COVID-19 Update

Shielded Patients

Our return to work following the pandemic has been subject to a change in working conditions

The Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) recognises that in particular, clinically extremely vulnerable patients would benefit from a domiciliary visit to protect them from the possibility of contracting COVID-19 outside their home environment.  As such, we have extended the eligibility of domiciliary care to cover Clinically extremely vulnerable (formerly shielded) patients in addition to our traditional patient groups.  The SOP recommends that patients who are clinically extremely vulnerable and require urgent care would benefit form a domiciliary visit if a telephone consultation is not appropriate.  See here for details regarding shielding

For more information, see the simplified algorithm at the bottom of this page

Staff Precautions

We have been informed by the Department of Health that as of 31st August 2022, it is not appropriate for our staff to get regular COVID tests if they are asymptomatic.  We have recently even been stripped of our login rights to the NHS portal that we used to register our tests online.  We recognise that can fly in the face of policies that may be in place in particular care homes, but the issue is really beyond our control.  As it happens, we have a few COVID tests left over and will endeavour to undertake a test if we exhibit any signs and of COVID.

It is our policy that any members of staff who exhibit symptoms should not come into work until day 10.  This allows us to remain confident that our staff are low-risk health care workers at all times. 

All our staff are triple-vaccinated against COVID-19

Screening Our Patients

We understand that most of our patients are at ‘increased risk’ for harm from COVID-19 (see here for details), and we are trying to minimise the risk of community transmission of COVID-19.  When making appointments, we will therefore be trying to ascertain the COVID-19 risk of each patient and their household.  If a patient – or any member of their household:

  • has shown symptoms of COVID-19, (see here for details) or,
  • has received a positive test for COVID-19 or has been told to isolate (and is within that isolation period),

we would be unable to make a home visit.  We will instead attempt to deal with problems over the telephone or via a video-call and give advice and prescribe medication as appropriate.  For urgent dental issues, we will be able to refer patients to a ‘hot’ UDC, where patients with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 infection are seen

We will avoid any high-risk procedures such as aerosol-generating procedures (AGP – e.g. the use of the scaler and the ‘drill’) whenever possible, at this time.  Examination, denture work and the repair of teeth by manual instrumentation is considered low-risk

Prioritising Patients

We would like to reassure our patients that we will follow up-to-date guidelines on the prevention of cross-infection and the use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for our mutual benefit at this time

Whilst we endeavour to minimize the risk of transmission of COVID-19 and take active steps in this regard, it is important to stress that direct contact is never risk-free, and it remains ultimately our patients’ choice as to whether to be seen by us at this time

Care Homes

In order to keep our staff and patients safe, we will amend our method of delivery in care homes.  In cases where care homes have suspected COVID-19 cases, but the patient in question is not suspected to be affected, we will make an individual risk assessment on the matter, depending on the means of isolation being employed

Where it has been deemed safe to do so, we will be happy to visit patients in care homes, with a few changes to the way we work:

  • We will endeavour to complete all relevant documentation in advance (ideally electronically) to minimise cross-contamination of surfaces
  • Patients should be awaiting our arrival in a treatment room or other private area as appropriate (ideally not a bedroom).  We will give prior notice of our visit

COVID-19 Risk and Domiciliary Care