21/06/2020
Covid-19 update 21/06/2020
Peebles Dental Practice is going to reopen again on 22nd June 2020. However, this will be for urgent and emergency treatment only. If you feel you need to be seen urgently please phone or email the practice but do not come to the practice in person.
Please note that all routine appointments, such as 6-monthly check-ups/hygiene visits etc. are still cancelled until further notice.
For more detailed information, please see below:
REMOBILISATION OF NHS DENTAL SERVICES
The Chief Dental Officer (CDO) wrote to all dental practices providing NHS dental services on 20 May and 8 June setting out a phased programme of remobilisation of NHS dentistry in Scotland. The phases for the remobilisation of NHS dental services have been aligned with the wider route map framework as follows:
Phase 1. Increasing capacity in urgent dental care centres (UDCCs)
Phase 2. All dental practices will open to face-to-face consultation for patients who require urgent dental care that can be provided using non-aerosol generating procedures (AGPs);
Phase 3. As phase 2 but in addition practices will see patients for routine care, including examination and treatments that can be provided using non-AGPs;
Phase 4. The introduction of some AGPs to dental practices.
On 18 June the First Minister confirmed that the recovery route-map would move into Phase 2 and therefore we were advised by the Chief Dental Officer that NHS dental services remobilisation could commence from Monday 22 June.
We have already been cleared by the Health Board to reopen under the new arrangements and as such can offer urgent and emergency care for Covid-19 negative patients starting from Monday 22 June. Patients contacting the practice will have to be triaged for their Covid status and dental needs as per the SDCEP guidance.
In case you have a routine appointment arranged with us (such as a 6-monthly check-up, hygiene visit etc.) please consider it still cancelled until further notice.
In order to limit the risks of Covid-19 transmission to patients, staff members and visitors we have had to make the following adjustments:
- Only 1 surgery will be operating with just 1 dentist and a limited number of staff members present
- We also have to limit the number of people coming to the practice and as a consequence can only see a reduced number of patients
- In order to limit access to the practice the front door will be locked and only patients with an appointment will be allowed to enter the premises
- We will only be able to offer non-aerosol generating procedures (non-AGPs) for Covid-19 negative patients mainly for pain relief, such as extractions, placement of temporary fillings, recementing crowns and denture repairs. - We will be unable to provide routine examinations/dental hygiene sessions and any procedures that involve drilling such as filling therapy, root canal treatment, surgical tooth extractions, crown and bridgework, implant work until further notice
- Under specific circumstances, if an AGP is necessary to provide pain relief we would refer you to one of the urgent care centres (UCCs) in the Borders
- Suspected Covid-19 or Covid-19 positive cases will also have to be referred to one of the UCCs, if triaging indicates that urgent/emergency dental treatment is required.
- If you do have a routine (6 monthly check-up) appointment coming up please consider it cancelled unless you hear from us otherwise. if you wish to make an urgent appointment please phone or email the practice (contact details on practice website). Only if this is not possible should you come to the practice, in which case we would like to ask you to come to the waiting room window in the courtyard.
- When you arrive for your appointment please come to the waiting room window to get our attention. The receptionist will then let you in and we would like to ask you to clean your hands by using hand rub (provided). You may want to wear gloves/face mask especially if you are in the vulnerable patient group (your GP will have made you aware of this). You may also want to bring your own pen, in case you have to sign something although we will endeavour to avoid this if at all possible.
- At reception, please stand in front of the anti-sneeze guard/perspex screen rather than the side of the reception desk
- In the waiting room please try and adhere to the social distancing rule. In order to facilitate this, due to the small size of our waiting room, we will have to limit the access to the premises. This will mean that we wonât be able to let you in until the previous patient has left the practice.
- Please do not arrive for your appointment too early, as you may have to wait outside (see above).
- Please only come by yourself unless you are a child or you need a carer.
- Please leave any personal items such as handbags, newspapers/magazines/books, toys etc. at home
if you need to use the toilet please ask a member of staff, as we have to make sure that it will be cleaned/disinfected immediately after each use which requires us to use and dispose of a set of PPE.
- Please consider paying contact less rather than cash
- All those patients who have been in contact with the practice since the lock down began, please only get in touch again if your situation has worsened. As detailed above the treatment options are still (very) limited. We promise that we will contact you as soon as this changes and we are allowed to provide AGPs again.
We also had a number of patients during lock down wanting to register with the practice. Unfortunately, due to the reduced capacity we are unable to accept any new patients until the situation normalises.
If you are not registered with a dentist and you need urgent dental care please contact the Dental Enquiry Line between 8:00 and 18:00 on 0845 300 0930, outwith those hours call NHS24 on 111.
