patient’s individual body conditions are various, some of them may need take longer to achieve the maximum improvement when treating a particularly long-standing condition; the patient should always be informed in advance of the likely duration of the treatment.
Whilst the timing of treatment and treatment intervals is a matter of judgment for the individual Member, it would be deemed unprofessional for a Member to offer an over-optimistic prognosis, particularly if no improvement has been shown after several sessions of treatment.
It is prudent practice, on a first treatment, to administer gentle treatment since some individuals are particularly sensitive, and can suffer deterioration in their condition as a result of the treatments.
Herbalist’s must not use endangered species animal and mineral substances. Any herbs prescription should reference the HPC website page on herbal regulation.
For massage therapists who have certificate or diploma qualification recognised by the ASTs (in QCF frame level 3for Traditional Chinese Medicine style Massage ) should have a properly minimum of anatomy and physiology. and have a valid first aid certificate. And they should be able to refer patients to a more appropriate practitioner if the practice is out of their scope.
Prohibitions treatments: For any sexual requests or inappropriate harassment or over-drunk patients, our member should refuse to offer treatments.
Carefully offer treatments: For any pregnant patients or complicated medical history patients, all members should Carefully offer the treatments ,warn the risks of treatments and record clearly.
4.Alternative treatments Limitations
Alternative treatments offered by our member are not intended to be used to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease or health condition.
If the patient was unwilling to undertake, or unable to tolerate conventional treatment it would not be considered unethical to offer alternative treatments so long it was made clear to the patient that alternative treatments were given for palliation of symptoms and not as a curative treatment.
5. Commercial Activities
5.1. Self-employed practitioners must submit annual accounts to the Tax Office. All Members should keep business records in a legal manner.
5.2.All the advertisement or promotion should refer to Advertising Standards Authority Guidelines.
Any advertising you undertake in relation to your professional activities must be accurate without misleading, false, unfair or exaggerated.
If you are involved in advertising or promoting any other product or service,
you must make sure that you use your knowledge, health care skills,
qualifications and experience in an accurate and professionally responsible
way.
Any potential financial rewards to you should be made explicit and play no part at all in your advice or recommendations of products and services that you give to patients, clients and users.
6. Criminal Record Declaration
All members must be honest to declare a up-to-date Criminal Record
7.Language communication skills
Members who practice in English speaking countries should offer proof of formal language level documents recognised by the ASTs . If they are not able to do so they can either declare standard translator will assist his consultation and treatments or request an interview with our communications assessment board so that we can establish whether their English language skills are sufficient to enable accurate communication between practitioner and patient.
8. Declaration of health condition
For safety and Health purpose, all members should practice with health condition. Any illness or disease which may impact on their practice should make clear declaration to the ASTs .
9. Infection Prevention (COVID-19)
9.1 Health and well–being
It is important to follow current government guidelines of the country therein.
Government Close Contact Services Guidance here:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/working-safely-during-coronavirus-covid-19/close-contact-services
Government Quiz to help you work out what rules apply to you
Reopen your business safely during coronavirus (COVID 19) – GOV.UK
Risk Assessment Detailed Form
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1hYUhnYV1IQhZ2L6OPRWZpSXeflzuEB6v/view?usp=sharing
9.2 Your Social responsibility
• Ethical behavior
• Accountability
•Transparency
• Respect for all stakeholders
• Consider societal norms of behaviour
• Respect for human rights
• Compliance with legislation/law
9.3 Practice in a safe environment :
You have to use properly sterilizer products to reduce risk.