Lessons learnt from setting up a UK urgent dental care centre during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

When the COVID-19 pandemic led to the closure of general dental practices throughout the UK on 23 March 2020, Newcastle Dental Hospital became a regional in-hours urgent dental care hub treating ‘hot’ (COVID-19 positive, self-isolating), ‘warm’ (shielding, vulnerable) and ‘cold’ (other) patients. It provided urgent dental care to over 3,000 patients in the first 6 weeks. With no other urgent dental care centres being operational until 15 April, the hospital was the sole care provider (both during normal working hours and out of hours) to a population of over 3 million for more than 3 weeks. Consideration of staffing requirements, logistics, staff wellbeing, personal protective equipment, referral pathways, clinic setup and management of urgent dental conditions during the COVID-19 pandemic are discussed along with the challenges faced.