COVID-19: CDO gives update on dentists' response
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- Published: Tuesday, 05 May 2020 10:04
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The CDO sees the NHS Urgent Dental Care system expanding as the public health measures are reviewed, she said in a letter to dentists. She said: “As we move towards recovery there will be several thousand COVID-19 positive patients requiring care.”
CDO (England), Sara Hurley, said that public health measures will impact on the pace at which the dental profession can commence transition to the resumption of dental care for patients. Dentists are fully aware of their responsibility to carefully balance access to care against the needs to safeguard the public, patients and the dental workforce.
She continued: “The limiting factor to resuming dental care is not a lack of professional ambition but the constraints of the public health measures currently in place. Consequently, I fully expect the NHS Urgent Dental Care system to expand as the public health measures are reviewed.”
As part of the second phase, regional dental teams and PHE, working with NHS local systems, are being asked to step up non-COVID-19 urgent services. She is asking regions to deliver greater coverage and an increase in access to provision, however the overriding factor in the design and intent remains to ensure the safety of both patients and of dental teams. She said: “These steps are part of the broader intent as we set the conditions for the successful resumption of dental care delivery in the post-COVID era.”
As we move towards recovery there will be several thousand COVID-19 positive patients requiring care. This will include increasing access to dental care for these vulnerable patients in a variety of settings. This means ongoing and consistent application of PHE/NHS Infection Prevention and Control guidance as well as continued use of PPE and testing in every active care setting to protect patients and staff.
Sara concluded: “While life is far from normal the current health and social care landscape offers the profession an opportunity to work collaboratively across different care systems to showcase our talents. As we prepare for the resumption of dental care and the challenges of delivering dental care in the post COVID-19 environment we are putting the mouth back in the national body. I look forward to building on our reputation as an adaptable workforce and extending the new professional relationships that will serve the long-term interests of the profession and underpin better integration of care for all our patients.”
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