St Mary's Dental Practice, Stamford and Uppingham Dental Practice prepare for reopening following easing of coronavirus lockdown restrictions
Dental practices have been given the go-ahead to reopen on Monday as long as appropriate safety measures are put in place.
Employees at St Mary’s Dental Practice in Stamford ‘are feeling pretty confident’ about welcoming back their patients.
Martina Reilly, practice manager, said: “We are looking forward to getting back.
“All of us as professionals were talking, it’s the longest time ever that we’ve been out of work.
“Our patients have been really loyal and supportive; we are really grateful.”
The practice has obtained a range of PPE as well as a radic air purifier which is designed to kill virus particles.
Saima Rennie, clinical director, said: “PPE has been really difficult to source, it’s been an absolute nightmare.”
From Monday afternoon the practice will be open for emergency only appointments. Those who have experienced pain, swelling or a broken tooth in the past 11 weeks will be top priority.
Staff at the practice are aware that an ‘emergency is subjective’ so people should call them first to get help on whether they need treatment.
“Whilst the threat level is still high, dental practices will not resume operating a full service until the threat level is reduced to two or one,” said Saima.
“Special measures are being taken to accommodate those at high risk of complication and those who should be shielding.”
Staff will upload a video to their Facebook page and website to show patients how their experience at St Mary’s Dental Practice will be from the moment of arrival.
Martina added: “People should continue to be alert and wash hands before coming to the surgery.
“We may ask questions that we have not been asking before but please bare with us, it’s in the interest of safety.”
The practice will also have a number of hand santisers in the building and patients will have their oxygen and temperature checked upon arrival.
However, some dental practices cannot reopen just yet due to a lack of appropriate PPE.
Ingrid Thorpe, practice manager at Uppingham Dental Practice, said: “The PPE that people can get hold of is going to the frontline.”
She added that safety must come first as the work dentists do leads to lots of particles being transmitted in the air.
The practice will open once the PPE has been procured, however their telephone lines will be open from Monday next week.
“We have got so many lovely patients and, for me, it’s 32 years of looking after 40 people a day and now I have no one to look after,” said Ingrid.
The Mercury has contacted other dentists in the area for a comment.
If your dental practice is reopening, let us know by e-mailing: maddy.baillie@iliffepublishing.co.uk
