Jo-Anne Taylor, dento-legal adviser at the Dental Defence Union (DDU), shares some reasons why young dentists should choose the DDU at the beginning of their career.
At the DDU, we don’t just provide assistance for when things may go wrong. We provide many other benefits including our new online student hub. This can help you during your studies and throughout your career.
1. Guidance and advice at your fingertips
There are many challenges facing dental professionals in modern practice, but the DDU’s new student hub contains a wealth of videos, articles and case studies. Along with online learning modules, these keep you up to date with dento-legal and regulatory issues.
Our digital journal contains in-depth features, interviews and advice line dilemmas so you can learn from the experiences of other DDU members.
2. 24-hour dento-legal advice and guidance
Our dento-legal team is available between 8am and 6pm Monday to Friday. It provides an on-call service for dento-legal emergencies or urgent queries 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. You can be sure a dento-legal adviser will be available when you need help.
The DDU dento-legal team is staffed by specially trained dentists with real-life experience of the pressures and challenges faced in practice. They can offer practical and non-judgmental advice, whatever the situation.
We have assisted members with over 99% of requests, over the last five years and our Member Guide sets out clearly what members can expect from us.
As a not-for-profit mutual defence organisation, our sole purpose is to support dental professionals and our only obligation is to our members.
3. Advice on dealing with a patient complaint
Even when starting out in practice, complaints can arise. The DDU’s advisory team can discuss a patient complaint with you and advise you on the best way to respond.
Additionally, we can draft or review your written response to maximise your chances of resolving the complaint. Over the last five years, at least 16,000 dental members have been supported by the DDU with complaints and professional matters.
4. Support following a clinical negligence claim
At the DDU, we offer members expert guidance, personal support and a robust defence in addressing clinical negligence claims. Where a claim can be successfully defended, we will do so, and we will never settle without your agreement. You will be assisted by a dedicated claims handler who can offer expert advice and support.
5. Assistance during GDC investigations
A GDC investigation is a stressful time for members and the DDU’s advisory and legal teams are committed to achieving the best and fairest outcome for members, and our in-house legal department has an excellent record in defending members.
In addition, our peer support network can connects members to fellow dental professionals who have been through a similar process, supported by the DDU. This is an important part of the wellbeing services we offer to our members.
6. Support from our press office
In the rare situations where you may find yourself subject to unwanted press attention, you can turn to the DDU’s press office who can advise on how best to respond to media enquiries or respond to a negative online patient review.
7. Exclusive member discounts
Finally, DDU members have access to discounts on a wide selection of products from leading publishers such as Oxford University Press.
The DDU is here for students as well as qualified dentists. Our advisory support team is available to all members via [email protected] . We are staffed by dento-legal experts, who are all experienced dentists.
Student membership is free and first year graduate membership is £10. To learn more and to join the DDU visit www.theddu.com/join.
