Covid-19 Pre-Appointment Information

Patient Attendance Procedure

Dear Patients,

Just to update you all on the new standard operating procedures for dental practices.

Patients are no longer required to wear face coverings  in the practice, unless they wish to do so.

Patients will no longer be Covid19 screened prior to their dental appointment. This will now be completed on arrival at the practice.

Please can we remind patients  that if you have any of the covid19 symptoms or any other respiratory infections, please contact the practice as we may need to defer your appointment. Please click on the link below for further information:

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/people-with-symptoms-of-a-respiratory-infection-including-covid-19

Accepting patients

We accept all patients for assessment for treatment, regardless of any disclosed diseases, ensuring that we always follow current government guidelines related to any outbreaks.
 

Patient assessment

When visiting the practice, all patients need to be assessed and screened for a potential cross-infection transmission risk. Where a patient is identified as a risk, the clinician is responsible for triaging the patient to decide on the additional precautions required. Routine appointments are deferred until the patient feels better, whereas emergency appointments and those that cannot be delayed can continue, providing TBPs are in place. In the event a patient is identified as a respiratory tract infection risk e.g., COVID-19, measles (Rubeola), they are to be treated on the respiratory pathway, following the procedures outlined in the practices’ respiratory tract infection SOP.

When assessing whether a patient poses a potential cross-infection risk, the following symptoms need to be considered:
 

Diarrhoea, nausea and/or vomiting

A new continuous cough

High temperature, fever, or chills

Loss of, or change in sense of taste or smell

Unexplained tiredness, lack of energy or appetite

Muscle aches or pains that are not due to exercise

A headache that is unusual or longer lasting than usual

A sore throat, stuffy or runny nose

Conjunctivitis

The presence of small grey/white spots inside the mouth (e.g., Koplick spots)

A brown/red/blotchy skin rash
 

Communication

The practice actively communicates that patients should not attend if they are feeling unwell or experiencing respiratory tract infection symptoms. This is achieved through the following methods:
 

At the time of booking or 24 hours before the appointment the reception team will ask the patient if they feel unwell, have any of the symptoms outlined above, have recently travelled to an area with a known outbreak, or have had contact with a confirmed or suspected case of a known infection

Email reminders will be sent to patients and will include instructions to contact the practice before attending if the patient feels unwell or develops any symptoms

Information is available on the practice website, online booking forms, and appointment reminders sent by email, text, and telephone, as well as our answerphone message, are kept up to date in line with public advice

Posters are displayed at reception advising patients to contact the practice before attending or to inform a team member upon arrival if they feel unwell or have any symptoms

 

Cold sores

The practice recognises that cold sores can be highly contagious, can easily spread to other areas until they are fully healed, and that providing dental treatment when they are present can be painful for the patient, as it may crack and bleed.

Clinical team members are therefore trained to identify the signs and symptoms of cold sores which include an initial tingling, itching, or burning sensation followed by small fluid-filled blisters which can burst and form a scab, and usually last around 10-14 days.

Team members are required to take all reasonable steps to identify whether a patient has, or suffers from cold sores prior to attending the practice, this can be achieved through a review of the medical history, or during discussions with the patient when arranging their appointment. Patients also need to be made aware that if they develop a cold sore, and are due an appointment, they must contact the practice before attending, so that the appointment can be rescheduled until the cold sore has fully healed.

Team members need to discuss and reschedule routine appointments for patients who attend with cold sores. Where this is not practical, for example where emergency dental care is required, a clinical assessment needs to be undertaken by the clinician to determine whether treatment can commence.
 

Vulnerable patients

Patients considered to be at higher risk of becoming seriously ill if they were to contract an infection, such as those diagnosed with Down syndrome, Cancers, HIV, an impaired immune system, or anything affecting the nervous system, can be treated following the same precautions as other patients, however, additional control measures are available to protect these persons and need to be considered on a case by case basis by discussing the options below and agreeing on the preferred method(s) with the person, their carer, or guardian:
 

a. Separate waiting area to be made available

b. Upon arrival, the patient is immediately directed into the treatment room

c. Face masks to be worn by team members and the patient where tolerated

d. When providing treatment, higher tier PPE (e.g., non-valved FFP3 respirator) to be worn  by the clinical team

e. Patients are offered an appointment time at the start time of each session, if they require. 

 

 

 

Best wishes,

Tim and the Team at Wotton Dental Clinic

Call us on 01453 844428 01453 844428 or contact us directly using the contact form.