Home Dental CDO Sara Hurley speaks after change in COVID alert – Dentistry Online

CDO Sara Hurley speaks after change in COVID alert – Dentistry Online

by adminjay


The chief dental officer for England, Sara Hurley, has reconfirmed the profession’s position after the government raises the UK COVID-19 alert level.

On Monday, the UK’s chief medical officers recommended moving the alert level from 3 (virus is in general circulation) to 4 (virus is in general circulation, transmission is high or rising exponentially).

As a result, many are questioning what the new status means for dentistry.

Local decisions

In a letter to practices, Sara Hurley confirmed:

  • Practices should continue to restore activity in line with the SOPs and letters currently in force
  • The current SOP for primary care dentistry continues to apply. It contains certain updates in relation to support management of the second wave
  • Practices should remain open for face-to-face treatment. Additionally, they should continue to triage patients remotely and use remote consultations where appropriate. An emphasis is placed on ensuring face-to-face emergency and urgent care is available. Priority should be given to patients who normally attend the practice
  • Finally, in the case of local outbreaks, local decisions will take precedent. Practices should ensure they can maintain an urgent dental care (UDC) capability and prepare to contribute to the regional UDC system.

Additionally, she added that further updates will be published by NHS England and NHS Improvement.

Loan reliance

This comes as new data shows more than half of UK dental practices relied on government loans during lockdown.

According to a NASDAL survey, 52% of practices depended on the CIBLS (Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme) or BBLS (Bounce Back Loan Scheme).

For example, around 11% of practices took out the former, with 41% taking out the latter.


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