Consultation on the proposed supplementary risk management principles for oral health during the COVID-19 pandemic
Since early 2020, IPC measures for delivery of oral health services have been significantly strengthened to meet the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. These measures will remain relevant for the foreseeable future.
Further, the Government recently announced a move from the alert level response system to a new COVID-19 protection framework (also known as the “traffic light system”) to come into effect at 11:59pm on 2 December 2021.
The Council proposes to publish ‘Supplementary risk management principles for oral health during the COVID-19 pandemic’, as an addition to the Council’s Infection prevention and control practice standard.
The proposed standard will apply when providing oral health services under the Aotearoa New Zealand COVID-19 protection framework and other government, national or regional restrictions. Once finalised, this will replace the current alert level guidelines.
The consultation document describes the key proposals.
Have your say
The consultation process is an opportunity for practitioners, and other interested parties (including professional associations and societies, the Ministry of Health, district health boards and educational institutions) to make submissions.
We welcome and value all feedback, but multiple, identical submissions do not carry any more weight than a single submission. All feedback we receive will be considered and will inform our final decision.
Please ensure you include answers to the consultation questions outlined on page 8 of the consultation document when you respond.
Submissions
Given the urgency for oral health services to be ready to operate alongside the new COVID-19 protection framework, this consultation period will be shorter than usual.
Your submissions must reach us by 1pm, Monday 29 November 2021. No extensions to the submission date will be possible.
You can submit your responses using our online survey or emailing consultations@dcnz.org.nz
Submissions received will be published on our website and will record the submitter’s name and profession (for registered oral health practitioners). All other contact details will be removed. We will not publish any submissions containing derogatory or inflammatory content.
As this is a public consultation process, "In confidence" information will only be accepted under special circumstances. Please contact us before submitting material in confidence.
If you have any questions about this consultation, you can contact us by email or phone 04 499 4820.