Dear All,
Firstly, the team and I want to thank you for the amazing support that you have given to PhysioFunction in recent months and over the years, and especially under the challenging circumstances over the last few weeks.
We are postponing the opening of our new clinic at Spratton which was due to take place on Monday 30th March. This is due to direct advice from Government. We are aiming to open our doors and welcome you all in as soon as we can safely do so.
PhysioFunction is a success because of all our clients and the way we work together. I regard clients, their families, carers and support team and my colleagues all part of the PhysioFunction family, and I want to safeguard the family.
As the threat of Covid-19 increases, and with the announcement from the Prime Minister last night we must ensure that we safeguard all of us. As you will be aware, the latest advice is that everyone should be 'socially distancing' and staying home. This means that you should only leave the house for food essentials, to attend pharmacies or urgent medical appointments (with approval from your GP). To exercise once a day keeping a safe distance, 2 metres from others. The over 70s and those with underlying health conditions have already been advised to take extra care and yesterday a further 1.5million people with specific health conditions were sent letters by the NHS advising on more stringent measures.
The objective of social distancing is to slow the spread of a contagious disease. As such, PhysioFunction has stopped all home visits and direct contact with clients, from last Friday 20th March. This is the socially responsible thing to do, to slow the spread of this disease. We have seen how the disease has spread in Italy and in Spain, putting huge pressure on their health care systems and killing hundreds of people. Every one of us needs to be socially responsible, and you and PhysioFunction can lead the way here.
I know that this decision will have an impact on your rehabilitation, but to work against Public Health England and Government advice puts you, your family and friends at risk. Now is our opportunity to continue to make a difference and do what we do best, which is to offer emotional and physical support, at a time when we all need it most. We already use remote TeleRehab with several of our clients and we are excited to take this forward on a larger scale. At this uncertain time, we can continue to support you and we are now asking for your help in making TeleRehab a success.
We will use social media, and ask that you follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. (Please go to https://www.physiofunction.co.uk/ for our social media icons and click on the icons at bottom of page). This will allow us to keep in touch daily. We know that not all our clients currently use social media, so part of our role will be in guiding you through how to do this. We can stay connected while physically distant. This is a real opportunity to build our PhysioFunction family - connecting daily with you in your own home.
We will guide you through getting set up - we will offer this set up free of charge and then as usual you will pay for the sessions you receive. This is all part of our commitment to being socially responsible. The way we deliver our sessions may need to change but we can continue to build sessions around your needs. We will offer 1:1 TeleRehab sessions as well as group activities. If this all seems too daunting, we can pick up the phone, listen, advise and guide you through some regular exercise.
For those of you who can’t make the leap to TeleRehab, Physiofunction will contact you regularly for a 5-minute therapy social, just to say “Hi” and give you some moral support and advice.
I am well aware this is a new way of working for many of you, but as a Physiofunction family we can work together over the next weeks and months to ensure that when we can safely be back to hands on sessions, that we are all in the best health possible.
Jon Graham
