Page 90 - RADC Bulletin 2021

DENTAL CENTRE
EPPE: our new clinical attire
LCpl J-L Greenfield
As the gloomy year 2020 draws to an end, I’m sure we could all agree it has been a difficult year for everyone. Dental treatment hasn’t changed as such, but the way we greet our patients and our procedures regarding PPE have changed dramatically. At Dental Centre Bulford, we no longer welcome patients into the waiting room nor invite visitors in without the relevant COVID questions being asked. Once all, patient
or visitor, pass the standard questions and confirm they are wearing a face covering, we invite individuals into the Dental
Centre directing them straight to the hand sanitiser. All patients who require treatment will receive the same standard of care;
the difference now is we wear enhanced
personal protective equipment (EPPE). For some patients this can come as surprise, both the amount we are required to wear and how much we look like a cast member of Star Wars when in it! Nonetheless, we inform patients that we have to wear more protective equipment to ensure everyone’s safety whilst carrying out any aerosol generated procedures (AGP).
Only once treatment has finished and
the patient has left the room can we
remove equipment and instruments to be decontaminated in the CSSD. The Dental Officer (DO) and the Dental Nurse (DN) can now exit the surgery and doff PPE in reverse order to donning. In Bulford, we do this in a designated area of the CSSD while leaving
the surgery to fallow. I’m sure many staff members from all Dental Centres across DPHC will agree that the added PPE is uncomfortable after long periods of time and hot when in a room where air-con cannot be used.
COVID-19 has changed what we would consider to be our normal. Like many
others, we have had to adapt, overcome and improvise; as an organisation we have done this to the best of our ability, providing a high-quality service for all Serving Personnel (SP). Even though COVID-19 has put a stop to many activities and events worldwide,
the British Armed Forces must continue striving to maintain our national security and peacekeeping missions across the globe. Troops still deploy on exercises and operations, therefore as an integral part
of DPHC, we are keeping the momentum going and getting all SP through our doors so they can deploy, upholding our mission statement.
Recruiting Update
Capt L McKirdy
‘You are on mute!’
‘Can you see me now?’
‘Is that a cat behind you?!’
All phrases we have become familiar with over the past 18 months. The Army Medical Services Corps Engagement Team (AMS CET) much like most of the population has taken a leap and fully embraced modern technology. Prior to the pandemic the team’s primary role was travelling the length and breadth of the country and engaging with a wide range of people to promote the AMS and what we do. The challenge: maintain that reach of engagement and recruit the next generation of Dental Nurses, Combat Medical Technicians, Radiographers, Physiotherapists, Mental Health Nurses... (the list is long).
In addition to recruiting, a primary output of the AMS CET is running
selection boards. It was established early on that as the AMS CET we needed
our own Zoom licence. This allowed
us to host remote video interviews
on a platform that was familiar to the candidates we were interviewing. A far cry from the walk through the doors
of Robertson House looking up at the chandelier and the white tiger hanging from the balcony, frantically reeling off the GDC Standards in your head and worrying you’ll get in the interview and forget your own name. Zoom interviews were a success and meant that we did not have to cease boarding activity.
The team have been very busy, with
a number being trawled on RESCRIPT taskings all over the UK, those remaining really pulled together and delivered throughout. From running the AMS social media channels, virtual events, webinars
and national Army attract events to name a few the pace in recruiting has certainly not slowed down and the Army overall has seen an increase in recruitment activity.
From an RADC perspective we are still actively recruiting Dental Officers both Direct Entrants and Bursars and Dental Nurses qualified and unqualified. The opportunity to Voluntary Transfer from another capbadge to the RADC and train as a Dental Nurse is also back open. For more information get in touch: ArmyMed- Rec-MailboxMULTIUSER@mod.gov.uk
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88 RADC BULLETIN 2021