Coronavirus Pandemic at BPDS

BPDS offers NHS and private dentistry within Wales and complies with the guidance for both as set out for Wales*. We appreciate

Current situation:- into 2021 Autumn/Winter

All primary care in Walre remiains under a strict Standard Operating Procedure(SOP) and while there has been some relaxations, this is still largely the same as the early days of lockdown. The same SOP applies to NHS and Private treatment

• Key Points
  • Minimising the number of appointment contacts to reduce the risk of infection
    • maximising the use of each F2F appointment to reduce the number of visits. This means utilising remote screening and triage to ensure visits are optimised and appropriate
  • Avoiding/reducing use of the reception and waiting area
  • Enhanced cleaning protocols
  • Fallow (dead) time between treatment appointments

NHS service

• NHS Wales has focused on providing access for those most at need
  • Increased emergency appointments for existing and new patients
  • Risk assessments (RAG = RED/AMBER/GREEN) to foucs routine care on those most at need

The practice’s NHS contract is capped at pre COVID levels. Please note that the focus on those most at need will mean delays in providing routine care to the lowest risk (GREEN) patient’s. The same prioritisation is applied to new and existing patients. This means GREEN(and AMBER) patients will face an extended wait for routine NHS care. We currently have no date when routine examinations will be offered enmass to GREEN patients.

As de-escalation progresses we would appreciate if patients assist us to prioritise the treatment need within our guidance by not contacting to book routine NHS care until further notice.

PRIVATE service

• While the same rules are applied, our private list is much smaller and all private and DENPLAN patients have been offered routine care.

If you feel you have not been contacted and are registered with the practice privatley please call 01291 624 515. There are small numbers of patients we have not been able to reach in the usual manner.

• BPDS has extended access to private care to support our patients who prefer not to delay routine NHS care.
• DENPLAN registration offers an affordable way to budget for Private care enable priority access

*Please note that English de-escalation plans differ from Wales and we are obliged to apply the Welsh plans.

Next Steps

It is anticipated that the current SOP and NHS guidance will remain in place until the summer of 2022. Until that time providing access for those with most need will remain our priority