COVID-19: Update: Minister admits there has been delay getting PPE to dentists
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- Published: Wednesday, 13 May 2020 09:54
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The BDA has raised the lack of PPE in urgent treatment centres and minister, Jo Churchill, said the Governmnet was ‘aware’ of the problem. In the Scottish Parliament a Labour MSP raised the financial problems of practices there and asked when they could re-open. Plus dentists in Northern Ireland have volunteered to work in care homes.
Lack of PPE
Dental patients have been left in agony due to delay in urgent procedures, as the UK’s emergency surgeries report a PPE shortage, according to a report in the Daily Telegraph. The BDA said there was a “postcode lottery” of provision in the UK, with some patients having teeth removed that would normally be restored.
Urgent dental centres have not been performing “aerosol-generating” procedures, which increase the risk of transmission of the virus. But a lack of PPE means as many as 80% of referred patients are being turned away.
Junior health minister Jo Churchill MP said the Government was “aware that there have been delays” getting PPE to dentists and the Department of Health was working to resolve the issue. BDA chair, Mick Armstrong, said: “Across England dentists are still lacking kit, and the result is patients in real pain are going untreated.
Meanwhile in Scotland
Labour MSP, Pauline McNeill, has raised the issue of dental practices—many of whom are struggling and fear that they might go bankrupt because they are not getting the support that they need, adding: “In addition, many people are suffering from acute pain and are desperate to get to a dentist.” She said Sweden, Norway and Switzerland had already opened dental practices. She asked whether the Scottish Government had any such plans.
Replying SNP minister, Jeanne Freeman, said they had made financial support available to dental practices, particularly those working with NHS patients, to assist them during the period when they are not able to practise. For individuals who suffer dental pain, they have set up emergency dental hubs that they can access. The hubs are staffed by highly qualified dentists who will undertake emergency treatment and pain relief treatment.
The Minister continued: “When it comes to the reopening of dental practices and the measures that might be put in place to allow that to happen safely, we must consider two distinct areas. First, we must ensure that there is physical distancing, which probably has an implication for appointment times and the number of patients a dentist could see. Secondly, we must ensure that a supply of personal protective equipment would be available for when a dentist or hygienist engages in aerosol-generated practice, as they often do.”
And in Northern Ireland
Dozens of dentists in Northern Ireland have volunteered to work in care homes, the sector hardest hit by the Covid-19 pandemic, the BBC has reported. The 76 volunteers agreed to provide support and training to staff about infection prevention after a health and social care workforce appeal. They may also give guidance on using protective equipment and swabbing symptomatic care home residents.
To keep up to date with developments from the BDA, dentists should visit their Coronavirus update page[i], which is available to all whether or not they are members and is continuously revised.
[i] https://bda.org/advice/Coronavirus/Pages/latest-updates.aspx
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