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Last week one of our staff had a sharps injury and hurt herself with a used probe. We contacted Occupational Health according to the rules of the practice. It turned out that dental practices are no longer covered by Occupational Health and in such a situation you need to go to A&E for a blood test and contact your GP.

We would like to know why this has happened and why dental staff are no longer covered. Isn't this what Occupational Health is for? Or are dental staff less important than hospital staff?

Everyone knows how busy A&E can be (if your head is still on your neck you are okay). Is A&E prepared for this and can they deal with it if someone has a sharps injury from a patient who has Hepatitis or HIV? Can you get the antibodies on time if necessary?

Why have we not been informed about these important changes when we get letters about smaller, less important things? Whose responsibility should this be?

Dental practices are no longer covered by Occupational Health and in such a situation you need to go to A&E...

We were totally shocked about the situation and hope we can get covered again by the Occupational Health Services.

Lynn Woods at the British Dental Association (BDA) responds:

Since the establishment of NHS England on 1 April 2013, a number of Area Teams (who replaced PCTs) have stopped NHS dental practices accessing local Occupational Health Services. The BDA and representatives of Local Dental Committees have challenged this disturbing change in policy. NHS England is now reviewing its position on providing access and has undertaken an audit to establish the scope and nature of occupational health services for all primary care professionals. The audit findings will be used to help NHS England formulate a national model for service delivery. Until this takes place, NHS dental practices should contact their local Area Teams to establish exactly who will provide advice and assistance if an inoculation injury occurs. Private practices should also make their own arrangements to ensure access to advice and assistance in dealing with inoculation injuries is in place.