Covid-19 guidance and Accredited Registers

Department of Health & Social Care (DHSC) has now sent us the info below in relation to the new Covid-19 guidance and Accredited Registers:

• Personal care services provided for medical and health treatment may continue. The guidance on safer working in Close Contact Services should be followed https://www.gov.uk/guidance/working-safely-during-coronavirus-covid-19/close-contact-services
• Where applicable, practitioners should also take into account any guidance issued by the healthcare regulators or a relevant professional body.
• The Government cannot provide comments on individual cases of whether or not a business is permitted to open. It is for each business to assess whether they are a business required to close having considered the Regulations and guidance on business closures https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/further-businesses-and-premises-to-close/closing-certain-businesses-and-venues-in-england#businesses-permitted-to-remain-open

Some questions had arisen on massage, in regards to a reference within the advice on business closures to massage: ‘Personal care facilities such as hair, beauty, tanning and nail salons. Tattoo parlours, spas, massage parlours, body and skin piercing services must also close.’ DHSC has referred us to the point below in terms of instances where personal care services such as massage are permitted:

Personal Care facilities and close contact services

• Non-medical acupuncture and other cosmetic services should not go ahead, but personal care services where required for medical reasons or prescribed by a qualified practitioner may continue. For example, massage prescribed for pain relief or for sports injuries, or cosmetic services for burn victims or those associated with cancer treatment. The guidance on safer working in the Close Contact Services should be followed (include link to guidance). Where applicable, practitioners should also take into account any guidance issued by the healthcare regulators or a relevant professional body.

DHSC colleagues have highlighted the potential for misunderstanding on massage to the Government Covid-19 policy team so that other departments such as BEIS can be made aware.

Please continue to bear in mind that the reference to ‘statutory regulators’ and ‘professional bodies’ in the second bullet above does not include the Authority and as such as we unable to interpret the Government guidance ourselves but I hope this information from DHSC is helpful. If further queries such as this arise please send them through to and we pursue an update from DHSC.