COVID-19 INFORMATION

Meeting 19th August 2020

LOCATION

THE HUNTINGDON MARRIOTT HOTEL

DOWNING ROOM

WEDNESDAY 19TH AUGUST 2020

7pm Arrival for 7-30pm Start

MINUTES

  1. Attendees:

 Patrik Zachrisson - LDC Chairman & Treasurer

 Amiras Chokshi - Secretary

 Mariana De Villiers - LDC Administrator

Jaco Craig

Claire Jackman

Peter Mullins

Deepak Kumar

Avtar Pardesi

Gawain King

Meeraj Patel

Marlise De Vos

  1. Apologies:

Bharpur Sanghera

Francis Scriven

Julia Hallam-Seagrave

Maria Ross-Russell

  1. Chairman’s Report: Patrik Zachrisson

It has been reported that there is collaborative working between Public Health England, NHS England/NHS Improvement and Health Education England regarding Fit Test Training.  Six days of fit test training have already been delivered in the East of England with two more to follow (Tuesday 25 August in Ipswich and Tuesday 1 September in Colchester).  

Most practices have now been fit tested and those who attended fit test training (Fit Testers) have not received a huge number of enquiries for this service.

Devonshire House Dental Practice offers fit testing and charges a fee of £15.00 per person.

Access:

The interpretation of new guidelines amidst the pandemic varies across dental surgeries. At some practices patients who did not attend for 2 years and longer are not seen. Dental Access Centres (DAC) are experiencing a very high demand. Huntingdon and Cambridgeshire DACs are just about managing, Wisbech DAC are turning away about 20 patients a day and Peterborough DAC about 60 patients a day.

Urgent Dental Care (UDC) surgeries set up to cope with the pandemic are still accepting referrals although the demand for this is a lot less.

It was noted that 70 year old and over patients who were shielding are now seen as “vulnerable” and can been treated as such at dental practices.

111 calls – patients are referred to DACs and UDCs.

NHS dentist are still unsure what the future holds for dentistry as there is a lack of forward planning within the profession including orthodontic contracts. Changes are to be expected to form a “new normal” for the working environment. However, this is unknown ground and all dental practitioners should follow the guidelines set by NHS England.

It was noted that St Marks Surgery handed the orthodontic contract back. It is unclear where patients will be seen for further treatment.

Associate payments:

The NHS has said that it will continue to pay NHS contract payments to NHS practices in England and Wales, and to NHS dentists in Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Practice owners are required to ensure that all staff including associates, non-clinical and others continue to be paid at previous levels. However, there are some pay disputes.

  1. Treasurer’s Report – Patrik Zachrisson

The Cambridgeshire and Peterborough LDC continues to be financially stable and secure.  

The LDC has agreed to make funding available to practices to help with compliance to new COVID-19 secure measures. Practices would need to apply for this. More information will be available soon.

  1. Secretary’s Report – Amiras Chokshi

LDC secretaries have not met for a number of months.

Urgent Dental Care Centres:

Across every NHS region local urgent dental care (UDC) centres were created to provide care for people with urgent and emergency dental problems.

The hubs were established to meet the distinct needs of people with urgent dental care needs:

  1. Those who are possible or confirmed COVID-19 patients – including patients with symptoms, or those living in their household
  2. Those who are ‘shielded’, as being at most-significant risk from COVID-19
  3. Those who are vulnerable/at increased risk from COVID-19
  4. Any other people who do not fit one of the above categories

Hubs are were developed to allow appropriate separation and treatment of patients in these categories.

Each patient will be assessed and triaged depending on a number of factors, and their care managed accordingly. Patients will only be seen after a referral via the triage system. Drop-ins are not permitted.

Triage are used to decide which category people fall into, depending on their symptoms and level of pain.

The triage categories are:

  1. Requires immediate treatment on the day
  2. Treatment within 24-hours
  3. Non-urgent

Those involved in triage have a detailed operating procedure to help them allocate different dental conditions to the correct category.

A second wave of COVID-19 is expected. Urgent Dental Care Centres to be extended. The aim is to cluster groups of practices around each other, linking with local colleagues.  Cluster practices to link with AGP practices, non-AGP and MOS. It is anticipated that referral pathways would be easier if practices are linked in.

As from the 20th of July 2020, over a 2 month period, practices are required to deliver the equivalent of at least 20% of usual volumes of patient care activity.  It is uncertain what will happen after this period.

Fit Testing: At the end of June 2020, 560 Fit Testers were trained by the NHS and provided with a fit testing kit.

Associates payments: quite a number of associates have not been payed. The British Dental Association (BDA) are seeking further clarification from government on a number of issues.

It was noted that more Associates contribute to the BDA than Principal Dentists.

Jason Wong, Deputy Chief Dental Officer, has launched an investigation into the financial impact of the pandemic on all practices.

  1. Other Business

The LDC has received notification from Miss Mabel Saw who has recently completed the Pg Certificate in Leadership Coaching and Mentoring that she would like to be involved in the PASS scheme. She has many years of experience in running a practice and is familiar with supporting colleagues in difficulties. Miss Saw is a Clinical Adviser with the GDC

  1. Next Meeting

18th November 2020.