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Health

We support oral health practitioners experiencing physical or mental health conditions while ensuring patient safety remains paramount.

Where a health condition may affect a practitioner's ability to practise safely, we may put supports, monitoring arrangements or practice conditions in place to protect patients and support the practitioner to remain in practice where appropriate.

How health conditions may affect practice

Read our guide on managing health concerns

Physical and mental health conditions can affect a practitioner's ability to practise safely.

Protecting patient safety is the Dental Council's primary concern, while supporting practitioners to remain in practice wherever possible.

Health conditions that may affect fitness to practise can include:

  • alcohol or drug dependence
  • mental health conditions
  • stress-related conditions
  • transmissible infectious diseases
  • significant illness, injury, or physical disability.

These conditions may affect a practitioner's ability to:

  • make safe clinical decisions
  • maintain the required level of skill and judgement
  • interact appropriately with patients and colleagues
  • practise safely and effectively.

Early intervention is important. Seeking support and treatment promptly can often help practitioners continue practising safely while managing a health condition. For more information, read our Health (fitness to practice) policy.

What support is available?

If you have concerns about your own health, or the health of another practitioner, you should seek appropriate medical advice at an early stage.

If you are experiencing a health condition that may affect your practice, you may also wish to contact your professional indemnity insurer for guidance and support.

Early intervention and treatment can often help practitioners remain in practice safely while managing their health condition.

When should the Council be notified?

The Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003 (HPCA Act) places obligations on practitioners, employers, and managers of health service organisations to notify the Council in certain circumstances where a health condition may be affecting a practitioner’s ability to practise safely.

You must notify us if you believe your own health, or that of a colleague, may affect fitness to practice. Employers and managers of health services must notify the Council if they believe a practitioner's health is affecting their ability to practice safely. 

If you are concerned that your own health, or the health of another oral health practitioner, may be affecting safe practice, you should seek advice and consider whether notification to the Council is required.

When the Council receives information about a practitioner’s health, it assesses whether the condition may affect the practitioner’s ability to practise safely.

The Council works with practitioners and, where appropriate, their treating health professionals to understand the nature of the condition and any potential risks to public safety.

Information may be obtained from:

  • the practitioner
  • treating health professionals
  • employers or supervisors
  • other relevant sources.

Health matters are considered on a case-by-case basis.

The Council aims to support practitioners to remain in practice wherever it is safe and appropriate to do so.

Possible outcomes

Depending on the circumstances, the Council may:

  • monitor a practitioner's health through regular medical reports
  • require health assessments or medical examinations
  • require supervision or monitoring arrangements
  • support a graduated return-to-work plan following illness or injury
  • place conditions on a scope of practice
  • restrict a scope of practice
  • suspend a practising certificate where necessary to protect the public.

The Council’s approach is to balance public safety with supporting practitioners to remain in practice whenever it is safe and appropriate to do so.

There is no direct cost to the practitioner concerned for the initial health assessment process.  The cost of any assessment or examination required by the Council to determine whether there are concerns about your ability to practise safely is borne by the profession in which you are registered and is funded through the APC fee.  

If a practitioner requires health monitoring by the Council, then they are responsible for any costs associated to ensure safe practice. This could include treatment, monitoring, review assessments, reports from treating practitioners, or complying with any conditions placed on your practice.  

We will explain any costs and requirements that apply to your individual circumstances. 

Information relating to a practitioner's health is treated as confidential and is only used or disclosed as permitted or required by law (including the HPCA Act).

Practitioners are given an opportunity to respond to relevant information, make submissions, and participate in the process before decisions affecting their practice are made.

Where applicable, practitioners are advised of any rights of review or appeal in relation to Council decisions. 

If the Council imposes conditions on a practitioner’s scope of practice, information about those conditions may be published on the public register as required by law. However, this is done in a way which does not identify specific health conditions or breach the practitioner’s privacy. 

The Council endeavours to work with practitioners and their treating health professionals to identify appropriate supports and safeguards while protecting public safety.