Help for NHS dentists is just a phone call away
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- Published: Wednesday, 23 October 2019 07:34
- Written by News Editor
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All NHS doctors and dentists in England now have 24/7 access to confidential advice and support, the Health Secretary, Matt Hancock, has announced. More than 180,000 doctors and dentists can get confidential advice and support, in person or over the phone, if they’ve faced a stressful incident at work or feel they are struggling with their mental health.
Staff can access support 24/7 through a dedicated phoneline and a crisis text service available through the night. The service is currently staffed by 200 experts whose training is tailored to understand the specific circumstances of clinical life.
When a patient emails or phones the service, they are given a link to the app where they can book appointments with a clinician of their choice. After being assessed, the patient can continue to be seen by their lead clinician who can:
- prescribe medication
- support them while off work
- follow up as appropriate
They will also have access to a range of individual and group therapies.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock said: “Our incredible NHS would be nothing without our outstanding, devoted staff. Many of them face incredibly challenging, and often distressing, situations on a daily basis and we owe it to staff to provide the mental and physical health support they need to deliver consistently high-quality care for patients.”
BDA Chair, Mick Armstrong, said: “The BDA’s research over the past decade has consistently shown that many dentists experience unacceptably high levels of stress, with little or no formal help from government until now. We’re very pleased that the highly regarded, confidential NHS Practitioner Health Programme has now been extended to all NHS dentists across England, and the stigma and barriers to seeking help through mainstream NHS services have been removed.”
How to contact NHS Practitioner Health
To sign up, call 0300 0303 300 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
The line is open Monday to Friday 8am to 8pm and Saturday 8am to 2pm.
Text NHSPH to 85258 for the out-of-hours crisis text service.
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