You would be forgiven for thinking it was about Halloween!
Six weeks ago, we thought we would be on FFP3 now we find we’re FFP2.
But which type of FFP2?
Vented or unvented?
Fitted or unfitted?
FFP3 for high risk, FFP2 for low risk?
FRSM and when, will FFP2 do for FRSM or does FFP2 have to be FFP3 or FFP2 and not FRSM?
When the threat level drops to level 2 do I have to use an FFP2 or can I step up to FFP3 if I want?
Can I use an FRSM, do I have to use FRSM or do I have to use FFP2.
What happens if my Nurse doesn’t fit an FFP2 does she have to use FFP3? What happens if there are no FFP3’s can she step back to FFP2 or does she have to go to FRSM or is FRSM too far below FFP3?
(Don’t get me started on hoods if you have a beard).
What about gowns? Previously we thought we would have to use disposable gowns because that’s what PHE told us but now they say we can use reusable gowns.
When does a reusable gown become a disposable gown? What if I use a disposable gown when I’m supposed to use a reusable gown but find out later that I should have used a reusable gown.
Will that compromise that patients safety and will I have to bring the patient back in to use the disposable gown when I should have used a reusable or to use a reusable when I should have used a disposable?
Does my disposable gown need to be washable or can I have a disposable gown that isn’t washable or a reusable gown that’s washable?
If I use a disposable gown do I have to use an FFP3 and with a reusable gown can I use an FFP2 or does it have to be an FRSM with a visor?
If I’m using a disposable gown do I need to use shoe covers and what type of disposable mop head do I have to use to mop the surgery?
If my Nurse gets a call from track and trace does it matter whether she was using a disposable gown or a reusable gown or an FFP2 or an FFP3 or if we were using a disposable mop head while we were working together.
Does it make a difference whether the aperture of the suction was 8 or 9 mm or will we all still have to self-isolated for a fortnight catapulting our patients back into no man's land and our business to somewhere worse.
Don’t worry it’s all cleared up by the guidance, we will have guidance from the ADI and the BOS, possibly some form of steerage from the BDA, very little it seems from the CQC and something bland from the GDC, for me I will have to turn to the MDDUS while other people will turn to the BAOMS.
We have FGDP (which seems to have changed it’s name to College of Dentistry) and then any number of smaller organisations giving us their 10 pennies worth. Of course there is SDCEP which used to be the gold standard but now seems to have fallen to be a tarnished bronze standard after the publication of FGDP which seems to have trumped the publication of SDCEP but has no relevance what so ever to CQC or GDC or BDA.
Do you follow?
How could you possibly follow.
It was interesting to see the FGDP guidelines (round about page 65) making us aware of the fact that we had to keep up with our CPD (another acronym) and be provided confidential counselling for our members of staff that might be stressed at the prospect of coming back to work.
Perhaps we would all be better going on an online acronym course so that we could at least understand what the acronym stood for, for the organisations that were providing us with continual position papers and guidance for which we feel is probably impossible to comply.
Blog Post Number - 2387
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