Message from the President: Novel Coronavirus update

 

As you will all know, COVID-19 is an evolving international health concern and developments are occurring on a daily basis. The Council is again (please see earlier Notice dated 30 January 2020) writing to dental practitioners to reiterate the responsibility you have to ensure that you are meeting your professional obligations, when it comes to the delivery of safe health care to your patients.

You will no doubt be aware that additional precautionary requirements have been introduced in Australia, including the need for people returning from overseas to self-isolate for 14 days.  Public gathering and social distancing measures are also deemed to be required at this time. 

For more information relating to the latest Federal government’s measures please visit health.gov.au.  NSW Health is also regularly updating its information regarding COVID-19 at health.nsw.gov.au.

From a dental practitioner perspective, we must ensure that we are adhering, at all times, to our obligations regarding infection control whenever we are treating patients.  This responsibility also extends to our staff within the practice and/or work setting. Practitioners are referred to the Dental Board of Australia’s Codes and Guidelines at dentalboard.gov.au. Specifically, the Code of Conduct and Guidelines on Infection Control.

COVID-19 has reinforced the need to ensure that precautionary measures are in place to help prevent the transmission of the virus, and one of these important measures relates to hand hygiene.  We are all aware of hand hygiene principles and the need to adhere to the approved guidelines/standards when treating patients.  In the current climate, it is recommended that these principles are also adhered to outside the practice setting. 

As health care professionals, we must do everything possible to ensure that our patients receive the best clinical care in the most hygienic/cleanest environment possible, and we also have an obligation to ourselves and our staff to ensure personal wellbeing. 

Conjoint Associate Professor F.  Shane Fryer OAM