Merrystead Dental Practice

06/04/2023

Thank you all so much for your kind wishes
🥳🎉Now for a beer🍻😃

29/03/2023

A fond farewell from Joe Kavanagh

To all our lovely patients,

You might not be surprised to learn that after only (!) 38 years of a long & rewarding career in dentistry, I’ve decided that its time for me to retire.

I’m only sorry I was unable to tell you all earlier – this was due to legal considerations.

I’d like to thank you, and all our patients, for allowing me to provide your care and making my time so enjoyable and filled with colour. I must admit though, I’m looking forward to living life at a different speed. I plan to fill my retirement with family, friends and all those hobbies I never had enough time for.

Your care going forward:

Even while I’m planning my retirement, your ongoing care is my first priority. I had to ensure that my practice and my patients were passed on to a dentist who I trust to continue the good work we’ve always done.

I’m proud to say that I have found just the right dentist in Lianne Steadman, who shares my philosophy of patient focussed, preventive care and I’m confident Lianne will lead Merrystead to more success in the future.

You’ll be pleased to know the rest of our dedicated team is staying on so you’ll still see the same friendly faces at your next appointment.

All that’s left for me to say is goodbye, and thank you for so many happy memories.

With very best wishes,


Joe Kavanagh
Introducing Lianne Steadman

I’d like to thank you, the patients at Merrystead, and wonderful practice team for all the warm welcomes I have received.

I’d also like to thank Joe for trusting me with your care. I’m looking forward to seeing you at your next appointment and getting to know you better.

If you have any questions about my plans for the practice, or would just like to know a little bit more about me, please do ask next time you see me.

Yours sincerely,


Lianne Steadman

15/07/2021

Hello to all our lovely patients,

Despite the government relaxation of COVID guidance from Monday the 20th February ,as a healthcare setting, our rules will remain the same:

- Face coverings must be worn within the practice.

- The front door will be locked, please use the door bell to let us know you are here.

We are continuing with our twice weekly lateral flow tests for all staff.

These measures are intended to keep all our patients and staff safe. 😷🦷

09/02/2021

08/02/2021

We hope all our wonderful patients are staying safe & well.

Just an update:

We continue to stay open, although we are seeing fewer patients each day than we were before, to allow for all the new measures that we need to take.
Please be aware that the front door is likely to be locked when you arrive for your appointment, please ring the bell and we will let you in as soon as possible.

We are now able to source all the necessary PPE, and are starting to bring our waiting lists down. However, we are aware that some people are having to wait longer that we would like - please bear with us, and if you have any issues, please do contact us.

We have all had our first dose of the vaccine, and are now carrying out our own
lateral flow tests twice a week

We have had a huge extractor fan fitted in the treatment room to achieve the necessary air changes per hour to allow us to provide more treatments (we are still wearing full PPE - hopefully we don’t look too much like we’re going to be removing your appendix!)

We are so pleased to let you know that Kellie is now a fully qualified Dental Nurse having passed all her examinations last summer. Jo is now enrolled on her course as well.

Joe & Karen are delighted to welcome Freddie, their first grandchild to the family.

Best wishes to you all, and please stay safe & well 😁

04/01/2021

Following the Prime Ministers announcement today please be assured once again that we are still open and will be continuing to offer all our patients appointments as necessary.
It is likely that we will need to rearrange some appointments as we prioritise urgent treatments and patients who are vulnerable to dental disease.
Please bear with us.

As before,Patients are permitted and encouraged to attend medical (and dental) appointments.

We have all the necessary PPE (masks, gloves, aprons etc), universal sterilisation and cross infection control, enhanced cleaning schedules and improved ventilation.

We completely understand that some people may be worried about attending their appointments; if you need to rearrange your appointment please contact us as soon as possible.

Again, if you have any questions or worries, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Joe Kavanagh and team

25/03/2020

As you will be aware, the situation with the Coronavirus pandemic is changing daily. In accordance with new instructions and requirements received today (25th March 2020) from the Chief Dental Officer of England, we have had to close the practice temporarily and deal with emergencies over the telephone.

We have been instructed “to establish a remote urgent care service, providing telephone triage for our patients with emergency needs, and whenever possible treating with:

• Advice
• Analgesia (painkillers)
• Antimicrobial means where appropriate (antibiotics)”

If the patient’s condition cannot be managed by these means, then we are instructed to refer them to the appropriate part of their Local Urgent Dental Care system.

As of today, we believe this system is in the process of being set up - as soon as we have details of this, we will post it here.

We have been instructed that the following situations are considered dental emergencies:

Airway restriction or breathing/swallowing difficulties due to facial swelling.
External trauma - for example a permanent tooth being knocked out, or fractured teeth with pulpal (nerve) exposure.
Swelling that is significant and worsening
Bleeding after an extraction that the patient is not able to control with local measures
Dental conditions that have resulted in acute and severe systemic illness
Severe dental and facial pain: that is, pain that cannot be controlled by the patient following self-help advice.
Dental and soft tissue infections.

We will try to advise you over the phone how to manage any other dental problems.

Our receptionists are trying contact by telephone all patients who are booked in for non-emergency treatment in the next three weeks to postpone their appointment until a time when it is safe for us to resume dental treatments to all patients.

Please do phone if you need us, and we will do our very best to help.

In the meantime, we hope everybody keeps well and strong during this difficult time, and we look forward to welcoming you all back as soon as we are able.

Thank you for your patience and understanding.

Stay well

Joe Kavanagh & team

21/03/2020

Hello

Just to let you know we are open next week and intending to keep open unless we are told otherwise.

We are trying to stagger appointments so that we can keep the number of patients in reception to a minimum.

We’ve separated the chairs in the waiting area and are continuing to regularly wipe down all services including door handles and chairs with disinfectant wipes.

If you would prefer to wait in your car until your appointment please ring us when you arrive and we will contact you when we are are ready for you.

Stay safe everyone

Kind regards

Joe and team x

18/03/2020

Latest hand out at the practice in these difficult times x

15/03/2020

CORONAVIRUS

When you come into the practice, we’d be so grateful if you could use the hand gel or go to the bathroom and wash your hands.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we ask that all patients with a persistent new cough and/or high temperature NOT to come to the practice, instead remain at home, contact us to rearrange your appointment and visit https://111.nhs.uk/covid-19 for advice.

The safety and well-being of our patients and of our staff is of the utmost importance. While the situation around Coronavirus keeps evolving, we’re closely monitoring government and official public health organisation announcements for guidance, and we want to let you know the actions we are taking.

We will continue to take every precautionary measure we can to ensure we maintain the highest standards of hygiene and cross infection control.

This includes an increase in frequency of cleaning all guest contact surfaces including counters, door-handles and toilets. Our staff are also being fully briefed on an ongoing basis with regards to enhanced standards around hygiene and handwashing. When you come into the practice, we’d be so grateful if you could go to the bathroom and wash your hands.

We will continue to operate our practice as normal wherever possible. We want you to feel confident about your visit, and we will let you know if we need to follow any government restrictions that might be put in place, such as spacing seats in the reception area.

We have strict guidelines for any of our staff who show symptoms. We would encourage all our patients to do the same and stay at home if they feel unwell.

We truly value your trust and loyalty to the Practice and thank you for your understanding.

Joe Kavanagh & team

18/12/2019

Wishing all our lovely patients a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New year
Looking forward to seeing you all in 2020
🎅🏻🎄x