
All clinics and dental surgeries have been closed since 23 March when the country went into lockdown. So for beauty and aesthetics clients, the news that the government is set to ease restrictions (subject to the infection level being low enough) on non-essential services and personal care businesses couldn’t come too soon.
Whether you’ve already booked an appointment or are thinking about it (and if you haven’t, why not check out our ‘find an expert' tool for some options), what is the actual experience likely to look like?
Firstly, rest assured that a responsible business will be doing everything it can to ensure your safety.
"While the shape of the ‘new norm’ may not yet be entirely clear, it is certain that it will involve a greater awareness of, and responsiveness to, the ongoing risk of infection and cross-infection," says Joint Council for Cosmetic Practitioners (JCCP) Trustee, Andrew Rankin.
He recommends that consumers look out for clinics with a clear policy in place, based on Government requirements and supported by industry guidance, such as that established by the JCCP. Policies may vary between clinics depending upon the treatments offered and the size of the premises.
“Like many of my colleagues, I have gone to great lengths to implement infection control policies, to decrease the risk of transmission of Covid-19 in my clinic," confirms Cosmetic and Reconstructive Doctor Dr Nestor Demosthenous.
“After careful risk assessment of every part of the patient journey, from calling the clinic to completing their treatment and paying at reception, we have implemented stringent measures to make the environment as safe as possible for patients, as well as staff. While there will be visible changes to the environment, patients can still expect the same five star service and treatment they have grown to expect from us.”
Skin expert and medical doctor Dr Anna Hemming also confirms that her staff are fully prepared for the increased cleaning and PPE required for certain treatments. “As the phases of return to work continue, the restrictions will change,” she says.
“This will mean potential for closer contact or if the situation changes we may have to change our treatment menu. The key to reopening is to continue to be aware of how others are feeling and how regulations develop.”
The dental profession is already used to maintaining the highest standards of hygiene and infection control, however Specialist Oral Surgeon Sami Stagnell, admits that reopening has been a complex process.
“We have a huge backlog of patients due to lockdown on top of the numbers coming in, and instead of seeing 20-30 patients a day we are now only able to see up to 10,” he says. "This is because we need to ensure we follow guidelines around disinfection and clinic preparation. Cleaning before each appointment has always been of a high standard in dentistry, but now we are taking extra steps in order to minimise the risk of any spread of infection.”
“We’re also adjusting to the fact that there will changes to the experience for us all: there will be less small talk and the social element to seeing patients will be very different, it’s a much more clinical experience. But by and large people have been supportive and understanding of these changes, they are just happy to be able to book an appointment again.”
At The Dentist Gallery in London, Dr Jerome Sebah and his team are taking an all-inclusive approach to the new safety measures with patient temperature checks on arrival, regular Covid-19 testing for staff, ventilation systems in each room which regenerate and purify the air three times an hour, and alcohol fogging—high pressure misting that disinfects hard to reach surfaces.