Useful links and resources for dentists who are volunteering or who have been redeployed during the COVID Crisis
Hesham Emam, Vinita Shekar, Ross Leader, Aimee Rowe, Patrick Magennis
August 28 2020: COVID-19 Urgent dental care SOP
August 28 2020: Dental Transition to recovery SOP
This page has assembled some resources for dentists re-deployed or working in hospitals caring for COVID patients. We hope you might find it helpful. If there are other resources you would like to recommend, please contact the BAOMS Office
We have not detailed the most important advice which is all about your Person Protective Equipment PPE because this training should have been given to you in the hospital.
Level of work expected of re-deployed dentists and dental volunteers: for hospital-based dentists (DCTs SAS Grades) your Trust will not employ you to work beyond your training/ability. They will train you to do what they want you to do. They may not understand your skills or ability as a dentist, so do make contact early in your proposed redeployment. OMFS departments will continue to need staff to manage emergency OMFS patients.
If you are volunteering, do make your availability known to the OMFS department. They might want to use your more relevant skills rather than have you work in a medical area as a health care assistant, where your dental skills would not be put to best use.
Advice from General Dental Council about ‘scope of practice’ when working in hospitals: BAOMS has previously contacted the GDC in the context of dental trainees working in medical specialties (OMFS/ ENT cross-cover) and they have advised, in writing, that dentists can work in medical specialties so long as they follow their standards for the dental team and BAOMS Advice for Dentists Working in Dental Specialties: based on discussions between General Dental Council and BAOMS in 2016.
What should I do if I am uncomfortable in my new role? It is very unlikely you will have a role in assessing, diagnosing and making treatment plans for COVID patients. You should also have adequate training and provision of PPE. If you are put in an uncomfortable position or feel you are working beyond your ability/competency, you should make it known to the clinical supervisor under whose supervision you are working. We recommend a 3 step escalation plan:
- Express unhappiness – I am unhappy with...
- Express concern about safety – I don’t think what I am doing is safe because…
- Say STOP – I think we should stop this because...
Support from BAOMS: If you feel you want support in your unfamiliar role, your local OMFS team will be able to help you with local knowledge and experience. The team at BAOMS and our sub-groups are also here to help. For SAS/Trust grade and volunteer dentists, it is the Associate Specialist Group. For Dental Core Trainees (SHOs) and dental specialty trainees, the Junior Trainees Group (JTG) and for retired colleagues returning to help please contact the Consultant and Specialists Group (CSG).
Liverpool FT COVID 19 Briefing Notes for Nurses and Junior Doctors 31 March 2020
Cross-skill training for pandemic COVID-19 from Intensive Care and Anaesthetists
This web site has lots of good resources and worth a look ahead of redeployment within your trust.
There is also a good area on well-being resources during this pandemic.
RCS Edinburgh - Essential Knowledge for for Surgeons undertaking Acute Medical Care (Cross Specialty COVID Resources)
e-Learning For Health: there are links to lots of eLfH documents already on the BAOMS website. Have a look at our list or look for a specific course on the website.
Clinical Skills Videos: This YouTube channel has some useful videos on practical procedures, these may vary to the standard practice at your local trust but are useful confidence boosters nevertheless:
- How to take an arterial blood gas
- IV Cannulation
- Venepuncture
IV Fluids (NICE): Algorithms for IV fluid therapy in adults