Undertaking a total practice refurbishment is not for the faint hearted. Those bold enough to contemplate a complete overhaul have much to consider, not least the financial implications of such a major undertaking. Unfazed by the challenge, business partners and married couple Richard Smallwood and Naomi Portelli purchased the Mall Dental Practice in Newport, Isle of Wight in December 2012 and set about a complete ‘top to bottom’ refurbishment.
Housed in a grand grade 2 listed, mid-19th century Italianate terrace, it was clear to see the building’s potential for conversion to a modern clinical establishment. Naomi explains, “Its high ceilings and well proportioned rooms, large
windows and beautiful architectural features, including impressive ceiling roses were delightful. However, with only two existing surgeries we knew we would have to expand and improve the clinical spaces so they felt modern, fresh and more comfortable for patients and staff.”
Naomi and Richard felt strongly that the practice should remain open to their patients at all times so the refurbishment was carefully planned floor by floor, to ensure this could happen. With the assistance of a local architect, Naomi took charge of overall project planning.
To assist with surgery plans and provide the dental equipment Naomi and Richard turned to Southampton based Dental
Equipment Sales & Service Ltd (DESS). Naomi recalls, “We shopped around. We must admit we were put off by scare stories about a lack of follow-on care from some of the larger companies and we really felt that a smaller company would be able to better serve our needs.”
Commencing in 2013, the work started on the first floor, creating a new purpose built staff room, complete with kitchenette; followed by a new office and children’s room. Then a new first floor surgery was installed and once the lower floor space was cleared the project moved in February 2014 to building an extension to house the new reception area. A new waiting room followed, along with the refurbishment of the two ground floor surgeries. The project overhauled nearly every room in the building, delivering a purpose built reception, waiting area and three surgeries.
Three different treatment centres from Takara Belmont were chosen for the surgeries. Naomi explains the rationale, “We chose Belmont because of its reputation for reliability, longevity and comfort for both patients and operators. We selected the tbCompass, Voyager II and Cleo II, all for different reasons. The upright seating position of the Cleo II folding-leg chair is perfect for providing easy access for our elderly and disabled patients and its small footprint means there is plenty of space to manoeuvre in the surgery. We opted for the Voyager II because it can quickly and easily be changed from right to left handed use, giving us total flexibility and we love the comfort of the tbCompass for both patients and dentists. We especially like the speed reducing hand piece which makes fantastically light work of crown preparations, and the composite mode on the operating light. The LED operating light was on offer so we upgraded for two of the surgeries and we reused a Belmont light that we had for the third.”
Naomi and Richard also invested in new Durr suction motors with amalgam separators and Belmont X-ray machines together with durable Corian worktops and purpose built cabinetry, improving the storage and organisation of instruments. Each surgery is different but equally efficient providing comfortable working spaces. Naomi is extremely positive about the support provided by DESS, “Looking back we really appreciated being able to call one of the team directly and not a call centre. The team were always responsive, knowledgeable and helpful.”
With only a few minor hiccups along the way the project took just over a year from beginning to end, with the building work itself and the installation of the surgeries complete within five months. Naomi is proud of how the team rose to the challenge. “Our nursing staff coped admirably, working around the building team and endlessly
moving stock as the refurbishment progressed. The main problem was the noise from the electrician drilling into the walls!”
Naomi is pleased they have been able to provide such a high level of personal investment in a predominantly NHS practice and reflects enthusiastically on the transformation. “It is a fantastic practice of which we are proud to
be at the helm. The final layout has been an enormous success and now provides flat access for elderly and disabled patients to two surgeries. There is plenty of room for patients in the reception and waiting areas, along with a second waiting room on the first floor and the practice feels calmer because the use of the space has improved the flow of staff and patients. The surgeries are a delight to work in, they are light and airy and the apparatus is more comfortable. We are finding the layout of each is facilitating better communication between patients and operators too. It is clear to see that the team are proud of their new work space and patients have been impressed with the speed with which the modernisation has taken place as well as the end result.”
What Naomi doesn’t mention is that in the middle of planning the project they became proud parents of their third child, a baby girl. Rather than put the project on hold or extend timescales, the baby attended many of the on-site meetings with architects, builders and DESS, apparently sleeping through most; making the successful completion of this project all the more gratifying.