Covid-19
Important Information
Covid-19 is a new illness that can affect your lungs and airways. It’s caused by a virus called coronavirus.
Do NOT attend the practice if you have either:
- a high temperature – this means you feel hot to touch on your chest or back (you do not need to measure your temperature)
- a new, continuous cough – this means coughing a lot for more than an hour, or 3 or more coughing episodes in 24 hours (if you usually have a cough, it may be worse than usual)
- a loss of or change in your normal sense of smell or taste
Do not go to a GP surgery, pharmacy or hospital.
The situation regarding Covid 19 is fast evolving. We are following all the latest guidelines from NHS England and your safety, as always, is paramount.
We are open for routine dentistry and emergencies.
Please note that despite relaxation of Covid guidance in general, face coverings must still be worn in healthcare settings. Routine dentistry during COVID-19 requires the correct social distancing measures and personal protective equipment to be in place.
Our practices are safe
Our dentists and their teams have trained in oral health care but also infection prevention and control too. We are well-versed in providing safe care and having practised cross-infection control for many years, using personal protective equipment.
The experience of coming to the practice might be different now, but we remain a safe place to be.
Patients might need to be patient.
Our priorities are:
Patients needing urgent care
Patients at higher risk of oral disease and
Patients with outstanding treatment needs.
The reason for the long waits is not just because of the backlog, but also because there’s a lot more disinfection of surgeries required after each treatment. Sometimes, we have to wait anything up to an hour before they can have another patient in the chair.
Calling the practice
Please make sure you keep your appointment if you have one; it’s going to be safe and it’s important we don’t waste limited resources. If you can’t make an appointment, your practice may be able to offer it to someone else who really needs it.
If you’re looking for care, you may receive initial remote advice via the phone or video call. This may lead to advice being given or the arrangement of an appointment if the dentist deems it necessary. Some routine care like a check-up might be delayed unfortunately.
Please be assured that we are working within the current guidelines issued by governments and are doing their best to help patients wherever possible.
Receptionists are also doing their best to ensure that priority cases are treated as soon as possible. Please treat all the staff with respect. We know it can be stressful, but they are doing their best to help.
What are dental appointments like?
We are using personal protective equipment such as mask, gloves and aprons and social distancing measures to keep staff and patients safe.
If you call to make an appointment, you will be asked some screening questions. You’ll be asked those same questions again at your appointment to see if anything has changed since you booked
You will be asked to use hand sanitiser or to wash your hands when you arrive (and again before you leave)
You will be asked to wear a mask in the waiting rooms if you can
You will also find that waiting rooms look a little different with two metre markers in place
We no longer offer magazines, children’s toys and so forth, since those items are difficult to clean and disinfect
You will also notice that the dental team may be wearing different protective equipment to what you are used to seeing – this will be to increase your protection
Appointments will be managed to allow for social distancing between patients. That might mean that you’re offered fewer options for scheduling your appointment.
How you can help:
Please do not arrive without an appointment
With the exception of children and persons in need, patients should come alone
Patients should attend wearing a mask if possible or be prepared to wear one. A distance of at least two metres mush be observed if another patient is present in the dental practice
Please do not arrive early to the practice. If necessary, you should wait outside the practice
Staff will not shake your hand
If you show symptoms following appointment booking, you should contact NHS Test and Trace
If asked to send in photographs of your children’s teeth, first watch this helpful video on how to photograph children’s teeth
It is likely to be some time before dental services can return to what you previously experienced as normal.
However, we will be doing all they can to ensure you receive the treatment you require in the safest way.
We thank you for you ongoing patients and cooperation.