FTCMP UK
Dear members, friends, and TCM fellows
In the past two months, new coronavirus pneumonia in Wuhan, China, and the flu of unknown etiology in the United States have attracted worldwide attention. Now that the epidemic in China has been well controlled, the epidemic situation in many countries, including Europe and Britain, is spreading. Therefore, after discussion and research, we decided to release the Clinical Guidelines for the Epidemic Period of New Coronary Pneumonia for your reference based on the actual local epidemic situation.
I. Recommendations on personal and
family health and safety
1.1 Actively pay attention to the epidemic information and related recommendations issued by the British government and the media, and actively respond to and consider appropriate measures to avoid the risk of infection and spread to ensure the safety of patients and yourselves;
1.2 Actively do a good job of personal hygiene and clinic disinfection to prevent cross infection;
1.3 During the epidemic period, avoid contact or visits by family members, relatives and friends from the epidemic area, and reduce unnecessary gatherings as much as possible; do not take public transportation as much as possible to reduce the chance of infection.
2. recommendations of the clinic routine
2.1 If you have any symptoms such as cold, flu, cough, etc. during the epidemic period, you should close clinic and stop your business.
2.2 Unless you are invited for consultation and have strict protection, you should avoid visiting or directly contacting patients with new coronary pneumonia infection and suspected infection to prevent cross infection and transmission.
2.3 Implementation of online and telephone appointment system. New patients and patients who have not been revisited for a long time should know whether the patient has recently traveled, how and where they traveled, and whether they have cold or flu-related symptoms; those who are at risk for new coronavirus should avoid face-to-face consultations if possible.
3 Recommendations for the diagnosis and treatment of cold and flu during the epidemic
3.1 Fully understand the patient’s main clinical symptoms when making an appointment. Fever, cough, cold, sore throat, fatigue, poor appetite, diarrhea and other symptoms should be highly vigilant. You can ask the patient’s main symptoms at the time of appointment and rule out colds or flu.
3.2 Management of cold and flu patients:
A, patients are advised to contact the NHS for advice on new coronavirus testing or other treatments.
B, if the patient is willing to receive TCM treatment, online consultation or telephone consultation is recommended, and it is advisable to post the TCM products to avoid the risk of clinic transmission.
3.3 For cold or flu patients who need and are willing to receive TCM treatment, it is best to use online / telephone consultations, video interviews or tongue photos to identify and analyze clinical manifestations in detail, identify diseases and prescribe medication, and give treatment by mailing Chinese medicine.
4. The diagnosis and treatment of the new coronavirus pneumonia with Chinese medicine when necessary.
Patients suspected or diagnosed with new coronavirus pneumonia should be admitted by specialized agencies in accordance with the guidance of the British NHS and related departments. For patients who really need TCM treatment, please refer to the section of TCM treatment plan of the latest National New Coronavirus Pneumonia Clinical Guidelines in China. If you have the knowledge and ability, you can identify the disease according to the actual clinical situation and syndrome differentiation and then give suitable prescription. Some patients with this disease progress rapidly and can develop into fatal respiratory distress syndrome and circulatory failure and renal failure. Therefore, clinical treatment should fully understand the onset of the disease and its main clinical manifestations, course characteristics and key pathogenesis at different stages, and give full consideration to it.
5. Chinese medicine clinics should not receive patients on the spot for new coronary pneumonia
5.1 Because general Chinese medicine clinics do not have adequate protective measures against infectious diseases, it is not advisable to consult and treat patients in your clinic to avoid infection and spread. For patients diagnosed and highly suspected and in need of face-to-face consultation, patients should be visited under the conditions of adequate isolation and adequate self-protection measures.
5.2 Chinese and English notices can be posted in prominent places on the windows and doors of the clinic: Due to lack of necessary protective facilities and diagnosis and treatment conditions, patients with a history of new coronavirus pneumonia epidemic area tourism or contact history of new coronavirus diagnosed personnel should not enter this clinic.
5.3 In areas where the epidemic situation is particularly serious and the risk of transmission is particularly high, you can consider stopping the consultation or mailing only Chinese medicine for online consultation. If you or your family members have been to the epidemic area or come into contact with an infected or suspected infection, you should immediately stop the clinic, contact the NHS by phone 111 for related testing, and isolate yourself for at least 14 days.
5.4 While contacting 111 or waiting for a paramedic or ambulance to arrive, the patient be suspected should be sitting in a safe place, and the patient should be kept at least 2 meters away from the rest of the staff. It is best to arrange patients in a separate room with a door that can be closed. If there is a window, please open the window for ventilation, but please turn off the central air-conditioning. Suspected patients should avoid contact with others and objects, and should wear masks if possible. The space used by confirmed or suspected patients should be professionally disinfected before it can be used or re-open.
5.5 If you have fever, fatigue, cough, shortness of breath, sore throat, chest tightness, poor appetite, diarrhea, muscle pain, and other suspected symptoms, you can call 111 or contact relevant department for advice.
6. Safety and protection of individuals and clinics during the epidemic
6.1 Personal hygiene and protection:
Keep hands clean at all times.
When sneezing or coughing, be sure to cover your nose and mouth with disposable toilet paper, and then fold the toilet paper into a special garbage bag or medical trash which can accepts medical cotton balls.
Use hot water and soap / sanitized hand sanitizer or use 70-75% alcohol to clean and disinfect.
Make sure that all of your personal and clinic visits wash (double) hands in the following situations:
• After entering the clinic
• Before leaving the clinic
• After treating each patient
• Before rubbing eyes or changing contact lenses
• Before eating
• After using the toilet
• Before touching eye, nose, and mouth area with your hand.
6.2 Clinic disinfection and cleaning:
A, According to the conditions, opens the doors and windows to ventilate and scrub the visitor’s contact area with disinfectant immediately after each patient leaving. Clean and disinfect the clinic door handles, diagnostic tables and chairs, etc. before leaving the clinic after daily treatment.
B. Use disinfection solution containing chlorine or 70-75% alcohol to disinfect the clinic facilities such as door handles, hospital beds, toilet sinks, toilets, etc., as well as instruments, equipment such as cans, TDP therapeutic apparatus, tables and chairs, etc.
C. It is recommended to use disposable sheets to cover objects that are not convenient for disinfection with disinfectant solution (such as pulse pillows), and should be replaced immediately after use; if necessary, medical masks or higher-level FFP3 / N95 mask should be wear.
6.3 If the fire alarm conditions permit, you can use moxa leaves, moxa sticks or atractylodes, agarwood, perilla leaves to smoke or evaporate humidifier for air disinfection protection. Or use a UV lamp to disinfect the clinic as required.
6.4 Comply with the “Clinical Management Practices of the FTCMP” and other relevant regulations and guidance issued by the British Epidemic Prevention Department.
Council of FTCMP
March 07 2020