More than eight in 10 UK dental nurses (84 per cent) said they have gone to work or continued to work despite their mental health suffering, according to a survey by Dental Protection.

Over 1,600 dental professionals in the UK participated in the survey. Of the 162 dental nurses who responded, nearly two thirds (65 per cent) said they feel guilty if they take time off due to mental wellbeing issues.

Almost half of the respondents (49 per cent) said they feel they should keep working even when their mental health is suffering, and nearly four in 10 (38 per cent) said there was nobody else to cover for them if they did not attend. Sixty-five per cent cited financial reasons for continuing to work.

A dental nurse who participated in the survey, commented, “I feel that the best option for me is a career change. This saddens me as I love dental nursing, but the pressure of feeling responsible to keep the appointment books busy is getting to me.”

Dental nurses who took part said working while their mental health is suffering had led to a loss of concentration (65 per cent), a lack of empathy with patients (42 per cent) and being more fearful of making mistakes (25 per cent). A quarter (25 per cent) suspected it may have contributed to a lower standard of care. Forty-two per cent said there had been no effect on patients.

Yvonne Shaw, deputy dental director at Dental Protection, said, “It does not surprise me that dental professionals put their patients’ interests above their own.

“It is however distressing that such a large proportion of colleagues say they are continuing to work despite not feeling mentally well enough to do so. The reasons cited highlight the pressures of delivering NHS care and unrelenting demands of managing patient backlogs and meeting targets, alongside financial pressures and lack of cover.

“The current pressures are unsustainable, and dental professionals must feel able to take time off to recuperate or seek support. We see the impact of burnout and the sad reality of colleagues having to take extended time off work, or even leaving dentistry altogether. Alongside this, working when our mental health is suffering can adversely impact the delivery of patient care which those taking part in our survey have shared.

“At Dental Protection, we continue to campaign for the delivery of key reforms that we know could benefit dental professionals’ wellbeing. These include expansion and better use of the dental workforce, NHS contract reform and addressing access to care, alongside the introduction of measures that support dental teams to deliver optimised patient care and ensure appropriate remuneration.

“The government is expected to set out a 10-year NHS strategy soon and a key plank must be providing a clear timetable for NHS contract reform. A realistic new model for the provision of NHS dental care is urgently required to improve the working conditions for dental professionals, thereby protecting patients and safeguarding the future of NHS dentistry.”

Dental Protection offers members a confidential and independent counselling service for colleagues experiencing stress that they feel could impact their practice.

For more information visit www.dentalprotection.org/uk/dentolegal-advice/counselling-service

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