News

The UK government will increase the price (to the customer) of NHS dental treatments from 14th December 2020.  An overall 5% increase.

https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-statements/detail/2020-11-23/hcws593

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.

Kind regards, WHDP

Both our 2019-20 foundation dentists completed their work placement and from September 2020 will continue to support Wedgwood House.  Anitha has become an associate dentist and Sam has agreed to help out part time.  Joesph (Joe) joins us in September 2020 to be our foundation dentist.

During the Covid19 disruptions we saw two of our dental associates leave us.  We wish Elizabeth (Lizzy) and Richard best of luck with their future.

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 letter, which 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 we have 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.  

The UK Data Protection Law requires us to publish changes to the way we protect and secure your personal data.  The Privacy Notice records this change.  To enhance the way we mitigate the risk of crypto ransomware, we use secure cloud storage for daily back-up of digital personal data.  This technical change was agreed by our Data Protection Officer.

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.

Please see the information from NHS coronavirus (COVID-19).  See a summary here and the NHS website for up to date information https://111.nhs.uk/covid-19

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.

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).

To be announced

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.

On the 1st April 2020, the NHS treatment prices for non-exempt patients remained the same as 2019 but may increase in September 2020.

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. How we comply is described in the Privacy Notice.

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.

Environmental Protection

To save the planet, we use digital documentation and digital X-rays instead of paper and harmful chemicals, respectively.  From 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.

Please arrive a little earlier for your dental appointment, if possible, to sign updated consent forms.

Previous Announcements

John Geaney again supported the Christmas 2019 'North Pole Express' festivities at the Mid Suffolk Light Railway (mslr.org.uk).

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.

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]'.

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.