Reopening our Bournemouth surgery post-COVID-19 closure

Bright Blue Dental Practice will be reopening its doors in Bournemouth, on Monday 15th of June to once again offer dental services to its local community and patients.

Following government guidance that dental practices can open after COVID-19 closure we have spent the last two weeks preparing for patients to return with the primary aim of ensuring the safety of our patients. We have implemented guidelines from our regulatory bodies in addition to taking further steps towards protecting the health of our patients.

We kindly ask that you follow these guidelines to ensure your safety and also the safety of other patients and our staff. We have produced an informative video explaining the new way patients will be seen and their interactions with the dental practice. Further to the guidelines set in the video these guidelines also apply:

1. Please book all appointments over the phone.
2. A health questionnaire will be emailed to patients before their visit. We kindly ask for it to be emailed back completed and signed before the appointment.
3. We aim to take payment before appointments such as to minimise patient contact with the reception however this is not always possible therefore patients can still pay on the day.
4. We ask kindly that patients brush their teeth and wash their hands before leaving home or work to come to the dental practice.
5. If possible, patients should come alone however if under certain circumstances this is not possible then they may come with one chaperone (however the chaperones contact must be limited with the dental practice i.e wait in the car or outside if possible).
6. Patients should arrive a couple of minutes before their appointment but not a significant amount before as they will not be able to wait in the dental surgery.
7. If at any point you require the toilet while at the dental practice please let a member of our team know as the toilets will be kept locked and will need to be disinfected after you.
8. Before any dental treatment the patient will gargle and rinse with an antiseptic mouthwash.

Please find below a more detailed summary of information in addition to that provided in the video.

The Patient Journey

• Patients should thoroughly brush their teeth and wash their hands before leaving home or work to come to the dental practice
• If possible, the patient should come alone however if under certain circumstances this is not possible then they may come with one chaperone (however, the chaperone’s contact must be limited with the dental practice i.e. wait in the car or outside if possible)
• The patient should arrive a couple of minutes before their appointment but not a significant amount before.
• They should ring the surgery bell and stand at the front door.
• The patient will be greeted at the front door by a dentist or nurse who will be wearing PPE. They will then be requested to use alcohol hand scrub.
• We will take and record the patient’s temperature on arrival using a no-touch infra-red thermometer. If below 37.8 degrees Celsius, then it’s safe to proceed. Any person with a temperature above this will unfortunately have to be re-booked. The patient’s temperature will be documented in their notes.
• Between the front door and the second door the patient will be briefed on movement within the practice and new procedure. They will also apply shoe covers using an automatic cover dispenser and apply alcoholic hand sanitiser from an automatic battery driven dispenser.
• Items such as phone, jackets, bags, wallets are to be placed in the box provided.
• Ideally the patient should be taken directly into the surgery. If not, then directed to waiting area.
• Patients should always practice social distancing whilst in public areas and these areas will be marked-out accordingly.
• Any patient wishing to use the toilet will need to let a member of staff know such that it can be unlocked and sufficiently cleaned and disinfected after use.
• There will be no magazines or table in the waiting area.
• Before any dental treatment the patient will gargle and rinse with an antiseptic mouthwash.
• After treatment, the patient can be discharged to the reception area.
• An acrylic shield has been installed at the reception desk
• As much as possible, we will make the journey contactless. Ideally payment should be made by a contactless card or phone.
• The card reader will have an infection barrier on the keypad.
• The front door handle will need to be disinfected as the patient leaves.

Thank you for taking the time to read through this notice. If you have any questions or concerns on any matter please do not hesitate to contact the practice for more information.