Jul 31, 2020
The last few blogs have all been about reopening, cleaning and what to expect when you visit with us so we decided to start this newsletter with news about the team.
We managed a weekend away at Kimmeridge in our battered but lovely campervan Alice. We were very lucky as the weather was warm and sunny and we even managed to have a drink overlooking Corfe Castle - having done a 16km coast walk to get to there. We really must choose a campsite with a pub closer to hand next time!
Sadly, just like so many of you, we missed out on the annual Egan get together in Ireland. So instead we held a socially distanced visit with some of the Irish part of the family who live 'over here' at my (Niamhs) brothers in London. It was so good to see everyone again especially our beautiful nieces, even if we couldn't give them a hug.
And oh my but how time flies. Believe it or not Victoria has now been with us for 4 years and what a lot she has packed in. During that time she has gotten engaged, married, had a beautiful daughter Sophie and has still found time to do other things. During lockdown she has been getting all green fingered and has produced plants, both lovely to look at and to eat. After her family (and of course her work!!!) her big love is making and decorating celebration cakes for friends and family. Feast your eyes on these cakes. We've not tasted one yet but they sure look beautiful.
Lucy, or as we refer to her 'new Lucy' versus Lucy who was with us in 2019, is our newest member of the team and is busy, busy on their farm when not at work. Currently, like so many associated with farming, she is a farmers widow as her husband Adam is busy harvesting 2000 acres of grain. So she is occupied looking after their menagerie of calves, sheep, chickens, horses and dogs as well as making time for Rowan, their 5 years old son. She even manages to fit in an occasional dip in the pool.
More about the remaining staff members next time.
Hopefully for those of you who have been in to see us it has been more normal than you thought it would be. And we have to say it has been so good to welcome you back and get a semblance of normality into all of our lives.
We want to address the whole face mask thing. To wear or not to wear...that is the question!
We have discussed and risk assessed this as a team and we feel that the procedures we have in place for social distancing both for the team and clients negates the need for this when attending the practice. However should you feel more comfortable wearing one to your appointment please feel free to do so.
Below is a brief explanation as to why this may seem different to what you read in the press.
During lockdown, as well as having fun (see previous blogs), we as a private practice have been on a roller coaster ride. It turns out dental practices were unnecessarily closed down, not by the government but by the bodies who regulate us - Office of the Chief Dental Officer (OCDO) backed up by the General Dental Council (GDC) and the Care Quality Commission (CQC). The OCDO very quickly abandoned ship with regard to private dentistry advising they regulated only NHS dentistry. Meanwhile our indemnity companies insisted we still had to follow the advice of the OCDO. Limbo!!
After it was announced we could reopen, in order to fill the gap for private dentistry, the Faculty of General Dental Practice (FGDP) issued guidance and this is what we are following -having been left hanging by all the other bodies. In this guidance it advises that 'clinical discretion and risk assessment' should be used regarding, among other issues, face coverings for clients.
Finally it has been really rewarding to be back at work and to finish outstanding treatments that started back in March. Some of our lovely clients have been waiting all through lockdown for veneers to be fitted, whitening to be started, to get their next set of Invisalign aligners so they can continue their journey towards a gorgeous smile. We hope to be able to share some of their pictures in our next newsletter.
In the meantime, just what is Rob going to do about this little fella's smile?
Tune in next time for the latest on 'the Fugglers' journey!
Keep well and safe and we are looking forward to welcoming you all over the next few months.
Rob, Niamh and the Gentle Dental Team