BRAMPTON DENTAL PRACTICE
COVID UPDATE FEBRUARY 2023
Whilst we are now becoming more acclimatised to “living with Covid” the practice has reviewed its policies on patient attendance if you are not feeling 100%. With immediate effect, we would like to ask that all our patients follow the guidelines below:
• If you feel unwell before your appointment, please call the practice to discuss your symptoms. The reception team will speak to the clinician and take advice as to whether you should still attend for your appointment or if you need to be rebooked.
• If you have developed a new cough/cold please phone us to cancel your appointment, unless you have a severe pain emergency.
• If you have had confirmed covid in the last 10 days please do a test on the morning of your appointment, if you have a positive result, please cancel
• Symptomless patients are no longer required to wear a face mask, unless you wish to do so.
Obviously, we do ask that you still give us as much notice as possible, ideally 48 hours, if you are feeling unwell but we do appreciate this is not always possible. Our reception team are also available to advise you if you are unsure whether you should keep your appointment, and we welcome you calling when this is the case.
Thank you for your continued co-operation and we look forward to seeing you at your next visit to the practice.
COVID 19 UPDATE
Practice Covid Protocols Update - November 2022
Everyone at the Practice is still continuing to test twice weekly before attending work. It remains of paramount importance to us that we keep ourselves and our patients as safe as possible whilst Covid is still circulating in the wider community.
Furthermore, we respectfully ask if you are presenting with any symptoms of a cold or flu or have recently had a tummy bug that you don't attend the practice for your appointment. We need to ensure that we protect ourselves as much as we can from potentially catching any illnesses that could quite quickly spread throughout the staff at the practice.
If you have any symptoms or perhaps need to check with us, please do call our reception team on 01480 458100 who can advise whether you should attend or not or will rebook your appointment.
Finally, we still require all patients to continue to wear a mask when attending for their appointment(s).
These protocols will remain in place during the winter months and we will review them in Spring 2023. We very much appreciate all patients cooperating with our safe working processes.
COVID 19 UPDATE - March 2022
Following the most recent changes in Covid restrictions that the Government has issued, we would like to let you know that we are classed as a healthcare environment and as such our practice-specific Covid protocols are still in place. We have a duty of care to you and to our staff.
Recently, some patients are arriving for their appointment without a mask however, we do require all patients who attend our practice for their appointment to please wear a face covering at all times when not receiving treatment.
We further ask that if you have any cold-like symptoms that you please take a lateral flow test no more than one day ahead of your appointment with us. Up until 1st April rapid lateral flow tests are still available free of charge by ordering online or by collecting from a pharmacy or many of the Huntingdonshire Libraries. After 1st April, if you experience symptoms prior to your appointment and do not have a lateral flow test, please contact us at the practice and we may be able to help sort one out for you.
Lastly, please be assured that whilst many of the Covid restrictions have been relaxed in the wider community, Dentistry remains one of the highest risk areas of healthcare and it is for these reasons that our requirements for both your and our safety will remain in place for the foreseeable future. We do therefore appreciate your understanding with our new work processes to keep us all safe during your visits to us.
COVID 19 UPDATE - February 2022
Following the Government’s latest advice on Covid issued 10th February, we would like to advise our patients that our Practice Covid protocols will remain as previously published on our website. We would be grateful for your cooperation as we continue to work as safely as possible for patients and staff.
COVID 19 UPDATE - December 2021
In response to the latest guidance issued by the UK Government we would like all patients to familiarise themselves with the following Covid screening questions prior to their appointments:
Do you have any of the following symptoms: Have you or any member of your household/family had a confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19 in the last 10 days?
Are you or any member of your household/family waiting for a COVID-19/SARS-CoV-2 PCR test result?
Have you travelled internationally in the last 10 days?
Have you or any member of your household/family been advised to isolate by any NHS organisation in the last 10 days?
If you answer yes to any of the above, unfortunately we will not be able to see you for your appointment. Please telephone the practice giving as much notice as possible to rebook.
