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New patient journey

Here at The Willows, we understand that the current situation has been a testing time for everyone, but also that we need to ensure we are still able to care for you and your dental needs. Although our practices were always safe places, we have completely redesigned the way we operate so that we can welcome you and care for you with enhanced safety measures in place.

Every single decision we have made and step we have taken has been with a focus on the safety of you, our colleagues and clinicians. We understand that things may feel different from your usual experience of a dental visit, so here is some information on how your new visit will look and feel.

Before your appointment

If you feel ill or unwell before you appointment, please call us to let us know. The appointment will need to be postponed if you have any symptoms of COVID-19, such as fever, dry cough or a sore throat.

On entering the practice

To minimise risk, we recommend you attend your appointment alone unless you require assistance or are supporting a child or someone vulnerable.

On entering the practice, one of our colleagues will ask if you have had any symptoms of COVID-19 in past two weeks. If you have, you will not be able to enter the practice and will need to follow Government guidelines around self-isolating. If you have not had any symptoms, you will be invited into practice.

You will be asked to sanitise your hands and put on a mask if you are not already wearing one. Our practice colleagues will be behind protective plastic screens, but this is for the safety of everyone. You will be guided to the appropriate treatment room, following the distance markers that will be displayed throughout practice.

Before you enter the treatment room, you will need to leave any loose belongings like your coat or bag in the designated box provided.

Treatment

Upon entering the treatment room, our team will be wearing extra Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) as in order to provide you with the right care and service, they cannot adhere to social distancing recommendations. This may mean that it is more difficult to see our colleagues and clinicians’ faces, but please be reassured that they will be the usual friendly team. Naturally we are also ensuring that each treatment room is carefully cleaned and disinfected after each patient. When we are ready, we will ask you to remove your mask.

If you are attending for a treatment that requires an Aerosol Generating Procedure (AGP) – any procedure that has the potential to cause spray – you will be asked to carefully swill your mouth with a cleansing solution for 1 minute. One of our team will talk you through this on the day.

After the treatment

When your treatment is complete, you will be asked to replace your face covering and to collect your belongings from the box. You will also be asked to sanitise your hands one last time before we say goodbye. Payment at reception can be contactless or card, using our sanitised card machines. We encourage card payments where possible, but we will accept cash if necessary.

If you have any questions after the appointment, we will be able to call you to discuss this further as our aim is to minimise your time in the practice for your own safety.

We hope that the above ensures that you can rest assured when visiting that every step has been taken to ensure the safety of you, our colleagues and clinicians. This is our top priority as we return to providing you with the same standard of dental care that you have been used to.

If you have any questions at all regarding our new practice experience, please do not hesitate to contact us.

If you have any of the symptoms of Covid-19/Coronavirus or have been advised to quarantine or self-isolate, please let us know as soon as you can; do not attend your appointment and follow the government guidelines around self-isolation.

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