Acupuncture
What the law says about acupuncture
businesses
Anyone running a business which involves the piercing of
human skin are subject to the
London Local Authorities Act 1991 and the
Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. However, most
businesses offering acupuncture are exempt from the London Local
Authorities Act 1991 provided that they are members of a recognised
governing body. Businesses must check with the council's
licensing department whether the association they belong to is
exempt.
Local byelaws require people and businesses to be registered with the council, under the adopted Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982.
To help you, please refer to the
rules of management for places offering special
treatments document.
Premises and procedure guidelines for registering your
business
Washing facilities
• a wash-hand basin with an adequate constant
supply of hot and cold water should be provided at a point
conveniently accessible to the operating area. The basin shall be
fitted with foot or elbow operated taps
• soap and disposable paper towels must be
available and accessible. Hot air hand dryers are also
acceptable, but not re-usable fabric towels
• clean washable clothing should be worn
Personal hygiene
• hands must be washed before and after direct
contact with the client, and with items that have been in contact
with the clients' blood or other body fluids
• use a new pair of vinyl examination gloves for
each client
• the operator must not eat or smoke whilst giving
treatment
Records
• it is important practitioners keep records of
their patients and customers. Good records prove valuable if any
question of infection arises later
• records should contain the name and address of
each customer and the date the treatment was given
• records should be kept for a minimum of two
years
Construction standards for premises
• floors, walls, screens, partitions and ceilings
of any part of the premises used for tattooing should be well made
with a smooth finish and capable of being kept clean
• there should be adequate natural and artificial
lighting and ventilation
• table tops, shelves and other surfaces must have
smooth, water proof surfaces such as plastic laminate, and must be
in good condition
• the surface of the couch or chair should have a
smooth impervious surface, such as vinyl, and be well maintained
• the room used for treatment should be used for
this purpose only
• equipment must be kept in good repair and
maintained as specified by the manufacturer. Maintenance records
will need to be kept
• the electrical system and appliances must be
well maintained
Advice on using needles
• disposable needles are recommended. These should
be used once only and then discarded safely
• if you have to use re-usable needles, these must
be sterilised before use on another client
• if the skin bruises or bleeds after the
insertion of a needle, a small pad of dry cotton wool should be
used to cover the area until the bleeding has stopped.
Improper sterilisation of needles or washing of hands of the
acupuncturist can result in infection
• a needle can bend while still pierced in the
body or if the patient suddenly changes his/her position. Bent
needles must not be re-used
• if a needle breaks inside a patient, it should
be surgically removed after an X-ray
Waste material
• any waste likely to be contaminated with body
fluids - with the exception of syringes, needles and scalpel blades
- must be collected in a sealable, leak proof waste bag. Syringes
with needles and scalpel blades must be placed into sharps boxes
• both these type of wastes - known as clinical
waste - must be collected by a competent licensed waste contractor
and incinerated
Ealing Council provides a free clinical waste service for residents. The council also offers a clinical waste service for businesses in the borough at competitive rates.
For more information, contact environmental services on 020 8825 6000, or email customers@ealing.gov.uk.
Leaflets
A leaflet about
acupuncture is available in pdf format.