Patient Urgent Treatment Appointment Information

 The treatments you are offered may be different to those you received before, depending on staff and equipment available. It will take some time before services return to what you previously experienced as normal. Please be patient.

Our community has been through a lot over the last few months, and all of us are looking forward to resuming our normal habits and routines. While many things have changed, one thing has remained the same: our commitment to your safety.

Infection control has always been a top priority for our practice and you may have seen this during your visits to our surgery. Our infection control processes are made so that when you receive care, it’s both safe and comfortable. We want to tell you about the infection control procedures we follow in our practice to keep patients and staff safe.

Our practice follows infection control guidelines made by the governing bodies. We are up-to-date on new guidance that has been issued. We do this to make sure that our infection control procedures are current and adhere to recommendations.

You will see some changes at your next appointment. We made these changes to help protect our patients and staff. For example:

Before your appointment:

A member of staff will ask you some Covid-19 related screening questions. The same screening questions will be asked to your essential accompanying person if it is not possible for you to attend alone.

You will be asked to fill out a Medical History form using the Patient Portal. If you do not have an email address and are unable to fill out the relevant forms online, please make staff aware before you arrive at the practice, we also ask that you bring your own pen.

You will be asked to pay by card before your appointment over the phone. If this is not possible, you will be able to use the card terminal for payments at the practice. We no longer accept cash at the practice. Please ensure that you have any proof of exemption with you in a clear plastic wallet.

We ask that you attend your appointment alone and do not bring any non essential items with you. Our waiting rooms are out of order, as are patient toilets.

Please arrive on time for your appointment, we will be able to invite you into the practice once your treatment room is ready.  If you are more than 10 minutes late for your appointment, we will not be able to see you.

The practice door will be locked to prevent anyone entering the building that does not have a scheduled appointment.

On arrival:

Please ring the doorbell and wait outside the practice, whilst observing social distancing.

We ask that you only bring essential items and that you leave coats etc. in the car – you will be handed a plastic carrier bag to leave your personal belongings in – this will be placed by the surgery door and will be returned to you after your treatment.

You will be greeted by a dental nurse wearing gloves and a mask – she will open the practice door and allow you to enter the building.  Please be prepared you may be asked to wear a face mask. We ask that you continue to observe social distancing of 2 meters. The dental nurse will provide you with hand sanitiser to use on entering the building.

You will be asked the same Covid-19 screening questions and your temperature will also be taken at this stage. Please be prepared to be sent home immediately at this stage if you do not meet criteria for treatment.

You will notice that the reception area now has a Perspex barrier and reception staff are wearing masks.

The dental nurse will escort you directly to the treatment surgery – it is important that you do not touch any doors or surroundings. You will then be greeted by the dentist and dental nurse who will both be wearing full PPE.

Staff will not be able to shake your hand, please go directly to the dental chair where you will be asked to rinse with mouthwash for 1 minute before your assessment and emergency treatment.

Leaving the practice:

Once your treatment is complete, your personal belongings will be returned to you and you will then be escorted directly to the waiting area where payment will be taken by the dental nurse. She will then direct you to the exit to the rear of the practice. It is important we have in place a one-way system to avoid unnecessary contact with others.

It will not be possible for you to arrange a follow up appointment at this stage – you will either be asked to call the practice or a member of staff will call you to make further arrangements.

If you show symptoms following the appointment booking, you should contact the practice by phone.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the practice. This guidance is subject to change in line with infection control guidelines.