We will all be returning to work in 3 phases, with phase 1 starting on Tuesday and phase 3 a full "new normal" return anticipated at the beginning of 2021. Timings are approximate and will be under constant review according to the general COVID-19 situation and official guidance. As soon as we know exact dates, we will of course let you know.
Phase 1 will start on Tuesday 26th May with a trial team of staff, and will grow in capacity in week 3.
Who will we treat? |
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Which of our team will be back at work? |
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Which procedures will we be doing? |
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Phase 2 will consist of a gradual return to providing comprehensive gold standard dental treatment and will start once we are have a good stock of PPE, have finessed our treatment protocols in phase 1 and treated the backlog of emergency patients. This date will be under constant review and will follow official guidance.
We will prioritise treating the 2,000 patients currently in treatment alongside daily emergencies.
Who will we treat? |
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Which of our team will be back at work? |
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Which procedures will we be doing? |
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The plan is that our full "new normal" will start early 2021 incorporating new offsite/virtual patient handling techniques. PPE will be standardised at a new universal normal level for all procedures and air purification, aerosol control and highlevel cross-infection control maintained. The timing of the transition from phase 2 to phase 3 will be under constant review and in line with official guidance.
To keep everyone as safe as possible we have redefined Devonshire House using 4 zones across all 3 buildings.These cross-infection control zones will not be temporary and are likely to be the new approach to our work for the foreseeable future.
They are designated according to the level of risk with 0 being low risk of contamination and 3 being high and aim to control risk and mininmise cross zone contamination.
Which areas are Zone O? |
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Risk level |
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How to stay safe and PPE |
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Uniform |
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Which areas are Zone 1? |
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Risk level | Gathering together so increased risk and extra precaution required |
How to stay safe and PPE |
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Uniform |
Follow the guidelines below about uniform |
Which areas are zone 2? |
Where patients are being treated or contaminated materials are being handled.
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Risk level |
Increased risk due to close attention to patients |
How to stay safe |
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Uniform and PPE |
Wear surgery PPE including:
Follow the guidelines below about uniform |
Which areas are zone 3? |
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Risk level | Significant |
How to stay safe |
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Uniform and PPE | Clinical staff will all wear scrubs with extra PPE:
or Professionally laundered:
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Reducing aerosol contamination |
All surgeries have our new fresh air filtration units. When on the highest function during and after the AGP during appointments, they will change the air every 3 minutes and every 15 mins on the lower setting prior to AGP starting to reduce noise. They will remain on the highest setting until the room has been cleaned down and is aerosol free. Air quality monitoring |
When does the surgery revert back to a zone 2? |
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When do I change from a zone 3 worker to zone 2 worker? |
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Beginning of the day |
Arrive in your own clothes
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Before lunch | Clinical staff only
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End of the day |
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As we return in phase 1, a "new normal" day will:
This week Wail, Rosie, Janice and Maria were trained how to fit FF2 and FF3 tight fitting face masks and are fully up-to-speed on the recommended guidance. All clinical staff will be fitted for masks as you return to work. We will also be offering this service to our referring dentists.
Rosie, Bev and Louise O, Sophie and Ian have also been at the practice this week learning and refining the new protocols ready for the introduction of phase 1 on Tuesday. As additional teams are re-inducted back to work in phase 2, we anticipate that two days of training will be required for each of them.
Clothes and uniform?
What about lunch?
For cross-infection control purposes the toaster, sandwich toaster and microwaves have been removed from the kitchens. Please bring a self contained packed lunch to put in the fridge to help reduce:
Under the new normal, the patient journey will be very different with many not seeing their regular dentist and our primary aim is to keep patients safe whilst constantly reassuring them.
For a step-by-step guide to the new patient journey click here