Size doesn't matter

With the publication of the new and updated HTM 01-05 last December, it’s no wonder so many dentists and practice managers are concerned about how the document’s complex and detailed contents can be applied to their practices. With the backing of the law, all dental practices in England are required to have achieved ‘essential’ standards within 12 months of the document’s publication. The guidance, or rather, instruction, is unforgiving.  If these standards have not been met, the dentist will no longer be able to practice. The guidance now also requires written proof of how, and when, each dental business expects to conform to the recommended ‘best practice’ standards. 

It’s inevitable that certain thoughts will cross many a concerned principal’s mind, and that they are likely to contain the words ‘cost’ and ‘time’, and perhaps be peppered with a few expletives.

The problem will be further compounded if space is at a premium. The requirement that all practices should have a designated decontamination area will require some rearrangements, and the necessity for the implementation of a dedicated hand-washing sink will have to be considered. Perhaps the most pressing issue will be that even after satisfying the essential standards, dentists still have to demonstrate their dedication to striving towards best practice. Here, the bone of contention is likely to be the issue of the dedicated decontamination and storage room, which must be kept separate from patient accessed or treatment areas.