Massage specialists hit out at ‘confusing’ government advice
THE leader of a massage training school has called for government clarity after businesses were told they could re-open and were then forced to close two days later.
Sport and remedial therapists, who are trained to treat injuries, were advised by a governing body that they could begin treating clients for pain relief from Monday, July 6.
The Scottish Massage Therapists Organisation (SMTO), claims the government’s Business and Social Distancing team approved the move saying it could be classed as a ‘vocational medical service.”
However, on Wednesday, Clinical Director Jason Leitch issued a statement urging businesses to remain closed, saying the advice about massage had not changed and only regulated industries such as physiotherapy were allowed to treat clients for injuries.
Mr Leitch’s letter was prompted by an inquiry from the Chartered Society of Physiotherapists.
It has led to a situation where nail bars and beauty spas – which also offer massage – have been told they can treat clients from July 22, while sports therapists have been given no date for re-opening.
The SMTO said the issue had reinforced its calls for industry regulation.
Lynne Dunlop, principal of Western School, which runs courses accredited by Glasgow Caledonian University, said: “Many therapists had been treating clients from Monday and most of us were starting to fill appointments, only to be told 72 hours later to stop treating. It was confusing at best and unprofessional at worst.
“We had strict guidelines from our governing body, SMTO, who have been working tirelessly with MSPs, MPs, lawyers and health advisers, thus ensuring our therapists had complete risk assessments, screening questions, insurance and PPE in place before opening their businesses.
“The industry is as vast as it is varied, with suitably qualified therapists often providing pain relief to individuals who have exhausted other routes via NHS or who prefer not to take prescription medication for pain.”
Lynsey Mackenzie, a sport and remedial therapist, said: “This random U-turn further belittles our clinical knowledge and expertise and it is clear this is due to the government’s lack of understanding about our industry.
“Decisions appear to have been made based on ill-educated, antiquated assumptions that massage therapy is nothing more than a bit of rubbing to help you relax.”
Addressing the industry’s concerns, a spokeswoman for the Scottish Government said: “Work is being undertaken to assess clinical evidence of the risk of transmission for private therapies which involve close personal contact for extended periods.”