Dentistry is in the news once again and rather sadly it is not good news. The actions of a dentist and some of his staff at a practice in Nottingham has led to the shocking announcement by NHS England that approximately 22,000 patients are to be offered blood tests to check for certain blood-borne viruses. Although this is a somewhat surprising decision as this goes back over 34 years, covering a period when standards have changed so much in dentistry. Even so, I am quite staggered by some of the reports coming out of Nottingham, which are completely baffling as basic standards known by everyone working in dentistry don’t appear to have been met.
I would agree with the statement from the British Dental Association:
“There is absolutely no excuse for putting patients at risk. We champion the highest standards in dentistry, and rigorous infection control procedures need to be at the heart of any practice, large or small. Dentists across the UK are setting high standards, and any exceptions are both regrettable and rare.”
At the Dental Spa we all work very hard to ensure that the care of patients remains our top priority. Our aim is to achieve excellence in dentistry, using the best materials, best techniques and best practice, in an environment where all patients and staff are treated with dignity and respect, in a practice enjoyed by all. We do set high standards for ourselves and not only do we try and maintain those standards, but we always try and improve. We are justifiably proud of Denplan Excel Accreditation that clearly demonstrates our commitment as a practice and a team “to exceeding standards in dentistry and meeting or exceeding statutory requirements of Clinical Governance” (Denplan Website).
Next time you visit the Dental Spa, pause a moment and you will notice the hard-working girls preparing the surgery for each patient, ensuring that everyone is cared for in the safest possible environment. Standards are very important and I know that we are setting those high standards at the Dental Spa.