Hundreds of the former patients of Mr D’Mello who our specialist Daybrook Dental Negligence Team are now fighting for have had their say as former patients of the man the media have labelled the ‘Dirty Dentist’ – and the stuff we hear is nearly always the same.
One recurring statement from those we now act for is that dental equipment and instruments were often laid out in ready for their appointments; something we now know was down to failing to sterilise instruments properly, or at all.
The sheer volume of patients D’Mello was seeing at the Daybrook Dental Surgery has been described by health professionals as ‘impossible’ but D’Mello achieved this through dangerously cutting corners that put people’s health, and lives, at risk. His conveyor belt dentistry system allowed for huge volumes of people to be seen in such short periods of time.
He achieved this by ignoring the most simple and basic of NHS infection control procedures, like not washing his hands; reusing gloves; and using unsterlised equipment.
Many of our clients have reported that they would often arrive for their appointment to find the dentistry equipment that would be used in their mouths already laid out in ready for their examination or treatment. People never questioned this at all, and in fact, many probably marvelled at how efficient their pleasant dentist ‘Des’ was at his profession.
But knowing what we know now, we have to ask the horrifying question: how many people’s mouths had the very equipment laid out for your appointment already been in?
It’s a disgusting thought, but the evidence points heavily toward this sort of thing being the case. How else would he be able to turn over so many patients so quickly? His ‘dental factory’ as media sources have described it allowed for patients to be seen in record times of less than 120 seconds, we’re informed.
The difference between the way D’Mello worked and the way the Daybrook Practice is run now couldn’t be more different. Clients have advised us that staff can clearly be seen taking instruments out from sealed packages, and people are noticeably washing their hands and changing their gloves.
All this was what D’Mello was supposed to have done, but it seems he chose profits over patient wellbeing when he decided to turn his back on his community at the expense of their health.
We’re now in the midst of a recall of a scale and nature that has never been seen before in the UK.
If you have been affected as a former patient, join the many people now claiming with us. Call our claims helpline on 0800 634 7575 for free and friendly advice.
