HTM 01/05
The introduction to the Department of Health’s Health Technical Memorandum (HTM 01/05) Decontamination will have a major impact on
all primary care dental practices.
The Dental Buying Group strives to assist their members in both the NHS and Private Sector to comply with guidance and current legislation. The DBG services already cover most areas of decontamination including a dental specific health & safety package which includes a module on infection control, Disinfection and Decontamination training, equipment from the supply of washer disinfectors to the design and installation of complete central sterilisation rooms as well as providing help and support.
The HTM 01/05 published 9th April 2009 has been produced following a long consultation period and it reflects the Department of Health’s commitment to improving standards of quality and care within a safe and clean dental environment. The guidance aims:
- To achieve and improve the standard of quality and care for all patients and staff in primary care dental services.
- To aide primary care dental practices by way of a CD-ROM Audit Tool. This quarterly audit tool will assess the levels of compliance. (Audit Tool produced by the Infection Prevention Society). If you wish to download a pdf of the audit tool you can do so at the foot of this page.
- To become the minimum standard of compliance for the CQC, Care Quality Commission, the new regulatory organisation for Healthcare 1st April 2009 in England. Over the next two years all dental practices both in the NHS and Private Sector will have to register with the CQC and meet registration requirements.
- To ensure you meet “Essential requirements” within 12 months and you work towards “Best practice”. New practices should aim to implement best practice wherever reasonably practicable.
HTM 01/05 supersedes the BDA Advice Sheet -A12
