Wedgwood House Dental Practice
Wedgwood House Dental Practice

News

NHS and private fees change on the 1st April 2024.  See below.

Emergency Private Dental Appointments OPEN

We have a small number of private emergency dental appointments that can be offered to our existing registered patients and from 6/3/2024 to unregistered patients too.

Updated Patient Info Leaflet

Minor updates to the patient information leaflet (staff changes, enhancements to email recall info about appointment length, ICB contact details) in the Pre-Appointment section. 5/2/2024.

Problems with answer machine

SORRY - To our patients who experienced a delay getting a return call over the Christmas 2023-24 break.  BT announced a national service problem with its 'BT Cloud Work' service that meant us and 1000s of other businesses were unable to access answer machine messages.  Sadly BT then had no immediate fix (case number 21039342).  We hoped it does not cause too many more issues for you.

 

According to BT technical support on 29/12/2023 the problems began between 2nd and 16th of December 2023 and because not all businesses were effected they decided not to tell all customers - just wait until they found out the hard way. 

 

Several of our patients leaving messages on the 28th December were impacted.  Sorry if this was you.

 

BT technical platform team appear to have resolved the issue as of 2/2/2024.  We have not been directly informed of the fix by BT, so we trust all is well.

Staff 2023

Amazing feedback on our new dentists who joined September 2023.  Thank you!

 

November 2023 saw dental nurse Sophie C leave us after 6 years, we will miss her.  And 4/12/23 we give a warm welcome to Shania, our new trainee dental nurse.

 

Well done to Gemma and Becky who recently completed their dental nursing qualifications.

 

September 2023 saw a swap of receptionists, Maz joined us to replace Camilla.  We welcomed our new associate dentist, Arlene who we hope will serve both NHS and private patients.  And mid-October, Caitlin joined the dental nurse team.  If you know of anyone else wishing to be a dental nurse, please see our job advert on Indeed.

 

Foundation Dentists only spend a one-year placement with the dental practice. Sometimes they remain longer, as an Associate Dentist.  At the end of August 2023 we said goodbye to Daisy and Raj.  September 2023 welcomed Asmah and Yas, two excellent graduates from Queen Mary London university, both who have already made good impressions with their patients.

 

March 2023 we said goodbye to dental therapist, Amy Greatwood.  Previous Patient Feedback demonstrated our patients' fondness for Amy and her treatments; we wish her and our apprentice nurse Lolli all the best for their futures.

 

2023 began on the 3rd January with several staff recovering from contracting Covid-19 over the festive holidays.

Face Masks Optional

From the 1st June 2023, the reception team will no longer ask patients to wear a face covering.  Instead patients and visitors may wear one if it makes them feel more comfortable.  Masks will be provided free-of-charge on entrance to the ground floor reception room.

 

Please note that our Covid19 precautions still require all persons that enter the dental practice to wash their hands.  Refusal to do so can result in your registration being reviewed and even suspended.

 

We still ask that persons suspected or known to have Covid19 not to enter the building and to ring the reception team on 01449 771 700 for instructions.

 

As we approach winter 2023, we are aware of the increasing numbers of people contracting the flu and COVID, and recommend all those lucky enough to be eligible, or able to get, vaccinations to please do so.

 

Our staff have taken Covid-19 vaccinates and boosters.  We encourage everyone to take government advise and accept the vaccine when offered it.  For details on the virus and vaccine see here. 

Building Renovations

In 2023, we replaced the garage's absetos roof with something more environmentally friendly - well done Kris Loomes.  And we hope everyone likes the fresh paint job on the outside of the building - well done Reynolds & Ruston Ltd.

 

During 2022, we painted treatment rooms and the patient loo.

 

Our buidling got a 'new' Welsh slate roof in 2021. Let's hope the roof lasts another 200 years.  Well done to Loomes Roofing Contractors Ltd.

NHS Fees

The government increased the NHS band fees charged to patients by 8.5% from Monday 24th April 2023.  Fees will increase again from the 1st April 2024.

 

Please see further information including exemptions from charges in the Fees section.

Failure to Attend, and Was Not Brought

Since the introduction of our new computer system with its appointment reminder facility, we see less patients failing to turn up for their dentist and hygienist appointments.  Thank you.

 

We remind all patients, especially those making family appointments, whenever possible to provide (or reconfirm) mobile and email contact details to the reception team.

