Helpline for stressed dentists proposed
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- Published: Tuesday, 24 April 2018 07:36
- Written by News Editor
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At a recent meeting in London, convened by Dr Jeremy Cooper of Salford, representatives from major dental organisations considered an idea to form a new charity to operate a helpline for dentists under stress. The service should be available 24/7, 365 days a year and to be there to listen, empathise and if necessary ‘signpost’ people to organisations to help them with their problems.
Dr Cooper opened the meeting by acknowledging that, though there was sterling work performed by our indemnity organisations in helping dentists facing litigation or problems with the GDC, they were not there 24 hours a day, when someone just wanted to ‘talk’ at 3am in the morning.
People with alcohol, drug issues or other health matters, are supported by the Dentists' Health Support Trust, yet whether the organisation is known about is certainly open to conjecture. Other dentists may have financial issues or debt problems, staff and business issues and personal issues such as relationship problems.
Dr Cooper proposed the formation of a Helpline manned by the profession, for the profession. The service, he felt, should be available 24/7, 365 days a year and to be there to listen, empathise and if necessary ‘signpost’ people towards organisations to help them with their problems. He finished his introduction by welcoming Robert Venables, the vice chair of LawCare, an organisation that offers similar help to the legal profession. Robert proceeded to tell the group how their system was founded and operated for solicitors, barristers and other paralegals.
Many present acknowledged there was a need to help dentists, but how to achieve this required further thought and information gathering, including an evaluation of services that already existed. It was acknowledged that any advice should not just be restricted to the conventional phone line but to include the internet and social media.
Dr Cooper reflected afterwards he saw this was a first step in forming such a support help line or service. He accepted that though politics and even pride of the organisations present existed, it would not quell his drive for such a service be available whether one be a student, working or retired. The suggested name for the service would be CONFIDENTAL
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