|
Last updated
|
 |
When the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games are staged, many medical and dental members of this organisation will find themselves treating participating athletes, members of their support teams, and tourists who are attending the events which are taking place at many different venues by no means limited to London.
Dental Protection Limited (DPL), and its parent organisation MPS, has been approached by a number of members who will be involved as volunteers and/or in a medical/dental capacity. Dental health professionals may become involved in a variety of ways, ranging from general assistance as unpaid volunteers in a role unconnected with their dental training/registration, to delivering basic ‘first aid’ medical assistance, to the provision of dental care and treatment either for participating athletes or others. Some DPL members have been engaged in an official capacity to support specific national teams, while others may end up providing treatment for participants or support team members, their families or others attending the Games.
Although many of the events are due to take place in and around the Olympic Park in East London, the venues for many events are in other parts of the country, so the members potentially affected will not be limited to London alone.
Following discussions with the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games (LOCOG), MPS and DPL are happy to confirm that if a member wishes to participate in this way, then he/she can seek advice and assistance from us in the unlikely event that there is an adverse incident in respect of the provision of dental care.
Any member entering into a formal relationship with any third party, either as a volunteer or for the provision of dental care (whether paid or otherwise) should advise Membership Services in advance of their intended participation. In the majority of cases no additional subscription will be payable. DPL and MPS are aware that in a small number of situations, those providing dental services on behalf of LOCOG (for example, within the dental facility that is being established on site) will be indemnified by the party with whom they are contracting for the provision of these services. Members may wish to check what indemnity is being provided for them in these situations prior to contacting Membership Services to avoid any lack of continuity arising in their indemnity.
All dental members should, of course, act within their competence (training, skill, experience and physical ability) and, where applicable, abide by the protocols laid down by LOCOG in respect of the provision of such services. Members should note that the assistance and indemnity available from Dental Protection is limited to matters arising from the practice of dentistry, rather than from any services provided of a non-dental nature. Members should also ensure that they have membership in a category which allows for clinical dentistry outside any employer-indemnified position.