 

Should you be unwell or be able to attend your appointment, please contact the reception team ASAP. Doing so may allow your appointment slot to be given to another patient.

 

Failure to attend (*) may result in you being de-registered from our dental practice and you being charged for the missed private appointment. 

 

* Children who are not brought to their dental appointment by their parent or guardiance.  Note the NICE guidance in section 1.3 of Public Health England Safeguarding in general practice - A toolkit for dental teams.

 

From September 2023 our computer system allows us to monitor the children who were not brought to their dental appointment.  The reception staff will be following up non attendance and when necessary reporting to local safeguarding leads.

Private Fees

Since October 2023, we have been analysing the impact of recent gas and stock price rises and renovation expenses.  For example, gloves are now three-times what they were before Covid.  Many of our support staff will have higher than inflation pay rises in April 2024 due to the government's mandatory 'minimum wage'.  And the majority of our laboratories have increased their prices who are similarly impacted by energy and staff wage rises, and the price of precious metals.  On the 1st April 2024 we have a new private price guide for dental examinations and treatments.  We have tried to keep somethings unchanged (e.g. online booking, Airflow consumables, composit veeners).  Sadly we expect another fee change around September 2024.

 

17/05/2023 : Clarified the child private hygienist appointment fee.

 

Our electricity and gas prices significantly increased in January 2023 (and will again later in 2023); we are trying our best to reduce our consumption or explore alternative energy sources available to Listed Buildings.  Staff costs have and continue to increase, similarly have dental materials, equipment maintenance, and disposal service costs.  Dental laboratory costs increased either in January or on the 1st April 2023.  Should customers wish to consider spreading the price of their treatments - please let the reception team know when you visit the reception desk or use the webform survey With sufficient interest we may introduce a payment plan at a later date. 

 

Private prices changed on 1/4/2023.  Notice we kept the 30 minute routine and 40 minute direct- access (new) private hygiene services.

 

On the 1/9/22 we had to make a small increase to some private denture fees to account for unexpected laboratory charges and the higher cost of gold.  To compensate, we now include the cost of all small (intraoral) X-rays with dentist examinations.  We have added some new treatments.  We clarified the appointment deposit, online booking fee, and penalty charges on our printed fee list.

 

On the 1/4/2022, the private dental prices changed.  All private hygiene treatments now include Airflow.  Proving successful with patients, the cost of up to two intraoral Xrays in the routine dental examination fee remains.  We continue to offer discounts for children under 18 years when accompanied by a fee paying adult. Then in July 2022 we included provision for online booking (£1.50 non-refundable booking fee) and we extended the new dentist exam to 30mins and, like routine examinations, included in the cost up to two intraoral (small) X-rays.

 

The private fees were updated on the 1st January 2020, to reflect both the world increase in precious metal (e.g. gold) costs and associated laboratory price rises and staff wages since October 2018.  Recent change includes the impact of the UK Government's decision to increase the National minimum and living wage by over 6% in April 2020, and of course the Covid-19 situation.

 

Our private prices are very competitve.  To improve affordability to families we discount child examination prices by 50% to those under 18 years old (and children under 5 years free) when they accompany a private fee paying adult. 

 

Notes:

  • The fee price guide was edited on 14/2/2020 (version 11alt) to better describe the Airflow treatments.  There is no change to price.
  • The cost of soft and hard bite raising appliances was changed, £90 and £270, respectively to reflect the cost of laboratory fees.  4/3/2020 (version 12).
  • Minimal wage and Covid-19 change, 15/6/2020 (version 13).

 

Independent dental hygiene appointments normally require a financial deposit.  Should you fail to attend, or cancel within 24 working hours of the appointment, the full cost of the treatment will be charged.

Online Booking & Reception Phones

In July 2022, we added online booking of appointments.  This should help some of those persons who find using the telephone difficult. On the 11/7/2022 we started with private hygienist services for both new and existing patients.  And in 2023, we have added private dentist services: implant consultation and emergency appointments.  Sorry if you don't find an available appointment online - we're just so busy.

 

Appointments can still be made by calling the reception team on 01449 771700, but in addition, including out-of-hours, the online appointment booking facility will operate.

