In 1986, the British Dental Association (BDA) was alerted to the fact that there was an addiction problem within the profession. This was announced by Dr JJ Mee MBE, a recovering alcoholic. As a result of this announcement, the Dentists' Health Support Programme (DHSP; initially The Sick Dentist Scheme) was created. This was based on an American model where addicts with years of sobriety are involved. Funding quickly became a problem; to tackle this, the Dentists' Health Support Trust was created in 1991.
The helpline is live from 7.30 am to 10.30 pm daily. Access can also be obtained via email. The most frequent contacts come from the person in difficulty, or members of the practice, such as partners, and practice managers who may be worried about a colleague. Dental nurses and students are also included in the Programme.
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