The BDA says it is taking urgent legal advice in respect to insurers not paying insurance claims made by dentists in regard to business interruption during the COVID-19 pandemic. They have instructed law firm Brown Rudnick LLP to examine insurance policies affecting dental practices.
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Nothing has changed in relation to the guidance offered by the various UK administrations on the provision of dentistry. Although it might appear that new regulations permit the reopening of dental practices in England, this is not the case, says the BDA. Additionally, ‘Dentists must not be pressured into overprescribing antibiotics,’ says Susie Sanderson.
The Government’s Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme will remain open until the end of October, the Chancellor of the Exchequer has announced. Furloughed workers across UK will continue to receive 80% of their current salary, up to £2,500. New ‘flexibility’ will be introduced from August to get employees back to work and boost the economy, he said.
The British Orthodontic Society has recently published a document on its website (https://www.bos.org.uk/COVID19-BOS-Advice/Recovery-Phase-Advice/What-is-an-orthodontic-AGP) that considers what constitutes an Aerosol Generating Procedure in clinical practice. Further guidance will be published as it becomes available.
Read more: New advice on Aerosol Generating Procedures in orthodontic practice
The BDA has raised the lack of PPE in urgent treatment centres and minister, Jo Churchill, said the Governmnet was ‘aware’ of the problem. In the Scottish Parliament a Labour MSP raised the financial problems of practices there and asked when they could re-open. Plus dentists in Northern Ireland have volunteered to work in care homes.
Read more: COVID-19: Update: Minister admits there has been delay getting PPE to dentists
Hundreds of dentists and dental care professionals have signed up to a brand new training resource to support dental teams in England going to work in Urgent Dental Care (UDC) centres. A group of dental professionals working in all sectors of dentistry combined their skills and knowledge to create the training which is now available on the ProDentalCPD platform.
Read more: Race against time to deliver Covid-19 training modules
The Prime Minister has followed up his address to the nation by publishing its 60-page Covid-19 recovery strategy. It does appear that the earliest that dental practices could resume anything like normal service is July 4 2020. This will be up to NHS to decide in all four countries. The Chancellor will make a statement tomorrow on the financial implications.
Read more: COVID-19: Update: July 4th 2020 return to work for UK dentists?
NHS doctor, TV presenter, author and celebrity contestant on “Strictly Come Dancing”, Dr Ranj is the star of three new mini-videos. Actor Gemma Oaten who rose to fame in TV soap Emmerdale supports Dr Ranj as the voice of sidekick Supertooth.
See Playlist: https://bit.ly/2yhANfT
The inspirational winner of BSPD’s 2020 Outstanding Innovation Award is Community Dental Officer Linzi Maybin for her Happy Teeth project. Based in Yorkshire and Humber, Happy Teeth is geared to building a brighter future for children with special educational needs (SEN) or children affected by the refugee crisis.
Read more: BSPD award for ‘inspirational’ dentist building a brighter future for children