The Health and Social Care Act 2008, issued by the health department and effective from April 1, 2009, requires all healthcare professionals, including dentists, to implement a ‘Code of practice to help reduce health care associated infections’. The act describes a number of compliance criteria and provides advice on how to implement procedures to ensure compliance. Compliance to the act by dental practices is now monitored and assessed by the Care Quality Commission.
The new Prestige Medical Decontamination Suite is now being used in the training of year two dental students to show how these exacting standards can be met in the future.
Located on Floor 20 of Guy’s Tower, the new suite features the latest in equipment and furniture needed to become compliant to the ‘best practice’ standard of the HTM 01-05 Guidelines.
The official opening was conducted by Martin Fulford at an evening reception who then handed over to Nairn Wilson, dean of Guy’s Dental School.