PRACTICE REOPENING!
Dear patients, 19th June 2020
The Scottish government has stated that as of Monday 22 June dental practices may reopen with a view to seeing patients face to face, an announcement we welcome as part of the roadmap to easing lockdown restrictions and we return to work. Whilst it is stated that we can reopen, the safety of our patients and staff is paramount and this will be at the forefront of our reopening procedures as the coronavirus has not disappeared.
After almost three months of closure we will be ready to see patients shortly, following the necessary steps to make the practice ready with respect to finalizing new protocols which will continue to keep our practice among the safest places to attend with confidence. Whilst we will be opening this coming week it is important to stress that due to continued social distancing measures in place we will be limited in the number of patients we will be able to see on any given day and like all practices in Scotland we will be limited to using only one surgery in the short term. Under the direction of Scottish government we are also limited to the treatment which we can offer at this time which rules out any procedure which could produce an aerosol and this includes the use of the dental drill and water and air scaler. Any treatment requiring the above measures would need to be delayed or referred to a dedicated treatment hub at this stage.
Please bear with us as we move through these stages which are there to keep us safe even as the virus threat seems to lessen. We will prioritise emergency care at this stage and then work to resume normal care at the first possible opportunity. This will include check ups and dental cleaning which so many of you tell us you have missed.
There will be new protocols for patient communication, appointment making and attending the practice and we will keep you up to date on this. In the meantime if you have any emergencies including pain, swelling or uncontrolled bleeding please get in touch.
Michael Kelly Dentistry
IMPORTANT UPDATE
COVID-19 / CORONAVIRUS
As we continue to face daily challenges presented by the Corona virus pandemic our thoughts are with the people around the world who are affected.
I want to reassure all of our patients that, in this time of uncertainty, our dental practice will remain open and safe to attend unless we are advised otherwise. Given our exceptional measures in cross infection control and hygiene, our clinic is doing all it can with regards to the spread of contaminents.
All clinical areas are of course impeccably cleaned along with associated instruments and single use items. All staff are only attending work if they have not travelled to high risk areas overseas and show no signs or symptoms and we always wear the required PPE- masks, visors and gloves. We are proud to have a high standard in hygiene and sterilisation protocols and I can reassure all of our patients of our continued committment to this.
In our waiting areas all handles are being cleaned between patients, the card machine is wiped between uses and sadly we will remove all magazines and reading material for the foreseeable future.
So many patients attend our clinic for their regular dental care as well as more advanced treatment to restore their smiles and dental health. We appreciate the trust that our thousands of patients put in us and in our clinic and we can assure you that we will continue to provide the highest standards of care in clinical excellence and hygiene to everyone who attends.
While the changing nature of this situation may impact some of our patients, we are proactively planning for every contingency to minimise any disruption to our patients. Our team are always available for advice via email or phonecall, so please don’t hesitate to contact us.
We appreciate your patience and trust and thank you for your continued support.