 

Patients will be offered an electronic appointment link to select the most appropriate time and date.  Confirmation of the booking should be given through a SMS or email message. Several private services will require an initial financial payment that includes a £1.50 booking fee that is not refundable.

 

As always we ask that any cancellations be made by telephoning the reception.  Cancellations less than 24 working hours prior to the appointment will incure a cancellation fee.

 

On the 28/10/2022, the PSTN telephone 01449 771 700 line was migrated to a digital system able to cope with multiple calls simultaneously.  The telephone service provider remains as BT.  So far the new telephone system is working well.

Patient Feedback & Waiting Lists

We always try to listen to our customers.  If you would like to provide additional written feedback please consider filling in our online patient questionnaire, or ask a staff member during your visit for a paper Patient Questionnaire form, or if you wish review us on Google.

 

We were aware that our reception telephones could be engaged at times.  Our new phones from October 2022 have been a huge success.

 

For those of you wishing to become our patients, we briefly opened our NHS and private waiting lists in the Summer of 2021, and the private list again Summer 2023, but soon after so much interest they had to be closed.  Currently we are accepting new patients to see our private hygienist. Anyone wishing to join please check our new patient list pages before you call the reception team, or try the NHS Dental Search tool.

Data Privacy Notice

The European Union's General Protection Redulation (GDPR) came into force on 25 May 2018.  In the UK, the uplifted Data Protection Act gained Royal Ascent on 23 May 2018 (DPA2018).  The DPA2018 specifies the applicable parts of the GDPR and extensions to the GDPR.

Wedgwood House Dental Practice is committed to complying with the GDPR and DPA2018.

 

The UK Data Protection Act 2018 requires companies to explain personal data rights by publishing a Privacy Notice.  WHDP's privacy notice was updated 14/5/2021 highlighting a technical issue with our computer system's ability to deletion 'aged' data no longer required to be held  - this issue remains.  Other PN updates included use of external CCTV, how we retain information on debtors, the inclusion of online booking and online payments, and the new reception telephone system.

Car Park CCTV

We at Wedgwood House Dental Practice enjoy working in our Grade II listed building and I hope you, our customers, enjoy visiting too.  In order to keep everyone safe, we have installed CCTV in the rear car park area as described in our GDPR privacy notice.

 

Sorry we have no responsibility for our neighbours.  We appologise for any inconvenience the deposited food waste and litter may have caused you during 2020-2021.

Other Staff News

<2023>

 

Apprentice dental nurse Sophie W.  Joined late Aug and left early Sept.

 

Dr Rahul Faujdar provided some locum dentist sessions.

 

<2022>

 

November 2022 we welcomed our apprentice nurse Louise (Lolli) and receptionist Camilla.  December 2022, our new cleaner, Sophie M.

 

August/September 2022 we welcomed our 2022/23 Foundation dentists Daisy and Rajdeep, and our apprentice dental nurse Molly.

 

Good luck to Fauzia and Shaun in their next dental jobs, who left us at the end of Aug 2022.

 

Daisy and Rajdeep became our latest Foundation Dentists in September 2022 (Fauzia and Shaun left at the end of August).

Other joiners:  Kayhan (9/9/22 only), Kerrie, Lisa, Molly, Milena, Ryan and Zoe, Camilla and Sophie M.

Gemma became a trainee dental nurse (was receptionist).

Other leavers Kerrie, Ryan and Zoe.

 

<2021>

Fauzia and Shaun became our latest Foundation Dentists in September 2021 (Joe Moore left at the end of August).   August saw the arrival of Amy our Dental Therapist and Becky our apprentice dental nurse. 

 

We said goodbye to our associate dentist Dr Anitha Baskaran on the 21st May 2021 and wished her and family luck.

 

Jessica (Jess) joined the dental practice as our new Apprentice nurse in December 2020, but sadly have to leave due to person reasons a year later.  Her position hopefully will be filled soon.

 

Anna Geaney joined in December 2020 as a part-time receptionist.  From February 2021 took on additional hours, provide digital marketing consultancy and perform the Data Protection Officer (DPO) role.

 

Both our 2019-20 foundation dentists, Anitha and Samsam, completed their work placements.  Anitha become an associate dentist in September 2020, and Joesph (Joe) joined us August 2020 to be our new foundation dentist.  We wish them well.

