LEVEL 2: Delta.
YOUR SAFETY COMES FIRST!
We want to re assure all our patients and staff that we are following all health and safety protocols and principles that will enable us to manage the requirements contained in the Guidelines from Dental Council and Ministry Of Health designed to keep us all healthy.
Here is what to expect at Level 2
Patient Screening For Covid Contact Risk- we will assist patients with higher Covid risk if they need urgent care with strengthened protocols. We have clear boundaries for low risk and we want to provide all our services at low risk. We will not encourage walk in patients or visitors who are unscreened during Alert Level 1 and above.
Patients and Staff will Scan the Covid QR code when the arrive; naturally we will have a record of all people who visit the practice however the efficiencies of the Bluetooth tracking are designed to ensure that contact tracing is efficient should that be required.
All patients within the practice are to wear face masks mainly to reflect a higher awareness of aerosol as the primary transmission method of Covid DELTA in particular, but as consideration to others who maybe are anxious whilst away from their homes.
All staff are to wear their personal masks within the practice, and surgical masks when they are in the treatment rooms providing care for their patients.
Our Duty Receptionist will not be wearing a mask for practical reasons, as the are the human face to our care. We symbolically wear our masks to protect the receptionists so they are free to communicate clearly at all times.
Any patient or staff member that feels unwell will be asked to defer treatment or stay home. We are fortunate to currently not have Covid in our local community however we all have a responsibility to minimise viral transmission with simple precautions and testing where appropriate.
All staff will be required to protect themselves and our clients by being fully vaccinated by the 30th of September 2021. From a Health and Safety perspective we see a value in vaccination. We acknowledge the debate however we also have an ethical responsibility to take all practical steps to limit spread and risk as the nature of our work environment dictates this approach.
We will use additional PPE (personal protective equipment) as risk dictates such that we preserve the valuable supplies for those high risk situations when urgent care is required for vulnerable individuals.
We will strictly following the additional cleaning protocols such that all surfaces that are in contact with aerosol/droplets are disinfected according to protocol and reinforce all hand washing protocols and the use of touch free hand sanitiser for all patients/visitors to the practice .
We will use all our experience and knowledge to limit aerosol production without compromising our care and explore all means to make our time with patients efficient and effective without compromising the reputation of our service.