We are pleased to advise that we have re-opened to more routine treatments on 18th may in phase 1 of the Government plan to lift the lockdown. During the entire period of this difficult time we have continued to provide emergency treatment and advice and would like to thank all of our staff who have assisted us in this effort. We are now really looking forward to being able to resume welcoming our patients back to the Practice and back to the future.
Gently does it so we will do it gently
However, we will be taking the early phases of this plan very gently and gradually re-introducing our return to the new ‘normality’. For some time, everything will take a bit longer or move slower than previously.
Initially, we have concentrated on arranging appointments for patients who had some difficulties during lockdown and then offering appointments to patients whose treatments had to be deferred as a result of the lockdown. We are also in the process of re-scheduling all of the recall appointments with both dentists and hygienists which would have been carried out during the closure. Please be patient with us as we make this happen as it is a very large administrative task and will take some time to cater for the backlog.
If you wish to arrange an appointment, please call us on 051 421453 and we will do our best to accommodate you at the earliest opportunity. Our online appointment booking facility will remain switched off for the moment.
New Appointment Protocols
As part of the phased return, and in addition to our usual stringent cross-infection procedures which have been augmented by additional medical grade air sterilisation systems and other measures, we have introduced a number of new protocols to ensure social distancing and reduce contact. You can help a lot so we would ask for your cooperation in ensuring that these measures are successful.
Initially, it will not be possible to ‘walk in’ to the Practice as before. Access will be granted to patients with appointments which are pre-booked by telephone only at the moment.
Prior to attending for your appointment, you will be asked questions about any potential symptoms of Covid 19 you, or anyone you have been in contact with, may have had. On attendance, you will again be asked these questions and your temperature will be recorded. If you have had symptoms or your temperature is over 38C, you will be asked to defer your appointment for a minimum of 14 days.
We will have a very rigid appointment failure charge system in place. A minimum of 48 hrs notice will be required to cancel an appointment. It will not be possible to proceed with appointments if you arrive late as that may impinge on the time allocated to the next patient.
IF you have an appointment and are suffering from cough, fever, shortness of breath or these symptoms have been present in your household or someone you have been in contact with, we ask you defer your treatment for a minimum of 14 days by letting us know at the earliest possible opportunity.
When you arrive
We will ask you to wash and sanitise your hands on arrival, and request that you are not accompanied by additional people (except an official helper or parent/guardian) or bring unnecessary belongings with you into the Practice. Additional automatic sanitising points are available throughout the Practice.
We will try to complete more items of treatment when required using longer appointments whenever we can in order to minimise the number of visits you have to make. This will also help to preserve PPE resources which are extremely difficult to source at present.
While in the Practice, please be aware of your social distancing responsibilities to other people. We would request that payments are made by credit/debit card whenever feasible. It may be possible to obtain finance for larger treatment plans using Flexi-fi. Applications for Flexi-fi finance may be made on our website.
These measures, and our own internal efforts, are designed to help increase everyone’s safety and we appreciate your assistance in making them effective.
