Scottish dental practices to reopen next week
Dental practices can reopen from Monday (22 June), the Scottish Government has announced.
Further changes to lockdown restrictions in Scotland were unveiled today by Nicola Sturgeon, the First Minister. As well as changes to health and social care provision, the easing of restrictions included those on people who have been shielding, who live alone, some indoor workplaces, and retail premises.
Earlier this month, Jeanne Freeman, the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing, said that as part of the NHS ‘remobilisation plan’ dental services would be reintroduced on a phased basis, beginning with dental practices opening to face-to-face consultation for NHS patients in need of urgent care.
Personal protective equipment (PPE) has been made available for each practice to see 10 patients a day for urgent care that does not involve aerosol generating procedures (AGPs). In a letter sent earlier this week, Tom Ferris, the Chief Dental Officer, said patients requiring AGPs should be referred to an urgent dental care centre.
Purely private practices in Scotland were given approval to reopen last month although they were urged to “follow the spirit” of the Government’s ‘route map’ out of lockdown.
It remains government advice to wear a face covering in enclosed areas where physical distancing is difficult, such as shops, and from Monday (22 June), it will become mandatory to wear a face covering on public transport.
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