COVID 19 UPDATE - November 2021
We continue to work following our practice-specific protocols for patients and staff:
- Mask wearing is still a requirement of attending this practice, for patients and staff
- Temperatures are taken on patients’ arrival. Staff also record temperatures prior to starting work
- Covid-19 Disclaimer forms are still required to be completed by patients
- Our main door is still locked – patients are required to call the practice on their arrival.
- Staff take lateral flow tests at least twice per week
A question that we have been asked recently is “when is it safe for you to visit the practice if you are getting over Covid-19 or are coming out of a period of self-isolation?”
Any patient who fits into either of the above categories should not attend the practice for their appointment until they are 14 days past the last date of their isolation or diagnosis. You must then take a negative lateral flow test within 48-24 hours prior to your appointment.
If you have any symptoms or are unsure, please contact the practice and speak to reception for advice or to rearrange your upcoming appointment.
Please also note that our policy on attending your appointment if you have a cold sore still remains the same, especially at this time of the year.
The team at Brampton Dental Practice
Covid 19 update July 2021
Following the announcement yesterday by the Government on the continued easing of Coronavirus restrictions, we would like to let our patients know that the current protocols we have in place for patients attending our practice will remain in place until further notice. Our waiting room will remain closed, patients are respectfully asked to continue wearing a mask when attending the practice for appointments and we will take your temperature on arrival.
Our team are all fully vaccinated and carry out lateral flow testing twice a week, but as a practice we will continue these safety measures until guidance is received from the Chief Dental Officer to ensure the safety of our patients and staff.
We wish all of you the very best in every aspect of your lives and are as always, hugely appreciative of your continued support and kind words.
From all the team at Brampton Dental Practice
Covid 19 update March 8th
With the recent government announcements detailing a roadmap out of lockdown, we can all look towards the future with some cautious optimism.
In terms of our standard operating procedures, we will be continuing as we are for the foreseeable future. This has proved to be a safe and effective approach since June 2020 and will enable us to keep delivering important care without interruption.
We wish all of you the very best in every aspect of your lives and are as always, hugely appreciative of your continued support and kind words.
From all the team at Brampton Dental Practice
18 JANUARY 2021
Dear Patients
With the introduction of another Lockdown period, we would like to assure you that we are continuing with BUSINESS AS USUAL and operating our normal working hours as much as we can do, although there may be some occasions that a more streamlined service could be implemented on a temporary basis. We are working with high levels of protection for staff and patients alike and would like you to feel reassured by the measures we have in place. If you still feel that you would prefer to postpone your treatment, then please call our reception team to rearrange and we would appreciate as much notice as is possible.
Reception has been very busy since we returned and although we have managed to contact many of our patients, if you have still not heard from us regarding your routine appointment, please call the practice on 01480 458100.
We are all working really hard to make the most of each day, keeping on top of our emergency cases, at the same time providing essential preventive care to all our patients.
Whilst it is our great pleasure to welcome new patients to our practice, we will be deferring new patient appointments until later this year, while we are at full capacity looking after those already registered with us. Your understanding in this is greatly appreciated.
We wish all of you the very best in every aspect of your lives and are as always, hugely appreciative of your continued support and kind words.
From all the team at Brampton Dental Practice
6th NOVEMBER 2020-10-14
Dear Patients
Following the start of our second lockdown on 5th November, we would like to let you know that we are continuing with BUSINESS AS USUAL and operating our normal working hours. We are working with a high levels of protection for staff and patients alike and would like you to feel reassured by the measures we have in place. If you feel that you would prefer to postpone your treatment, then please call our reception team to rearrange.
Reception has been very busy since we returned and although we have managed to contact many of our patients, if you have still not heard from us regarding your routine appointment, please call the practice on 01480 458100.
You may recall that all dental practices were required to close for a period of time at the start of lockdown 1.0? The reason for this was that, although the government had exempted dental practices from closure, it was the dental regulators that required us to close until effective measures for safe working practices could be established. Once this had been done, practices were able to reopen with the additional new measures. This is how we have been working since early June and has become the new normal.
We are all working really hard to make the most of each day, keeping on top of our emergency cases, at the same time providing essential preventive care to all our patients.
