With thousands of COVID-19 patients needing ventilators and oxygen to help them fight the virus, BOC Healthcare is asking dental practices to consider giving back unwanted or unused medical cylinders to minimise any unnecessary stretch in the supply chain.
On the first weekend of this month, Watford General Hospital in Hertfordshire declared a critical incident with its oxygen supply.
The Trust announced the concerns when it realised it needed to reduce the demand on the system. People were asked to go elsewhere in an emergency, whilst some of the hospital’s patients were moved to prevent systems failing.
Now, BOC has launched an appeal for customers to send back supplies.
A spokesperson explained: ‘BOC has contacted some customers requesting that they return unwanted or unused medical cylinders to minimise any unnecessary stretch in our supply chain.
‘If practices are closed and cylinders are not being used, they can be returned to us to assist in our supply contingencies. Cylinders will be replenished once facilities re-open.
‘Should any dentists be in such a position, please ask them to contact our customer service centre to arrange a collection.’
With these necessary controls and measures in place, BOC remains confident that wit will be able to maintain essential medical gas supplies within the UK and Ireland.
It also said that this was to help stockpile oxygen to protect the company's supply chain.
Any dentists with supplies surplus to requirement, can call BOC’s customer service centre on 0800 111 333 to arrange a collection.
Toothbrushes and toothpaste
There is also an appeal today for dentists and teams to supply local care homes and hospices with toothbrushes and toothpastes.
With new reports showing around half of deaths from COVID-19 are happening in care homes, the Dental Wellness Trust charity is today calling for dental practitioners to ensure that the elderly and the most vulnerable affected by COVID-19 have access to a toothbrush and toothpaste.
During the period of lockdown where many practices remain temporarily closed, Dental Wellness Trust is urging all UK dentists to contact their local care homes and hospices to offer excess stock.
The aim is to have delivered a total of 10,000 toothbrushes and paste by the end of May.
So far, the Dental Wellness Trust has already donated in excess of 5,000 toothbrushes and toothpaste to care homes and hospices across London. They are launching a crowd funder page to raise £10k to buy an additional 10k extra toothpaste/brush kits.
For every £1 donated, this will buy a toothbrush and toothpaste to help those in need maintain good oral health.
Dr Saul Konviser, from the Dental Wellness Trust, said: ‘People living with poor oral health are at an increased risk of many health complications and potentially more susceptible to the effects of any virus. Therefore, it’s essential that those most in need have access to a toothbrush and toothpaste in order to keep their mouths clean and healthy and we strongly urge all dentists to lend their support.’
https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/covid19dentalchallenge