CORONAVIRUS RESOURCES
The ANMT has put together an extensive set of resources for members including Return to Practice protocols.
Information for therapists regarding the Resilience and Recovery 2020-2021: Plan for Living with COVID-19
It is essential that therapists understand that the decisions they make regarding their clinic or practice and their entitlement to offer services under the various Levels must be taken by the therapist. No Association is in a position to advise individual therapists regarding their personal decisions and can only offer its interpretation of the government guidance.
It appears that all therapists are free to offer treatment to their patients under Levels 1, 2 and 3. Therapists who are a member of a designated profession within the meaning of section 3 of the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005 (No. 27 of 2005) are also free to offer treatment under Levels 4 and 5.
The Association has contacted Balens Insurance for clarification regarding cover for their customers and they have responded as follows:
From our perspective the situation remains that with regards to individuals Professional Liability insurance, Insurers currently have not put in any requirements regarding Covid-19, however there is a general requirement that excludes Criminal and Malicious Acts. As such, insurance may be invalidated if the individual fails to follow specific Governmental guidelines and the laws that are in place within their own specific location at any time.
As I’m sure you can appreciate with local lockdowns moving in and out of effect at very little notice, it is for individual Therapists to be aware of what the requirements within their own location are, and to seek the guidance from Governmental sources that will have the most up to date information available.
UPDATE – Monday January 4th 2021
The government have announced that Ireland has returned to Level 5 restrictions until at least January 31st 2021.
ANMT have been working hard and will continue to work hard to represent the best interests of all our members.
All ANMT members are committed to keeping their patients/clients and their community safe in these unprecedented times and will continue to follow government recommendations from the HSA, HSE and other recognised national agencies.
Each situation should be viewed from an individual basis and only the therapist/s themselves can take the final decision to stay open or to close, if appropriate, and only if clinical practice falls within government guidelines.
ANMT encourage you to do what you can to provide support and therapy services to your patients / clients via TeleHealth and online consultations.
We have had on-going communications with the HSE and they have confirmed that no-one within the HSE has the authority to advise whether businesses can or can not continue to provide services. They do not issue statements over the telephone nor do they provide anything in writing to support any such claims.
At ANMT, we want to ensure we give you clear accurate guidance to protect you, our member and to the wider public.
ANMT will continue to liaise with government agencies to create awareness of the role of the ANMT, the role of the Neuromuscular Therapist within their local communities and we continue to lobby the government regarding the regulation of complementary therapies in Ireland. Stay safe and we will continue to keep you informed of any updates.