Effective date March 2020
Updated 18th February 2022
Version V1.5.7
Responsibility for all patients visiting A.T.A.I

Please note: Effective June 2020 we have an information page for people visiting ATAI. Please be aware that you will be required to fill out a COVID-19 questionnaire before attending your appointment.

Effective March 17th we have closed for the remainder of March. We do not know at this stage if we will be open in April. As more information comes to hand, we will update our reopening date/s – Thank you for your support and we look forward to your continued support soon. 

Policy Overview

Similar to how under the Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005, we must provide a safe and healthy place of work, we also must provide a safe place for our patients.

The risk of transmitting Coronavirus from and to our patients, our colleagues, our families and ourselves is a controllable risk and a risk that can be substantially and effectively reduced through the application of basic infection prevention and control procedures.

This policy is designed to provide over-arching assurances that the care we undertake as a private medical aesthetic practice is delivered as safely as possible, ensuring that all reasonable steps are taken to minimise the risk of Coronavirus transmission.

Covid-19 Overview

COVID-19 is a new illness that can affect your lungs and airways. It’s caused by a virus called coronavirus. The risk of catching coronavirus in Ireland is still low to moderate. This may change. However, most people may continue to go to work, school and other public places, as usual.

While the risk is low, our duty of care means we need to be diligent, and we appreciate your cooperation with this.

Patient screening

Each patient will be asked about their recent travel history
Each patient will be asked about their close association travel history, e.g. siblings, housemates.

We will be on the lookout for patients that display flu-type symptoms.
It can take up to 14 days for symptoms of COVID-19 (Coronavirus) to show.

Symptoms of the virus include:

  • a cough
  • shortness of breath
  • breathing difficulties
  • fever (high temperature)

Close contact

The risk of spreading covid-19 is higher with close contact. Close contact can mean:•spending more than 15 minutes of face-to-face contact within 2 metres of an infected person. This includes workspaces, transport systems and entertainment events.

We have taken measures to lower the number of people that can enter the clinic. Please see below sections on children and friends of moral support. Waiting areas are limited to two people sitting three meters apart. We are maintaining a one in and one out policy. You may be asked to wait outside until the previous patient has left the building or be asked to sit in a separate part of the building. If possible please text or call us when almost at the clinic. We will speak with you if required upon buzzing the door for entry. We can assure you these small measures aid in limiting of coronavirus risk to you, your family and your friends.

Standard infection control

Standard infection control precautions are the constant procedures in place for every patient, clinical staff member and the environment in which healthcare takes place. Application of standard precautions will assist in breaking the chain of infection, reducing the risk of transmission from one patient to another or from patient to a staff member and visa-versa. The blood, body fluids, secretions and excretions of patients in any Health care setting may contain either a blood-borne virus or other pathogens. It is not always possible to determine the risk posed by individual patients until the results of the microbiological and viral investigation is known. Therefore we treat all patients as a possible risk for cross-infection and that a system of universal or standard precautions must be adopted by all healthcare workers who have direct patient contact and exposure to blood or body fluids. The main role of standard precautions is to protect the healthcare worker from infection and reduce opportunities for transmission of microorganisms from patient to patient.

There are eight key elements to universal/standard precautions all of which when appropriately implemented are designed to reduce the risk of transmission of microorganisms

  • Hand hygiene
  • Personal protective equipment
  • Sharps disposal
  • Waste disposal
  • Linen handling and segregation
  • Blood and body fluid spillage procedure
  • Handling and transport of specimens
  • Decontamination of equipment and the environment

Extra infection control measures 

Apart from standard infection control measures, we are also:

  • Limiting the number of people that can attend an appointment (see friends of moral support and children below)
  • All surfaces are sanitised after each client
  • Treatment rooms sanitised after every client
  • All practitioners will be wearing masks

Hand sanitiser

On entering A.T.A.I. please use the hand sanitiser in the entry hallway.

Patients that present with health issues

If you attend the clinic, you have what could be considered a cold, allergic rhinitis, also known as hay fever, or symptoms of a flu type nature we will not treat you. This is due to the inability to test what is causing your symptoms and is best to ask you to go home and consult your GP.

Right to refuse treatment

Our staff are trained medical professionals, doctors and nurses. They reserve the right to deny treatment to anyone visiting the clinic. Please be understanding that our goal is to limit the risk of the coronavirus. The risk of infection is low, and it is through the due diligence of infection control measures, patient screening, and cooperation that the risk level can remain low.

At-risk groups

We do not know for sure which groups are most at risk of complications if they catch coronavirus.

But it is likely the person is more at risk if they catch coronavirus and:

  • are 60 years of age and over
  • have a long-term medical condition – for example, heart disease, lung disease, high blood pressure, diabetes or cancer
  • pregnant women

In the case of at-risk groups, we believe it is prudent for you to limit the possibility of exposure, due to this we think it is better you wait until the Coronavirus outbreak is over.

Suspected infection

Anyone who may have been in contact with a person who has COVID-19, is advised to contact HSE Live (1850 24 1850, https://www.hse.ie/eng/hselive/). If you are unwell with a cough, especially with respiratory symptoms (e.g. cough, high temperature, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, fever) you should isolate yourself immediately and phone your GP.

Children

We always encourage parents not to bring their children to an aesthetics clinic as we are not childminders and as such insurance does not cover the risk of children in a clinical space. At this time of the outbreak of Coronavirus, we ask even more so to not bring your children.

Friends of moral support

In normal times we have no problem with you bringing a friend for moral support. However, as we are not currently in normal times we do ask if you can if possible arrive on your own. This allows us to limit people on the premises to only people in treatment.

A safe treatment space for you

Taking the threat of infection as a serious matter means more peace of mind for you while visiting our clinic.