As colleagues and fellow health professionals, we want to send you a message of support in these unprecedented times, thank you for the work you are doing and let you know what steps we are taking to help you.
Dental Protection is here to support you. Our job is to protect you in both good times and bad. We know you have a great deal on your mind and you need to be able to focus solely on looking after your patients, yourself and your livelihood. To help you do that, we have made a commitment to respond quickly to the challenges that will arise, so that we can meet your needs and the needs of all dental members across the world.
There are four areas where we have already committed to take action:
Seeking clarity
We know that you have many questions and queries about the current situation including safety issues, treating patients who have been deemed more vulnerable and clinical infection guidance. NHS contract issues are also clearly at the top of members’ minds. We are committed to working with all bodies to get you the answers you need so you can practice with confidence.
Protecting your wellbeing
We understand the pressure you will be put under during this crisis, and we have therefore extended our counselling service to all members who are experiencing any work-related stress, or stress that they feel could impact upon their practice. Our counselling service is provided through a third-party partner and completely confidential. Further details can be found here.
Protecting members’ financial position
We are acutely aware that the current situation is impacting the number of patients you are seeing and that many of you are likely to see a significant fall in income. We are currently investigating ways to provide increased flexibility to make subscriptions more affordable for members during this challenging time. Once we have agreed the details, we will actively communicate and share our plans with you.
Bolstering the workforce
As well as increasing flexibility to make subscriptions more affordable, we will also provide support to dental members who choose to help medical colleagues on the frontline during the outbreak. The UK Government has said that dentists may be asked to assist staff in NHS hospitals in administering injections and medication that would normally only be administered by hospital medics. If you decide to take on this role, we will provide you with the protection you need without any additional cost.
In the coming days, weeks and months, Dental Protection will be actively sharing updates and information with you on our website and through a variety of other channels such as social media and email. Our aim is to anticipate your needs and proactively provide you with the necessary answers where we can.
We share your concerns and apprehension about what is to come both professionally and personally in the months ahead. We are all facing a challenge on a scale unimaginable only a few months ago. All of us came into our professions to care for and support patients; that call perhaps rings truer today than ever.
This is not going to be an easy time for any of us, but we are going to get through it.
Support each other and stay safe.
With sincere best wishes
Prof Dame Jane Dacre, Mr Ian Eadley and Raj Rattan MBE BDS MFGDP (UK) PgDIP MDE
