COVID-19 Safety Protocols – What to expect when you visit to the Practice

Last Updated – 27th January 2022

As always, the safety of our patients and staff is our top priority. We want to stress that Priory Dental Care is a safe place to be. We have always had strict infection control policies, and have further increased levels of infection control and PPE to the highest standard in light of the current situation. 

Please be advised that, for now and the foreseeable future, patients can only attend the practice once they have been telephone triaged, assessed and allocated an arrival time. So, if you’d like to book an appointment, or you require oral healthcare products, please telephone us on 01366 386666 in the first instance.

Currently, there are still COVID-19 restrictions in place for all Healthcare settings.  This means that we must adhere to the following protocols and procedures for patient attendance and treatment: –

• We will communicate with you beforehand to ask some COVID-19 screening questions. You’ll be asked to confirm those questions again when you are in the practice

• We ask that you attend your appointment(s) alone, where possible, and to bring as few personal belongings as possible, as we have limited space due to social distancing measures 

• Please do not arrive early.  In order to adhere to social distancing measures, you may only enter the practice 5 minutes before your allocated appointment time, as we have limited space for waiting.  If there are too many patients in the practice, you may be asked to wait outside until space becomes available.  In times of bad weather, please wait in your car until your appointment time

• When in the waiting room, we ask that you wear a face mask or other suitable face covering (unless you have a medical exemption) as these are still required in all Healthcare settings.  We are no longer taking temperatures, but will still be asking you to disinfect your hands on arrival

• You will see that our waiting area no longer offers magazines, children’s toys and so forth, since those items are difficult to clean and disinfect.  We also ask that you please make yourself comfortable before leaving home, as our patient toilet facilities are currently limited (exceptions can be made for those with medical conditions)

• Appointments will be managed to allow for social distancing between patients. That may mean that you’re offered fewer options for scheduling your appointment

Please do not attend the practice unless you have been asked to do so – if you need help or advice, please give us a call on 01366 386666.

We are happy to answer any questions you may have about the steps we take to keep you, and every patient, safe in our practice.