FAQs & COMPLAINTS
Do I have to undress?
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For osteopathy, you will be invited to undress to some extent, depending on the site of pain - this helps your osteopath to fully assess your balance and the level of dysfunction. If you are uncomfortable dressing down, we suggest wearing loose clothing, shorts, leggings or activewear. Osteopaths are trained to modify their approach and can still provide an assessment even if you prefer to remain fully clothed
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If the practitioner's gender might influence how you feel when dressing down, call reception and they will discretely book you in with most appropriate person.
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For massage, you will normally remove clothing to enable the therapist to treat you. Typically, your practitioner will talk through what they require, and give you some time to undress in private
Do I need a towel?
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We removed towels from clinic during the pandemic to improve hygiene and cleanliness, opting for disposable paper couch roll instead, which we also use to cover the body as required to preserve our clients' modesty.
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If you would like to bring your own towel into clinic you are more than welcome. The reasons you might do this include
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hygiene - some people prefer to lie on their own towel
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comfort - lying on a towel makes the plinth a bit softer
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modesty - particularly if coming to clinic with pain in the hips or pelvis
Can I bring someone along?
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In the current climate, we advise people not to bring additional people into the building unless absolutely necessary. Reasons when you might need a chaperone include:
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children below the age of 16
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adults who are not able to provide consent
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language barriers
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disability
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work on a sensitive or intimate area of the body, which would be discussed in advance
Will the treatment hurt?
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We will always tell you what to expect and aim to make your treatment as comfortable as possible.
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It is normal to feel a little stiff or sore for a day or so following the first treatment and most patients describe this as being similar to post exercise ‘aches and pains’.
Do I need to see my doctor first?
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You do not need to see your doctor first if you are paying for your own treatment. However, some insurance companies require you to see your doctor first.
How many treatments will I need?
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The number of treatments needed depends on the condition and person we are treating. We aim to keep your appointments to a minimum.
We should be able to tell you within a short period of time whether we can treat you or if we need to refer you to someone else.
Complaints
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We hope you don't need to make a complaint, but we want to address any concerns and sort things out as quick as possible.
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If you had a bad experience, in the first instance you may wish to speak to the principal osteopath or another practitioner. You can also write directly to Oxford Osteopaths and you will receive a formal response within 5 working days.
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If you remain dissatisfied you can call or write to the Institute of Osteopathy for advice www.iosteopathy.org
You also have the option to contact the osteopathy regulator www.osteopathy.org.uk