We are happy to announce that we will be reopening on the 22nd June 2020.
Following the recent Government announcement that dental practices can reopen, we have prepared our practice to meet the new guidelines and to keep staff and patients safe. We will have to follow a phased start up plan as the alert level is still very high and only urgent treatment will be offered.
PLEASE DO NOT CALL FOR ROUTINE APPOINTMENTS – WE WILL CALL YOU
We have a list of outstanding and emergency treatment which we will prioritise. Once the alert level is reduced we will be able to offer more extensive treatment and catch up with overdue routine appointments. There will be considerable changes to how we provide your dental care.
We have also introduced a robust & innovative patient journey which you will find quite different to previous dental visits.
Please read through the guide below on what to axpect when attending your appointment.
Patient Guide to Dental Appointments during Covid-19
Prior to Your Appointment
Before arranging an appointment, we will discuss the degree of urgency and organise an appropriate time. Please note we are currently only able to see patients for limited emergency treatment. This policy will evolve as the Covid-19 alert level is reassessed.
Emma or Kate will call you prior to your appointment to run through a Covid-19 risk assessment and to update your medical history.
We respectfully ask that any payments are made using a card over the telephone or via a bank transfer. This is to minimise traffic in the practice.
At Your Appointment
When you arrive please wait in the car and call us to let us know you have arrived. We will call you when we are ready for you to come in. There will be restricted entry to the practice. Only patients receiving treatment will be permitted to enter – unless there is a pressing need for an accompanying person. For example for parental responsibility or to assist an adult physically or for mental capacity reasons.
If you are feeling unwell on the day of your appointment please let us know and we will ask you to reschedule.
On entering the practice you will be asked to sanitise your hands and your temperature will be checked & recorded. You will then be asked straight through to the surgery. Please note: should your temperature be above 37.8 degrees celsius you will be to attend another day.
Please attend without bags or coats (where practical).
If possible, we ask that you avoid using the lavatory at the practice.
In the Surgery
It has been recommended that you rinse with a mint-peroxide solution prior to your examination. This will have been discussed and your consent obtained during your pre-appointment assessment.
Initially we will be prioritising dental care for patients who have unresolved dental problems. Any treatments that require aerosols (such as the use of a drill/handpiece) will need to be carefully planned.
You will notice that staff are wearing enhanced PPE. This is for our mutual protection to minimise the possible transmission of airborne viruses.
When leaving the surgery you will again be asked to sanitise your hands.
Should any further appointments be required these will be arranged by a follow up telephone call.