 

Eariler in 2020, the Covid19 disruptions saw two of our dental associates leave us.  We wish Elizabeth (Lizzy) and Richard best of luck with their futures.

 

<2019>

 

Welcome to our two new Foundation Dentists, Samsam (Sam) and Anitha, and our new apprentice dental nurse Ebony. 

 

Well done to Sophie and Corrina on obtaining their dental nursing qualification.

 

Welcome to our new dental hygienist, Gil Le Grys, June 2019.  Gil brings to us her experience of London's Harley Street and we hope she will be a hit with all our patients.

 

 

<2018 and earlier>

 

A hearing loop system installed to assist our customers with hearing difficulties, 6/10/17.  Thank you to nurse Nadia for helping select, train and install the device.

After the initial Covid lock down

<October 2020>

 

It's a quarter of a year since we re-opened our doors to see patients.  The World still suffers from Covid19.  The UK has begun just begund a "second wave" of infections.

 

Hopefully our patients have received the dental care they need.  I offer a big thank you to all staff at Wedgwood House for their hard work.  The reception team who spend hours each day repeating "the Covid19 questions" that keep everyone safe.  The medical staff who wear hot, difficult to breath-through protective equipment.  And the support staff keeping our business going.

 

As we go forward I'd like to remind all patients who can.  Please provide us with your up to date contact details including mobile and email address.  The English Chief Dental Officer reminds us to embrace technology to allow us to better serve patients with online booking, etc.

 

Please send us any suggestions improvement and well-done stories.

 

<June 2020>

 

We re-opened the dental practice on the 17th June 2020.  Please can everyone keep safe by following the new operating procedures.  More information on the new Patient Journey can be found in our letterwhich will be discussed with you on making an appointment and emailed to you. Be aware that at present we have limited appointments, but hope to increase as the National Covid-19 situation eases.

 

Since the 1st of April 2020 Dr JM Geaney and her colleagues attended the practice each day to provide advice, analgesia or antimicrobials where appropriate in line with NHS prescribing guidelines (AAA), but remained closed due to Covid-19. We hope that you remained safe and well.

 

The statement given out by the government that dentists in England will re-open on the 8th June 2020 misled the public: we could only re-open with  adequate safety measures and PPE in place.  Today there is still a national shortage of PPE meaning that some staff will be prevented from performing certain treatments. Please be patient with our reception staff who have lots of Covid-19 related questions to ask.  

 

 

Children's Oral Health

NHS Advice about Children's Oral Health is added to our website, including what to do should a child's tooth be knocked out.  For information see here, or discuss with your dentist at their next appointment.  21/02/2020.

AIRFLOW®

We offer EMS AIRFLOW® hygiene treatments for the maintenance of your smile.  Recommended for patients with dental implants, braces and veneers, or who just want the gentle effects of water and EMS powders to scale and polish their teeth.

Environmental Protection & Sustainability

To help save the planet, we use digital documentation and digital X-rays instead of paper and harmful chemicals, respectively.  Since 2018 we use electronic SMS texts and emails to advise you of your dental appointment, and we hope to add additional digital services where feasible.  Please provide your mobile telephone number and email contact details to the reception team on arrival at the practice.

 

We will do our best to support those patients that do not have or wish not to use mobile or email communications.

 

Autumn 2023, we changed our dental water purification system from an electric distilation process to an electric-free reverse osmosis process.  (We now are monitoring the usage of filters.)

CQC Inspections

On the 2/5/2017 we were inspected by the CQC.  All 5 areas of competence were met (safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led).  We're so proud of our staff and their dedication to delivering quality dental services.  We're so grateful to all our customers' feedback that demonstrated 'a very positive view of the practice and the staff who worked [here]'.

 

We continue to follow the guidance and rules of the CQC, NHS, GDC and applicable dental advisory organisations.  We hope to always listen to our staff and customers about your appreciation, act on your concerns or suggestions to improve where necessary.

Address

Dr J. M. Geaney

Wedgwood House Dental Practice

Bury Street 100, Stowmarket, IP14 1HF

Our new website tells you all about our services. If you want to get in touch with us, phone us on +44 (0)1449 771 700 to make or update an appointment.

In this practice we take complaints very seriously and try to ensure that all our patients are pleased with their experience of our service.  Should you have a complaint, then please FIRST write to Dr J M Geaney the practice Proprietor.

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