- CORONAVIRUS -
Below you will find information on the pandemic and how we continued to provide care throughout. You will also find some of the struggles we went through obtaining stock and the changes in protocols/PPE.
'Lockdown' & Closure of Practice...
As many are aware back in March of 2020 all dental practices were asked to close for all face to face contact by Department of Health, due to the uncertainties around transmission and to assist with the wider public health effort to combat Covid-19. We received a ‘preparedness letter’ from the Chief Dental Officer Sara Hurley on the morning of Thursday 28th May (dated 9 days previously), followed by notification that we would re-open on the 8th June. It had become evident that the department of health had not consulted our professional bodies, had no guidance prepared on how we as practices could accomplish this, nor had made any provision for the extra pressures this would place on an already creaking supply chain. |
How we Continued to Provide Dental Care...
While the Practice was 'Closed'.
Over the lockdown period, the practice was never considered to be 'closed'. We still had a duty of care for our patients, even though we could not meet face to face. Although - its very difficult (almost impossible) to resolve toothache over the phone, we tried our best to advise and comfort patients, finding them a solution to their problems. We had been taking phone calls, triaging patients with problems as well as maintaining our equipment and systems daily to ensure the practice was ready to reopen when safe to do so. We completed some general upkeep of the property IE: painting, gardening, cleaning - to ensure it was ready for patients again. |
Re-Opening the Practice to the Public...
Re-Opening Date: Thursday 11th June 2020.
We re-opened our doors to the public, for face to face contact on Thursday 11th June 2020, starting with emergency care only. In June 2020 we were still in a national lockdown, so the way in which we worked would be slightly different to prior to the pandemic. We had all our systems automated to help mitigate any possible risks to staff and patients. That meant that it would be possible to contact you via email and you would be able to pay over the phone, which is still an option we have available now we are slowly returning back to the "new normal". During the lockdown period, we were able to undertake video and telephone consultations prior to appointments if necessary to you IE: if you were required to shield or were isolating and need dental advice and also still provide this service if necessary to you. We will be able to update your contact details, medical changes and any other documentation online prior to attending your appointment. This is to reduce possible cross contamination while also thinking about the planet, reducing use of paper. We asked our patients that if they did not have an allocated appointment time, not to attend. Instead, to contact the practice to book an appointment via the telephone. This helped reduce numbers in the practice at one time, keeping our patients and staff safe. |
Our Process for Patients Arriving for Appointments...
Please Note: we no longer carry out this process. It was set up during the height of the pandemic to keep our patients and staff safe.
1. Once you arrived at the practice whether by car or train (refer to "how to find us" page) we asked that you used your common sense and did not enter the reception area if you noticed that there was more than 2 patients inside. This was to maintain social distancing and to keep everyone safe. During the lockdown period and for some time afterwards we erected a door-bell. The practice door would remain locked throughout the day, and a member of the team would escort you in. Now however, you do not need to ring the door-bell. |
2. As you would expect we asked all our patients to use the hand gel available at reception and still enourage people to use this - two years on. We asked - if possible, for patients to please attend their appointment alone, or - if accompanying a child or an older relative please wear a face covering or mask whilst in the practice unless you have an exemption stating you are unable to wear a mask. |
3. On leaving your appointment we then gave you the opportunity to use the hand gel once again, and still enourage people to do so now - two years on. As before you can then book your next appointments and our reception team will then take payment. Alternatively, you can contact us when you get home to pay over the phone or through bank transfer (which is the preferred method of payment) or pay the receptionist via credit / debit card at the practice when leaving. We understand that people may not own any of these payment methods therefor we can still accept cash / cheques, and whilst these are not the preferred means of payment, they remain available as options. |
4. Like before the covid period, we would always contact you prior to your appointment to ensure you are still okay to attend, which we still do - although we may also ensure you are showing no Covid-19 symptoms. If you are attending an appointment with us, we ask that you continue social distancing rules at all times. |
5. During the pandemic the waiting areas was still available for patient use, as we sometimes run over schedule and people have to wait. We asked that (if you could) you would wear a facial covering at all times while in the dental practice, until instructed otherwise by a dentist or nurse (when in a clean, decontaminated surgery ready for dental treatment). If you couldnt use a mask, we would ask that you use a visor or adopt strict social distancing measures. The waiting area chairs were spread out for social distancing, and the sofas were made available for support bubbles and family units only. |
Message from The Team...
This is the message we wanted our patients to know during the pandemic...
We appreciate that these are not easy times for anyone right now and we will continue to support and help anyone who needs it through this time while we return to the new "normal". If you do not feel comfortable attending your dental appointments during this time or are classed as 'high risk' and choose to self isolate for the foreseeable, please do not push yourself to attend if you feel anxious in any way. We are here to offer you as much support as you need. We can take phone call and video calls, answer your questions and provide you with advice. Feel free to contact us at any time if you need advice on dental pain or keeping on top of your dental hygiene. We have dentists and oral health advisers who can guide you in the right direction. We wish you, your family & friends good health, All the staff at Horn Hill Dental Practice. |
Personal Protective Equiptment...
How our PPE changed during the pandemic & how we informed our patients of this change...
We understand that living through the current pandemic can cause you some anxiety. We want you to feel at ease when attending your appointments with us, therefore here is some information on what to expect in regards to PPE (personal protective equipment) when attending your appointment with us. Not only has our cleaning routine changed and what products we use to clean, but the PPE we wear has also increased. You will be accustomed to our staff wearing personal protective equipment such as scrubs, masks, gloves and visors, but as part of the response to Covid-19 we are now required to use a higher level of PPE for procedures where aerosols may be produced. What will differ from prior to covid-19 is that our staff will be wearing their PPE when you arrive, our staff are required to wear masks throughout the day. We realise that this will act as a barrier to communication, as well as making us look more intimidating than we actually are, and we apologise for this. As you can see in the photo below showing our principal dental surgeon Dr David Smith, where necessary we are now wearing surgical gowns, aswell as crocs - both which are washable and more easily decontaminated - and also more environmentally friendly than the disposable alternatives available. Under this gown are our regular scrubs clothing which get washed daily at 60 degrees. We will also be wearing our usual PPE - latex free gloves, visor face shield and facemask. The masks we use are tested to ensure they provide full protection at level 3. This level of PPE may come across daunting to already anxious patients, but it is for your protection as well our own. |
Principle Dental Surgeon Dr David Smith in full PPE ready for an AGP (aerosol generating procedure).
We are now in 2022 and luckily, we no longer have to wear this level of PPE due to the risk of contracting the covid-19 virus decreasing. |
Obtaining PPE During the Pandemic
As you can imagine obtaining PPE during the coronavirus pandemic was increasingly difficult. The nurse responsible for ordering stock kept a diary of all attempts made to obtain PPE and stock since March 2020 - when all our dental providers began to place necessary stock and PPE we required - on back order or not available. We have also had multiple orders amounting to many hundreds of pounds that simply did not appear yet stated they where available. When we went into complete lockdown, and unfortunately were no longer open for face to face contact with our patients, all the PPE we did manage to obtain was then sent to hospitals and care homes to help out with the wider PPE demand. We have encountered everything from £1000+ orders, changing delivery dates from 5 days to 120 days when processed, orders for one type of mask (FFP2) actually being a completely different mask (KN95) when we opened the box. These were subsequently tested, failed, and have been returned. HSE subsequently issued a UK wide recall for all of these type of masks, withdrawing them from use. We have since all be fit tested for the correct masks (FFP3/MFA) and can carry out AGP's (aerosol generating procedures) safely. |