The topic of our Practice meeting last month was Safeguarding.
Safeguarding describes the responsibility of protecting adults and children from any kind of abuse or neglect. Dentists have a responsibility for the welfare of their patients, which is not limited to their clinical care.
All members of the dental team receive training and have an ethical responsibility to recognise the signs of abuse or neglect. They are aware of and follow local procedures for protecting children and adults who are or might be at risk. The dental team are not responsible for making a diagnosis of abuse or neglect, however, if necessary they must know how to report concerns appropriately.