A new standard operating procedures (SOP) for dentistry has been revealed for dental teams in Scotland.
The chief dental officer for Scotland, Tom Ferris, also confirmed changes in an accompanying letter to the profession.
‘Where staff have concerns about the potential for Covid-19 exposure they may choose to wear an FFP3 respirator rather than an FRSM when performing an AGP on any patient on the non-respiratory pathway provided they are fit tested,’ he writes.
‘This is a personal PPE risk assessment. FFP3 respirators must continue to be worn for an AGP or any patient on the respiratory pathway.’
This comes as the CDO also releases plans for the de-escalation of Covid-19 infection prevention and control (IPC) measures.
Tom Ferris added: ‘It has been hugely satisfying to see all parts of the sector pull together for the common good and we should be rightly proud.’
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Released measures
New general messages include:
- The triage of patients, prior to their appointment and re-checking upon arrival, using respiratory risk-assessment screening questions will continue
- Based on this respiratory risk-assessment, the patient should be assigned to either the respiratory pathway or non-respiratory pathway, as at present
- The universal use of fluid resistant surgical masks (FRSM) on practice premises by practice staff also remains
- Where staff have concerns about the potential for Covid-19 exposure they may choose to wear an FFP3 respirator rather than an FRSM when performing an AGP on any patient provided they are fit tested. This is a personal PPE risk assessment.
You can read the full letter here.
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