The latest survey of community dentists found that those with the heaviest workloads or who said they did not have enough time for patient appointments reported the highest levels of stress. In addition to time pressures, poor management and difficult relationships at work were identified as sources of stress.
Almost a half of community dentists said they “often” or “always” have to work under unrealistic time pressures. More than half (52 per cent) reported that they never, or rarely, received supportive feedback from their line managers. An even higher number (57 per cent) said that staff are not consulted properly about changes at work while around half of those surveyed said there are insufficient opportunities to question managers.
Although many community dentists said they felt supported and respected by their colleagues, around half noted that relationships at work are strained. One in five of those surveyed reported that they are subject to bullying at work.
Commenting on the latest research, the chair of the BDA’s Salaried Dentists Committee, Michael Cranfield, said:
“The deteriorating working environment for community dentists needs to be acknowledged and addressed.
“The BDA says employers must not ignore the evidence that shows persistent and worryingly high levels of stress amongst their staff.
“We recognise that managers are under considerable pressure themselves, having to manage ever increasing demands with over stretched budgets; nevertheless employers have a duty of care to provide a safe working environment for staff.
“Failure to address this not only puts individuals at risk but also undermines dentists’ ability to undertake their challenging roles in treating their patients, many of whom have extensive special needs.”