Cornhill Dental Practice would like to welcome you back to the Practice.
As I am sure you are all aware since Cornhill Dental Practice had to close back in March the government has issued us with new legislation to which the practice has had to adhere. We would like to thank all our patients for their continued support and would like to reassure you all that if you have had pain over the last couple of months that we now will do everything we can to make this better.
There are many things here at the practice that we have had to change due to COVID-19 and as a practice we had definitely risen to that challenge. I can assure each and every one of you that visiting us here will be a safe experience as long as you follow the guidelines, we have laid out below.
Treatments and routine treatments will be carried out differently by our dental professionals.
Visiting the dentist will now be a very different experience for everyone involved. We have had no choice but to limit the number of patients we can see in a day and we ask for your understanding with regards to this.
Tooth-ache and general issues will now be triaged first over the phone with the receptionist taking details from you, including a medical history. This information will then be passed on to the dentist to phone you back. A thorough risk assessment will be carried out and the dentist will advise the receptionist of the desired time slot to meet your particular needs. Unfortunately, we will no longer be able to offer a range of appointments times due to patient safety and government guidelines. (Hopefully this will change soon) Tooth-ache appointments are unlikely to be seen on the same day but patients needs will be met.
Dentist and staff will be un-recognizable due to the vast amounts of Personal Protective Equipment(PPE), and this may be a little scary to some, but we can totally reassure you that they are all the same people and there is nothing to worry about. The equipment is there for your safety.
To start with the practice will only be able to open to do Non-Aerosol-Generating Procedures, this is due to the lack of Personal Protective Equipment and government regulation. We will be turning our attentions to helping our patients who are in pain and need us the most. Please continue to ring the practice if a problem arises as we will still be able to help you, routine appointments I hope will be reinstated soon.
Our practice will only be open for patients that have pre-arranged appointments. Walk-in’s will not be allowed and the practice doors will be locked.
Children must come with a responsible adult and this adult will also need to be available to attend the appointment. They must also be agreeable to speak to the receptionist about their COVID-19 and Medical Status so a risk assessment can be carried out for them alongside the child attending the appointment. (If a different adult comes to the practice with the child on the day of their appointment a new appointment will need to be made and the original appointment WILL BE CANCELLED)
Chaperones are welcome to attend with an adult but this must be arranged with reception in advance of their appointment and if they are coming into the practice, they will need to be able to speak to the receptionist about their COVID-19 and medical status. No unarranged chaperones, or more that one chaperone/child, will be welcomed into the practice.
Please be aware that we are operating under government regulations and as such the Practice may be have to close due to any Covid-19 situational change. This will result in appointments being cancelled, possibly at short notice, so we apologise in advance for any inconvenience this may cause.
Our Receptionist will contact you to make your appointment and run through the treatment options the dentist has advised you of.
The day before your appointment you will be contacted again to ensure your attendance and a Covid-19 assessment for you and any chaperone will also be done. Over the phone payment towards your appointment will need to be taken at that point to reduce transmission of the virus. Please be aware that there will be an additional change for PPE due to substantial increased costs in this area and no government support for dental practices.
WHEN ATTENDING THE PRACTICE
We will be trying to reduce transmission of the virus
DO NOT ATTEND THE PRACTICE IF YOU HAVE COVID-19 SYMPTOMS
If in doubt check www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/symptoms
Staff will be protected at all times with PPE, please do not be alarmed by this.
- Please attend the practice alone and with a personal mask on (Only the individual with a pre-arranged appointment will be allowed to enter the building)
- Please bring your own pen to sign forms
- Please be on time for your appointment – not before or after your appointment time
- Toilet facilities are only open for emergency use. (No teeth cleaning will be allowed in our toilet facilities)
- No personal belongings as they will need to be left outside of the surgery and in the reception area (these will be left at owner’s risk)
- Please could we ask that you bring a Card for payment only as we would prefer this to cash. If you wish to pay by cash we would request exact amount in a sealed bag.
- If you need to cough or sneeze please use the corner of your bended arm.
- A mobile hearing loop is available upon request
The Process
- When you arrive at the practice the door will be locked, please ring the buzzer and wait to be let in. You must arrive at the exact time of your appointment.
- You will be asked to sanitize your hands at the door.
- The nurse will go through the questions again reference COVID-19 WHILE YOU ARE AT THE DOOR and take your temperature. If we suspect you have COVID-19 YOU WILL BE ASKED TO LEAVE, GO HOME AND PHONE 111.
- At this point you will be asked to use your own pen to sign your – medical history, COVID-19 questionnaire and treatment estimate (if applicable)
- The nurse will then take you straight up to the surgery asking you to leave any personal belongings in the office. (these are left at your own risk)
- The dentist will go over your medical history again and confirm the reason for you attendance and treatment plan as usual.
- Treatment will be carried out.
- When treatment is finished you will be asked to sanitize your hands and wait on the ‘X’ on the landing while your nurse replaces her PPE.
- She will take you down to the next ‘X’ outside the office where you will pick up your belongings and settle your account.
- The nurse will take you down to the door and ask you to sanitize your hands for one last time before you leave the surgery.
- If you have any questions after leaving the surgery please phone us directly and please do not be surprised if our dentist contacts you directly.
Our Team have spent time getting ready to welcome you back and we are are ready and trained in the “NEW NORMAL” to welcome you back.
We look forward to seeing you.
