dental practice July 2009
www.dental-practice.org
What HTM 01-05 means to your practice
Gavin Willis, joint MD of Paradigm Design, explains why practices should seek to comply,
as quickly as possible, with the new decontamination guidelines
V
IEWS and opinions in the you do not already comply, you are however, why a site visit audit may be a have occurred in your practice.
profession vary considerably in actively in the process of doing so. If better choice: 4 The audit should look not only at
relation to HTM 01-05 you fail to do this, and any case is 1 A site visit audit will not simply the space requirement, but the auditing
(Decontamination in primary care brought against you by a patient, your highlight what needs doing in order to of your equipment and its processes.
dental practices). Some practices are insurance may be invalid. comply, but also point out the action The usage of all your sterilisation
ahead of the game and comply with The wisest course of action is to re- required. equipment needs a clear audit trail.
best practice guidelines, others are in read HTM 01-05 and, if you have any 2 Bluntly, you may not be ideally
the process of complying with it, and
As with all new regulations, it is easy to adopt a
Using the right materials
some are “thinking about it”.
“we got on fine before” attitude, particularly when
in a decontamination
What you cannot afford to do is
time, money and form filling are involved ... while
environment
ignore them, because to do so could
the temptation may be to cut corners, you will
The Care Quality Commission will
have a number of serious implications
benefit from taking a longer-term view and doing
be making overall assessments of
which we will explain.
the job well.
decontamination facilities too, so an
“out of sight, out of mind” approach is
The current position doubts at all about your status in qualified to undertake an audit or know to be avoided. They will be focusing on
What you need to do is keep in mind relation to complying, put in process exactly what to look for. the sterile integrity of the facility such
that, to all intents and purposes, the an audit. 3 If you do undertake the audit as work surfaces, seamless floors and
recommendations in HTM 01-05 are yourself, in the event of a claim against cabinetry materials, so cost-cutting for
now effectively requirements. The How best to undertake you, your insurance company could short-term expediency is not
Quality Care Commission began its your audit (should they be so inclined) argue that recommended.
policing role as from April 1 and You can carry out a self-assessment the audit was not objective. Keep in In the damp atmosphere of a
Primary Care Trusts are responding (as audit and if you visit www.ips.uk.net, mind that in our compensation culture, decontamination unit, unsuitable
Primary Care Trusts tend to do) with the required information is available. a “no win, no fee” solicitor will go for materials can rapidly deteriorate and
varying degrees of urgency. Additionally the BDA and a number of an easy target and you may have to decompose. Apart from the expense of
There is no need to panic, but if you companies offer audit forms you can clearly show you are complying with regular replacement, there is then a
have not done so, you should take complete yourself. best practice and prove that any health hazard resulting not only from
action in order to demonstrate that, if There are a number of reasons, infection would be most unlikely to exposed porous surfaces but also from
air-borne particles.
Ten steps to creating a
Tristel extends availability
successful practice
Taking action
of infection control range
Continued from page 24
As with all new regulations, it is easy
THE new Dentel range from Tristel
to adopt a “we got on fine before”
than the autocrat. Those being directed
is proving to be “just the solution for
attitude, particularly when time, money
are invited to consult with the leader,
safe, easy decontamination and
and form filling are involved, as they
their views are considered, and the
infection control in dental practice”,
undeniably are, if you are to comply
decision then becomes a collective one.
the company reports, and as well as
with HTM 01-05.
This type of leadership is probably the
being available direct from Tristel, the
However, the rules make sense, not
most frequently found in successful
complete product range – which
only for patients, but for the dental
dental practices today where a strong
includes Dentel 5, Dentel 100 and
team who, after all, are at the greatest
team works under a single owner.
Dentel Duo – can now be purchased
risk. So while the temptation may be to
through the Dental Buying Group
Maturity v. authority
cut corners, you will benefit from
(DBG) at www.thedbg.co.uk.
taking a longer-term view and doing
As previously stated, there is not one
All Dentel products use Tristel’s patented chlorine dioxide chemistry and
the job well.
single style of leadership that is
are said to be effective against spores, biofilms and other micro-organisms.
If you would like information about
applicable in all situations. The method
The complete range is safe and easy to use, Tristel says, and meets the new
Paradigm on-site audits and/or
chosen will be influenced by broader
Department of Health infection control guidelines HTM 01-05.
regional seminars, contact Diana on
considerations such as the state of the
Tristel’s Dentel portfolio provides environmentally friendly, rapid-
01278 792333, or e-mail diana@
economy as well as by task
response infection control for dental practices and includes applications for
paradigm-group.co.uk.
requirements and the attitudes and
dental unit water lines (Dentel 5), dental equipment (Dentel 100), and dental
The seminars are open to the whole
interests of the subordinates, ie how
surgery surfaces such as chairs, instrument tables and light switches (Dental
dental team, and offer practical
they feel about doing the job.
Duo). More information is available from www.tristel.com.
guidance and advice on complying with
It is true to say that the lower the
HTM 01-05. The keynote speakers will
level of subordinate maturity, the
be Martin Fulford, scientific adviser to
higher the level of authority (“telling”)
Adrianne Morris is a “success coach” whose aim is to get people
the BDA, and Gavin Willis on use of
required, and vice versa. Maturity can be
from where they are now to where they want to be, in clear measured
space for and within decontamination
assessed by the ability of the team
steps. Ed Bonner has owned many practices, and now consults with
areas.
members to set and attain goals, to take
and coaches dentists and their staff to achieve their potential. For an
responsibility, and their level of self-
expanded version of this article, or to subscribe to The Power of 10 e-
The seminars are eligible for six
hours’ CPD and will include
confidence, self-respect, and not least,
zine, contact Ed Bonner at bonner.edwin@gmail.com or phone 07766
workshops, with specialist technical
education and experience. Flexibility of
601338. If you would like to discuss anything about this article, feel
advisers on hand to answer questions
attitude is paramount for success in
free to call or drop an e-mail to Ed or Adrianne (alplifecoach@yahoo.
and provide advice.
changing times.
com).
26
DP July 09 4,6-7,21,24,26-27,34,26 26 24/6/09 14:04:17
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