Patient Update – 24/11/21

Dear patients,

We are pleased that updated Covid and infection control guidance for dental practices is now available and we wanted you to be aware of the below changes when you attend for your next appointment.

All patients coming in for dental treatment will now be screened into a new ‘respiratory’ or ‘non-respiratory’ pathway.

This means that as well as screening you for COVID-19 symptoms (high temperature, new continuous cough, loss of taste or smell) we will now be screening you for all respiratory symptoms.
If you are unwell and have any cold or flu symptoms such as a runny nose, sore throat, cough or difficulty breathing/ shortness of breath you will need to defer your appointment until you are better.

Please note: if you have an urgent dental problem but you do have any of the above symptoms, please contact reception who will triage you and arrange an appointment where additional precautions will be taken.

If you have a diagnosed medical condition which means you have any of the above symptoms and know it is not a cold or flu, please state this in the additional comments box on your medical history or advise our reception team; the clinician will then review if you can be seen.

You will need to complete your Medical History & COVID screening questions as normal online via our patient portal before you attend your appointment, which now includes updated screening questions.

Please note – we will require these COVID-19 screening questions to be updated for every appointment.

If you have already filled in the medical history form on the patient portal, you will just need to update any changes or confirm there has been no changes, you will not have to complete the entire form every time.

Other changes:

• The front door is now unlocked so when you arrive at the practice, you now have the option of coming in to check in at reception.
• We are also now able to have some patients sit in the waiting rooms, although you must still be 2m apart from each other and wearing a mask.

You will still have the option of checking in via the patient portal or by calling us on 01635 40311 to inform us you have arrived and are waiting in your car/ outside.

Please try to arrive at the time of your appointment – please do not arrive too early as you may be required to wait in your car or outside on the seat provided if the limited seats in the waiting rooms are taken.

• Face coverings remain compulsory, so please wear a mask to your appointment including when waiting for your appointment in the waiting rooms. If you do not have one, you can purchase one at the practice.
• We also still require all patients to sanitise their hands when they enter the practice, so please do not wear gloves when attending your appointment at the practice. We ask that any gloves are correctly disposed of prior to entering.
• You will now be able to use the practice’s toilet facilities again
• We now also have an additional desk in our downstairs waiting room which will reduce the queue at the front desk.

As always, if you have any queries or require any additional information, please do not hesitate to contact us

With kind regards,

The team at The Briars Dental Centre