Health Requirements

All healthcare workers from abroad applying for employment or a training post in the NHS will need standard clearance for serious communicable diseases. Where employment involves the performance of exposure prone procedures they will require additional health clearance for serious communicable disease. Dentistry is considered an exposure prone procedure.

Both standard and additional health checks for serious communicable disease should be carried in their own country before they apply for employment or training in the NHS. They should include the result of these health checks in their health declaration. The employing trust will arrange for the necessary tests in this country to confirm the results of the tests carried out before the post or training place is taken up.

It is the ethical responsibility of a dentist to seek medical advice if there is reason to suspect infection. In the interest of patient protection it may be necessary to stop treating patients.