Acupuncture byelaws

1. Interpretation:

In these byelaws, unless the context otherwise requires;

"The Act" means the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982; "Client" means any person undergoing treatment;

"Operator" means any person giving treatment;

"Premises" means any premises registered under Part VIII of the Act; "Proprietor" means any person registered under Part VIII of the Act; "Treatment" means any operation in the practice of acupuncture;

"The Treatment Area" means any part of premises where treatment is given to clients.

2.  For the purpose of securing the cleanliness of premises and fittings therein a proprietor shall ensure that;

(a) All internal walls, doors, windows, partitions, floors and floor coverings, and ceilings in any part of the premises used by clients or operators, are kept clean and in such good repair as to enable them to be cleaned effectively;

(b) The treatment area is used solely for giving treatment;

(c)  All waste material, and other litter, arising from the treatment, is placed in suitable covered receptacles, which are washable and leak-proof, or use a leak-proof liner bag. The receptacles shall be emptied, or the bags changed, at least once every working day, or more frequently as necessary, and the material disposed of safely. Where liners are not used, the receptacles shall then be cleaned;

(d)All needles used in treatment are placed, after use, in separate covered and leak-proof re-usable boxes, or disposable needle boxes designed for the purpose. Where re-usable boxes are used, they shall be emptied at least once every working day or more frequently as necessary and the contents disposed of safely or sterilised for re-use, as appropriate. The box shall then be sterilised. Where needle boxes are used, they shall be disposed of safely at suitable intervals;

(e)  All furniture and fittings in the premises are kept clean and in such good repair as to enable them to be cleaned effectively;

(f)  All tables, couches and seats used by clients in the treatment area, and any surface on which the items specified in 3(b) below are placed immediately prior to treatment, have a smooth impervious surface which is wiped down with a suitable disinfectant between the treatment of different clients, and thoroughly cleaned at the end of each working day;

(g) Where tables or couches are used, they shall be covered by a displayed paper sheet which shall be changed for each client;

(h)  A notice or notices reading "No Smoking" are prominently displayed within the treatment area.

3.  For the purpose of securing the cleansing and, so far as is appropriate, the sterilisation of instruments, materials and equipment used in connection with the treatment;

(a)      An operator shall ensure that, before use in connection with treatment, any gown, wrap or other protective clothing, paper or other covering, towel, cloth or other such articles used in the treatment;

i.  is clean and in good repair, and, so far as is appropriate is sterile;

ii.  has not previously been used in connection with any other client unless it consists of a material which can be and has been adequately clean and, so far as is appropriate, sterilised.

(b)  An operator shall ensure that;

i.  any needle, metal instrument, or other item of equipment, used in treatment or for handling instruments and needles used in treatment, is in a sterile condition and kept sterile until it is used;

(c) An operator shall provide;

i.  adequate facilities and equipment for the purpose of sterilisation

(unless pre-sterilised items are used) and of cleansing, as required in pursuance of these byelaws;

ii.  sufficient and safe gas points and/or electrical socket outlets to enable compliance with these byelaws;

iii. an adequate, constant supply of cleaning hot and cold water readily available at all times on the premises;

iv.  adequate storage for all items mentioned in byelaw 3(a) and (b) above, so that those items shall be properly stored in a clean and suitable place so as to avoid, as far as possible, the risk of contamination.

4. For the purpose of securing the cleanliness of operators;

(a)  An operator whilst giving treatment shall ensure that;

i.  his hands and nails are clean, and nails kept short;

ii.  he is wearing clean and washable clothing, or alternatively a disposable covering that has not previously been used in connection with any other client.

iii.  he keeps any open boil, sore, cut or open wound on an exposed part of his body effectively covered by an impermeable dressing;

iv.  he does not smoke or consume food or drinks.

(b)  A proprietor shall provide;

i. suitable and sufficient washing facilities for the sole use of operators, such facilities to have hot and cold water, sanitising soap or detergent, and a nail brush;

ii. suitable and sufficient sanitary accommodation for operators;

The foregoing byelaws are hereby confirmed by the Secretary of State for Social Services on 8th May 1984 and shall come into operation on 19th June 1984.

A B Barton, Assistant Secretary, Department of Health and Social Security

a. A proprietor shall take all reasonable steps to ensure compliance with these byelaws by persons working on the premises. Section 16(9) of the Act lays down that a registered person should cause to be prominently displayed on the premises a copy of these byelaws and a copy of any certificate of registration issued to him under Part VIII of the Act.

b. Section 16(1) and (2) of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982 provides that any person who offends against any of these byelaws shall be guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale. If the convicted person is registered under Part VIII of the Act, the court may, instead of or in addition to imposing a fine, order the suspension or cancellation of his registration, and of the registration of the premises in which the offence was committed, if such premises are occupied by the person so convicted. Section 16(11) of the Act provides that it shall be a defence for the person charged to prove that he took all reasonable precautions and exercised all due diligence to avoid the commission of the offence.

c. Nothing in these byelaws shall extend to the practice of acupuncture by or under the supervision of a person who is registered as a medical practitioner or to premises on which any such business is carried on by or under the supervision of such a person.