NOTICE BOARD


colleagues. The guidance warns doctors not to self-diagnose or self-medicate for anything more than minor ailments. Doctors should also pay attention to


warning signs of illness and take them seriously. For example, feeling low or irritable or having poor concentration or low energy may be signs of burnout. Doctors are encouraged to try to maintain a healthy work/life balance and consider discussing concerns with family, friends and colleagues. The GMC explains that while it aims to


protect patients it is also there to support healthcare professionals. Doctors are encouraged to inform the regulator if they


Burnout risk among clinicians NO ONE can deny that the job of a


healthcare professional is often a demanding one and that clinicians caring for their patients may sometimes neglect to care for themselves. Doctors or dentists may think they are only hurting themselves by suffering in silence but studies have shown that ill health can lead to poor performance which in turn can jeopardise patient safety. MDDUS has dealt with a number of cases involving clinicians who have been subject to a complaint or fitness to practise proceedings relating to mistakes brought about by health problems. Often, such mistakes could have been avoided had the professional sought help sooner. The General Medical Council has just launched a new advice website in a bid to tackle this issue. Your Health Matters encourages doctors who may be concerned about their health to seek help early, before the problem spirals out of control. It acknowledges that “the very qualities that make a good doctor, such as empathy and attention to detail, can also make him or her vulnerable to stresses and burnout or to turning to drugs or alcohol.” They urge doctors to register with a GP


and to trust them to treat you in confidence rather than conducting unofficial “corridor consultations” with


IN BRIEF


l DENTISTRY SCOTLAND AWARDS The call is out for entries to the 2012 Dentistry Scotland awards being sponsored again in part by MDDUS. Categories include most attractive practice, best employer, best patient care, best


4


dental team and culminating in practice of the year, both north and south. Last year’s inaugural awards ceremony was held at the Gleneagles Hotel in Perthshire and was so successful that the organisers have decided to return


there for the 2012 ceremony. For more information and details on how to enter go to


www.dentistryscotland.co.uk l HAS YOUR ROLE CHANGED? MDDUS advisers rely on up-to-date member information to help them


provide the most relevant advice and support. If you are a doctor or dentist who has recently changed professional roles, then please inform MDDUS and we will update your personal information. This will help us provide each member with


SUMMONS


Dental roadshow coming to town DENTISTS can avoid some of the pitfalls that could lead to professional


difficulties by signing up for one of nine dento-legal lectures being co-hosted by MDDUS throughout the UK in May and June of this year. MDDUS has teamed up with dental equipment providers Wright Cottrell to host the lectures which kick off on Wednesday, May 23 in Newcastle, with further dates in Manchester, Leeds, Liverpool, Inverness, Aberdeen, Glasgow, Edinburgh and Dundee. The sessions will feature MDDUS Head of Dental Division and adviser Aubrey


Craig, who has long experience helping MDDUS members avoid situations that could lead to patient complaints, claims of clinical negligence or referral to the GDC. Experts from Wright and W&H will also lead sessions on national decontamination guidelines and how dentists can achieve a fully compliant practice. CPD accreditation will be available. Go to the home page at


www.mddus.com for a link to dates and venues for all the lectures or contact Karen Walsh at kwalsh@mddus.com. Tickets costs £30 with a light buffet available from 6pm and the programming commencing at 6.30pm.


MDDUS welcomes new dental adviser


A new dental adviser has joined the professional services division at MDDUS. Mike Williams started in our London office in February and brings extensive experience in NHS, private and corporate dentistry. He has been a vocational trainer for a number of years, and is a former senior clinical teacher in Oral Surgery at Guys Hospital, London.


Mike qualified at the


University of Dundee in 1979 (BDS), obtained MGDS in 1993, and is a Fellow of the Faculty of General Dental Practitioners. In 2009 he gained a Masters degree in the Legal Aspects of


Medical Practice from the University of Cardiff. He is on the GDC specialist list for oral surgery and continues to work in a mixed NHS/private practice. We are pleased to welcome Mike to the team.


have a health condition or a drug/alcohol problem that may put patients at risk. The GMC will then be able to assess the doctor and make recommendations on how to support them and help them back to safe practice. However the guidance emphasises that only a small number of sick doctors are referred to the GMC each year and there is usually no need for GMC involvement for those who have insight into the extent of their condition, are seeking appropriate treatment, following the advice of their treating physicians and/or occupational health departments in relation to their work,


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