Whilst it is our great pleasure to welcome new patients to our practice, we will be deferring new patient appointments until sometime next year, while we are at full capacity looking after those already registered with us. Your understanding in this is greatly appreciated.
We wish all of you the very best in every aspect of your lives and are as always, hugely appreciative of your continued support and kind words.
From all the team at Brampton Dental Practice
Brampton Dental Practice Reopening
20th July 2020
Dear Patients
We are delighted to be back working in our new normal environment. All our staff are here, safe and well.
We are operating to our pre Covid-19 opening times and the practice is fully equipped with the highest standards of PPE.
We returned to work a month ago and have successfully treated all our urgent cases accumulated throughout lockdown and have been finishing treatments that were interrupted by lockdown.
We are now focusing on our backlog of examinations and hygienist appointments.
The fairest way to do this is in chronological order so patients who missed routine appointments during the lockdown period will be contacted first.
This will inevitably mean that everybody will be slightly behind their normal time to be seen.
Whilst the additional measures currently in place, slow down our work rate, they are helping to keep us all safe.
Before appointments can be made your dentist or dental nurse will need to call you to make sure all is well medically and to allow us to prepare for what may be needed at your appointment.
The new arrival procedure is still in place and reception can only be accessed by telephone or immediately after an appointment if payments need to be made.
If you have an urgent dental problem, require advice or sundry items, please contact the practice on 01480 458100.
Otherwise, we will contact you when we are ready for you to make an appointment.
We are so glad to be back up and running again and to have seen so many of you in the practice already. Thank you all for your understanding and support over this difficult time and we look forward to welcoming all our valued patients back as soon as possible.
Stay safe and well.
Best wishes from all the team at Brampton Dental Practice.
5th June 2020
To all our dear patients
We are delighted to announce that we are going back to work on 8th June. We will use our first 2 days preparing ourselves and the practice in readiness to welcome patients back on 10th June.
All previously booked appointments have been cancelled as we have to rebuild our appointment book, prioritising those with urgent needs first. Many of these patients we are aware of but if you do have an urgent problem then please call 01480 458100 from 8th June. However, we would ask that you do not call the practice in this first week unless you have an urgent problem so that our reception staff and telephones are free for us to deal with our urgent cases. Your understanding in this would be greatly appreciated.
We take everybody’s health and safety very seriously. We will be wearing more personal protective equipment than before and have new procedures for making, arriving and leaving appointments.
- Appointments and payments will all be made by telephone. The front door will remain locked and you should only attend if you have an appointment. If you require any products, please let us know before your appointment and we will have them ready for you in the surgery. Otherwise call us and we will find a way of getting them to you.
- We will find out as much information about your needs as we can when you call and we may carry out video consultations with one of our dentists prior to your visit.
- If you have Coronavirus or any symptoms, or live with anyone who has Coronavirus or symptoms, that is a high temperature, a new continuous cough, 3 or more coughing episodes in the last 24 hours or a loss or change to your sense of taste or smell, please do not attend the practice. You should call us and we will be able to advise you.
- On arrival for an appointment, we request that you remain outside or in your car and check in by telephone. Depending on which surgery, access may either be via the back door, which leads directly into the surgery, or the front door via an empty waiting area.
- We will call your phone when we are ready to see you. The doors will be opened for you by a member of staff so that you do not need to touch any handles. On entering the practice, we will provide hand gel, check your temperature and then accompany you into the surgery.
- Please attend on your own unless it is vital to have a chaperone and please avoid or minimise baggage. If you do have anything with you, we will provide a bag for you to place the items in and we will return the bag after the appointment.
- In the surgery, we will give you the warmest possible no touch greeting!
- We will request you have a mouth rinse provided before we start.
- After treatment, there will be more hand gel before we open the doors for you and help you out of the practice.
- There will be no other people in the waiting room.
- Toilet facilities will unfortunately not be available.
- We would like to prevent any paper transactions where possible so estimates and leaflets for example, will be e mailed if feasible.
Thank you all again for your amazing support and patience and we look forward to seeing you all soon as possible.
Warm wishes from the team at Brampton Dental Practice.