Dental patients could be asked to wait outside before appointments

Patients at dental practices in Fife could be asked to wait outside - or in their car - before their appointments.

NHS Fife has unveiled a series of social distancing measures being put in place at its practices, as they go through a phased reopening.

Some practices remain closed at the moment, because they need to make changes to their physical environment.

At those that are reopening, the health board says patients will notice "considerable differences".

Ahead of an appointment, staff will contact patients to advise on the changes to how services are delivered at their individual practice. On arrival at the practice patients may be asked to wait outside the building or in their car until they are called to enter - and once inside, patients will also be asked to clean their hands thoroughly with alcohol hand gel.

In many practices, perspex screens have been installed to provide additional protection for patients and practice staff. Patients will also be asked to attend alone unless the appointment is for a child or a person with additional needs who requires support.

Some practices are also making limited use of reception areas - and these will be cleaned more regularly Ahead of treatment, patients may be asked to put any personal belongings in a box.

Staff will also be wearing additional PPE including masks and full face visors.

Meanwhile not all procedures will be available initially, with with aerosol generating procedures - such as the use of the high-speed drill or ultrasonic scaling - resistricted for the time being.  

Patients are also being warned that treatments may take longer than usual, due to the extra precautions in place.

Surgeries will also ask people to use card for payments wherever possible.

NHS Fife says those requiring dental care should contact their own dentist in the first instance, who will provide advice and initial assessment, and can refer to an urgent dental care centre if required.

Dr Emma O'Keefe, consultant in dental public health and interim director of dentistry in Fife, said: "Dental practices across Fife have been working incredibly hard over recent weeks to put in place the measures necessary to protect patients and staff, and help reduce the spread of coronavirus in our communities.

"Dental practices, much like other healthcare services, will be operating very differently than they will have done previously. This is vital if practices are to operate safely and we have every confidence that local people will support these changes over the coming weeks and months.

"Most importantly, patients should be assured that if they require urgent dental treatment, then they will continue to receive the same high standard of care they have come to expect."