WE ARE OPENING!
Dear Patient,
We hope this update will still find you and your family in excellent health.
The good news is that we now have a re-opening date: the 29th June 2020. So not long now to see our ‘Hive’ back into action…
Since the Government issued directives to re-open Dental Practices earlier this month, the vast majority of practices in the UK are yet to open. This is due to many hurdles such as:
Learning and training the Team with all the new procedures. We have had several Team meetings (online and in person) to adapt to the new patient’s journey.
Lack of Protective Personal Equipment (PPE). Due to understandable exhaustion of PPE in the last two months by healthcare services and general public, all dental practices are struggling to get appropriate PPE, without which we cannot operate safely (and open).
Complexities organizing new rotas based on limited access to staff (due to on-going furlough rules).
Logistical challenges of having to adapt to an ever tighter NHS reality. We have been informed that the contract will soon suffer a major reform.
Etc.
The re-opening will be planned in a gradual/staggered way to allow the Team to get used to the ‘temporary new normal’.
As a Clinic, based on guidelines, we are prioritizing the following:
Emergencies during Lockdown period.
Opened treatment plans (prior to Lockdown) with overdue care.
Hygiene/Therapy of patients periodontally compromised (with gums disease)
Gradually incorporating routine care and treatments
While lots of things have changed, one thing remains constant: our commitment to your safety.
Infection control has always been of prime importance at Honeycomb Dental Clinic, as you will have seen during your appointments over the years. Our infection control processes are designed so that your dental care is both safe and comfortable.
We are writing to tell you about some of the procedures that we have in place to ensure that you will always receive the highest quality care.
As always, our practice conforms to all the regulations and guidelines that are published by the official healthcare bodies in England.
You may see a few changes when it is time for your next appointment. We made these changes to help protect our patients and Team.
For example:
We will communicate with you beforehand to ask some screening questions.
You will be asked some of those same questions again when you attend for you appointment.
On arrival to the Clinic, our door will be locked; you may have to wait in your car (if you are driving) in the car park; and you will need to call us to let us know that you are ready to enter the clinic at the allocated appointment time .
At your appointment time we will invite you into the Clinic and a ‘runner’ may greet and guide you through. We will check your current state of wellness.
Appointments will be managed to allow for social distancing between patients.
Whenever you can, please could you attend the Clinic alone.
Companions are of course very welcome to wait in cars, but limiting the use of our waiting room will also help social distancing for now.
During this period please could you limit the number of belongings that you bring to your appointment e.g. bags, coats, but do bring your own Face Covering (i.e Mask) and Pen.
We have installed a temporary Perspex Screen on our Front-Desk (like those seen in lots of shops).
There will be hand sanitizer for you to use when you entering and leaving the Clinic.
During this period, the waiting room will no longer offer magazines, children’s toys etc, since those items are difficult to clean and disinfect.
While our toilets are currently for urgent use only please could you use the toilet before leaving home.
For now, we will do our best to allow greater time between patients to reduce waiting times for you and to reduce the number of patients in the reception area at any one time.
If you need further treatment we may ask you for advanced payment whilst signing your treatment plan (so to minimise further contact on your next appointment)
We will only be able to take Card payments , cash unfortunately will not be accepted at this present time.
Pre-payment will be required on booking exams and on treatment confirmation calls. This will be done by the receptionist over the phone to minimise contact with the card machine and ease patient congestion and flow.
When booking further treatment we will have specific time slots for treatment procedures.
You Team (particularly in surgery on treatment day) may look gorgeously ‘different’ when wearing the additional Protective Personal Equipment.
Please note that, as new Government directives get updated, the above list will gradually change over time.
At the moment we are working hard to re-arrange our daily lists/books to adapt to this temporary ‘new normal’. It will not be an easy task, but our Front-Desk bees are doing their best to accommodate everyone.
This may disrupt your appointment times and you may have to be rebooked to allow space for emergencies. Please bear with us.
If you are a Denplan patient, your dentist will be writing to you personally with more details about your extra-benefits, including faster booking appointments. Your loyalty during this period was vital for keeping us afloat.
We would like to thank all for the support, patience and understanding shown during this difficult time of closure. It is nearly over now and we will be looking forward to see you at the Clinic.
Until then… you know… stay safe, healthy, remain calm and keep a positive mindset…
Be Kind to Nature.
Warmest Wishes from Us all @ Honeycomb Dental Clinic