The four Chief Dental Officers of England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have written a letter to dentists to thank them for their professionalism and flexibility during the COVID-19 crisis and anticipating some of the challenges the profession is likely to face during the second wave. There have also been updates on Dentists as Essential Workers, priority for any Covid-19 vaccine and the Overseas Registration Exam.
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Answering questions in the House of Lords, junior health minister, Lord Bethell said the challenge presented to the dental profession by Covid is severe. The Government is ‘grateful’ for the hard work of 10,000 NHS and private practices in introducing PPE and infection-control arrangements to keep patients and staff safe, and to the 600 urgent care centres that are providing services for the most severe cases.
Helen Rumbelow, writing in The Times, has investigated the possible use of an iodine mouthwash as a way of combatting Covid-19. She interviewed Professor Stephen Challacombe who told her “I have no doubt that this should be used and had it been, it would have saved lives.” But questions have been raised about how significant its use would be.
Read more: Controversy over possible use of iodine mouthwash in fight against Covid
British dentistry is facing an impending recruitment “crisis”, according to a recent article in the Financial Times. The Association of Dental Groups (ADG) has told MPs that uncertainty over the UK’s new immigration system and the long-term validity of European Economic Area (EEA) qualifications after Brexit, coupled with a backlog of up to 15m missed dental appointments caused by the coronavirus crisis, was creating a “perfect storm” in some areas of the UK.
Read more: Association of Dental Groups warns of looming recruitment crisis in UK
Scotland’s chief dental officer, Tom Ferris, has been reported by The Scotsman newspaper as saying that people in need of dental treatment should not be put in the “invidious position” of being forced to pay for private treatment because of a backlog of NHS appointments due to the coronavirus shutdown. He was speaking on the BBC radio show Call Kaye,
Read more: Scotland's CDO says patients shouldn't be ‘forced’ into private treatment
The Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak has increased support to businesses with a five-month extension of the furlough scheme into Spring 2021 and increased self-employed support for millions more workers through the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS), which will be increased.
Read more: Chancellor announces support measures until March 31