Resources for safe working

This page is divided into:

1. Information for the team
2. Information for your patients

1. Information for the team

Pregnancy and COVID-19

• Pregnancy and COVID-19: Read our latest advice based on government guidance for staff who are pregnant and concerned about safety at work.
• Pregnancy and risk assessments: Staff should follow correct procedures - including undertaking appropriate risk assessments and acting on the outcomes. These risk assessments were created in line with guidance from Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG)

• Pregnant - in patient-facing clinical role

• Pregnant - in patient-facing administrative role

• Pregnant - in non-patient-facing administrative role

• Pregnant - in non-patient-facing decontamination/cleaning role

Vaccinations and COVID-19

• The COVID-19 vaccination: Across the UK dentists and teams are being prioritised for the vaccine. We share latest advice on how to access it.
• PPE and the COVID-19 vaccination: Guidance on what to do after you have been vaccinated.

Practice management: communications for your staff

• Remote consultation guidance : Advice on how to triage and consult patients over the phone
• (Archived) Letter to furloughed staff : A model letter to help you notify staff that their furloughed leave is coming to an end
• (Archived) Letter to staff returning part-time : A model letter to help you notify staff that they are returning part-time and remaining on furloughed leave for the remainder of the time

Risk assessments and safety checks

• Record keeping guidance : Suggested record-keeping template for face-to-face consultation.
• Daily screening log : Use this template to update the health status of all patient and staff.
• Risk assessment guidance : Use this document to consider your risks.
• Risk assessment tool : Use our template to carry out your own risk assessments.
• Risk assessment for vulnerable staff : Use this template to discuss risks with staff considered vulnerable.
• Respiratory protective equipment - monthly maintenance checks .
• Principles of risk assessment course : Members, earn one hour of CPD with our online course.
• Getting to and from work safely poster: Help staff understand new infection control procedures via our new poster.

Return to work toolkits

Our toolkits were launched in June 2020 and last updated in December 2020.

We do not anticipate updating these documents any further, unless there are significant changes to practise. Any new information is likely to be government-issued which we will reflect in our FAQs.

The toolkits were created to offer guidance on returning to work safely after practices reopened or expanded their level of care after the first UK lockdown. They include information on AGPs, fallow time, air changes as well as advice on job retention and the workers support schemes.

Download the toolkit for Wales

PPE and COVID-19

• Using PPE safely - CPD (1 hour): Complete the online course video to earn CPD on using PPE safely.
• PPE and RPE: Watch the video on preparing for a safe practice.
• How to identify counterfeit PPE: Download these documents ensure your PPE supply is always accurate, including how to spot fake face masks.
• Respirators in dentistry - CPD (1 hour): Watch the practical guidance and face fit-testing video with the Institute of Occupational Medicine.
• Scotland: Update on PPE: Update on arrangements for PPE allocation in Scotland

England: Free PPE for NHS providers

PPE is available to NHS providers and orderable every seven days via the PPE portal. To calculate the portal’s order limit, practices need to calculate their number of units of dental activity (UDAs) plus number of units of orthodontic activity (UOAs), if any, multiplied by 1.5 per practice per year.
 
Providers should have received an invitation to register sent to your email account registered with Care Quality Commission (CQC), NHS Business Services Authority (BSA), NHS England or the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).

Watch our COVID-19 webinars

• Dental materials: What works where in the COVID-19 era?
• Oral cancer – detection, referral and dento-legal risks
• Essentials of periodontal care for general practice
• Respirators in dentistry: practical guidance and face fit testing
• PPE and RPE: Preparing for a safe return to practice
• Communicating in a brave new world
• Dental photography in a crisis
• Community Dental Services and COVID-19: Challenges ahead

Further resources

• FAQs: answers to your most asked questions on keeping safe at work.
• Employing and managing staff advice: Find our advice on employing and managing staff including templates, videos and guidance.
• Understanding your well-being in a COVID-19 world CPD: Watch our webinar on coping with mental health and stress.
• BDJ collection on coronavirus.
• BDJ content on minimally invasive dentistry.
• Health Assured 24/7 counselling service: This is a stressful time for many, that’s why we’re providing members with access to a 24/7 counselling service.You’re not alone, find out how Health Assured can help you today.

2. Information for your patients

Our practice is safe: communications for your patients

Members can download some communication assets to help reassure your patients that your practise is open and safe during this time:

We have also updated our advice for patients page to help them understand the situation for our profession.

• Copy for letters, websites etc: Use this copy as a basis for your patient communications
• Editable poster for practice windows: Add your practice details to this poster, print and display on the window for passing traffic
  
• Facebook images: you can add your practice logo to the top right and share on social
  We’re open and safe – blue
  
  We’re open and safe – green
  
  We’re open and safe – grey  
  
  We’re open and safe – pink  
  
  

Please feel free to direct your patients to: bda.org/patients.