While the pandemic has caused worldwide chaos and the uncertainty continues, for us to resume our aesthetic practice, there will be a ‘new normal’.
The date regarding when we can return to clinics is dependent on UK Government advice regarding easing lockdown Seeing patients will depend on the four countries devolved administrations, and therefore, this advice could be different depending on where you practise. The British Association of Cosmetic Nurses (BACN) has been carefully monitoring these announcements in terms of how they apply to members and aesthetic clinics. The debate regarding when to return could become contentious, but the BACN has been working to get detailed clarification from the Government. If we are able to get this clarification, it will be posted on our website, and during this time, any decision to reopen clinics will be down to individual members.
COVID-19 guidelines
The BACN recognises the risks associated with delivering medical aesthetic treatments and understands the concern and anxieties associated with working during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our goal has been to produce a set of guidelines to enable aesthetic practitioners to make the adjustments needed and to prepare for reopening clinics. The BACN board and regional leaders have been working extremely hard on these guidelines, and we are now able to share them (BACN, 2020). The guidelines are also available in the resource section of the member's area of the website, under ‘Reference materials’, ‘COVID-19’.
Integrating advice and further reading
During these unprecedented times, information sharing is a given. There are other organisations that have produced guidelines and, like us, have released them into the public domain. Furthermore, search engine sites, such as PubMed and Google Scholar, have made all COVID-19 papers and articles free to access.
Professor David Sines, Chair of the Joint Council for Cosmetic Practitioners (JCCP), wrote in an email to me that the JCCP encourages practitioners to continue to explore and adopt Government advice on how to practise lawfully, safely, ethically and responsibly. He also welcomes that the BACN urges practitioners to continue to review and integrate current evidence and to consider how to adjust our practises to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 in the community.
Being prepared
A nursing colleague who recently tested positive to COVID-19 said that, as nurses, we have to learn to live with the virus keeping abreast of the rapidly changing situation. The virus is novel, but there are things that we know that can help mitigate the impact. Infection control should not be just good, it should be excellent, and it needs to be part of practices, because even with risk assessments and mitigation, new cases will definitely be faced, as we can only control our environment, not the ones our patients come from and go back to.
Preparedness does not just involve how, when or if you see patients, it is also about having the correct personal protective equipment (PPE), knowing where to source it and not falling prey to those who may try to sell you inadequate equipment.
Continued communications with patients is a given, including informing them of the changes that will be in place to protect them and us. Some patients, regardless of lockdown being eased, will still need to be shielded. Although COVID-19 knows no barriers, there are some factors that increase risks, including co-morbidities, age and ethnicity, and these patients cannot be seen in the early stages of clinics reopening. Questions should be raised, including whether any patients have contracted or tested positive to COVID-19. For further reading, there is an interesting paper regarding hypersensitivity reaction to hyaluronic acid dermal filler following influenza-like illness (Turkmani et al, 2019).
Some of us may have patients who are finding isolation difficult, and who may also have some psycho-social issues around body image or appearance-related concerns. Keeping their expectations realistic may be challenging.
This is the time to get yourselves organised, have your guidelines and protocols in place, have Perspex screens fitted in your reception area and get your website up to date. To help maintain social distancing, work out the safe routes in and out of your clinic.
BACN board members and regional leaders continue to be the point of contact for member queries and arranging Zoom meetings so that our members can remain connected and up to date. While, our office HQ continues to be furloughed, we hope from July 2020 to move towards a return to work scheme on a part-time basis.
For those who took time and support to create these guidelines—thank you.
Please take care of yourselves and your loved ones.