Anger as therapists told to shut after two days

THE leader of a massage training school in Scotland has criticised the Government after therapists were told they could re-open and then forced to close two days later.

Sport and remedial therapists were advised by a professional association they could begin treating clients for pain relief from Monday, July 6.

The Scottish Massage Therapists Organisation (SMTO), claims it was told the Government’s own Business and Social Distancing Team approved the move, saying treatments could be classed as a ‘vocational medical service.”

However, two days later, 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 permitted to treat sports injuries.

It has led to a situation where nail bars and beauty spas – which also offer massage and involve close contact – 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 at 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.

A Government spokeswoman 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.”