Dental professionals wishing to volunteer for the NHS are being asked to complete a survey to assist effective redeployment.
The chief dental officer for England, Sara Hurley, is creating a framework to maximise the efforts of those members of the dental team who are keen to join the medical ranks to help battle coronavirus.
As a result, interested professionals are being asked to fill out a survey. This is to help the production of the framework, which will be based on the competencies of those involved.
Last week, alongside NHS England and NHS Improvement, Dr Hurley called a halt to routine dental care as the UK entered lockdown.
While further assurances were made regarding NHS dental contracts, she also called on the workforce to respond to national and local appeals for help.
Changes to dental delivery
Dental practices should now adhere to the following in terms of primary care:
- Establish a remote urgent care service, either independently or by collaboration with others
- Telephone assistance should be provided for patients with urgent needs during the usual working hours. Where possible, they should be treated with advice, analgesia or antimicrobial means where appropriate
- If the patient’s conditions cannot be managed by these means, they should be referred to the local urgent dental care system
- All community outreach activities should be stopped until otherwise advised
- Practices should update their websites and inform their regional commissioner of any change in practice availability hours due to staffing levels, and the arrangements for cover
