To receive treatment from a person with a heavy cold .

[Whatjusthappenedthere]

Just that really. I’m in bed with a stinking cold. Full on runny nose , sore throat etc.
If you turned up for an appointment with me tomorrow would you be less than pleased, especially this close the Christmas ...
Or would you be more annoyed if your (non essential ) treatment was cancelled especially this close to Christmas. My work involves me being very close to people’s faces.

I have a sideline as a massage therapist. When we were training we were told not to deliver treatments if we were ill with e.g. heavy cold, sickness etc and that's massage - much less invasive than dentistry. I'd be furious if I turned up for an appointment as was expected to accept treatment from someone who was obviously ill, especially with a virus, at this time of year. It's a no from me.

I phoned in and cancelled. I honestly feel like death warmed up. Coughing and sneezing. There was no way I would have kept these germs to myself given I’m inches from peoples faces. I have also cancelled seeing my children for our last meal before Christmas. They are with their Dad this year so I won’t see them again until after Christmas, their Grandma is unwell and it’s not fair risking her health either. At home feeling I’ve let everyone down. I’m also missing secret Santa and my last day working with my pregnant nurse before she leaves. All for the best.
Going to eat a six axle amount of cake .

Timely thread for me as I’m a dentist and I’m off sick today with a cough and cold. I’m supposed to work tomorrow and Friday though.

Blacktoffeecat.
It must be worse for you, you will have a great deal to catch up on. Hope you feel better soon.

Enjoy your cake OP and try to have a nice day. Watch some Christmas films and take some lemsip. The world hasn't ended - if you're sick you're sick!

to all who work in Dentistry - we need it!
It’ll be ok, I had spaces first week of Jan so they can move people. The other dentists will see anyone in agony. I’m private now, when I was nhs I had a 3 month wait.
I’ve cancelled tomorrow and waiting for a quick call from the GP to log the abscence so I can claim on my income protection policy. I will see how I am for Friday.
Just hoping DS stays well and we can have a good Christmas.
for Whatjusthappenedthere, sorry you’re missing seeing your children. You haven’t let anyone down, you can’t help being ill.

I'd be immediately unhappy about being at an appointment if I found the person was sick and going to be near my face, but I'd also be too polite to walk out. If I caught it though, I'd be super hacked off over christmas. Personally I would appreciate the option before I turned up for my appointment, unless it was a medical proceedure that I absolutely needed then I would never choose to be around someone with a virus, let alone 5 days before xmas. I'd be even more annoyed if it was a high end service that I'd paid decent money for.

I'd say give patients the option if possible.

@Blacktoffeecat: who do you have income protection with that they pay out for a single day? I’ve never claimed.

Dentist’s Provident. My policy starts from day 1 cover. I’ll have to pay the GP to fill in the form though.
I never claim for a day but do for a few days which this is.

I stopped dentists provident. Cannot remember why.

I'm a GP. I've had a cold for the past 2 weeks - it's only just resolving now. I went into work - if all GPs rang in sick every time they had a cold, surgeries simply wouldn't function over the winter. I just practiced strict hand hygiene, avoided coughing near patients etc. Few of my patients noticed, and none seemed bothered. Viruses are everywhere in the winter. Even if you're vulnerable or immunosuppressed, you'll struggle to avoid viruses unless you hermetically seal yourself in your house and don't go out.

Obviously, I would have avoided anyone with a particularly bad immune system (e.g. neutropenic/chemo patients).

I'm trying to work out what a six axle amount of cake is!

It’s a dental term for a very large amount

I was going to correct my typo but I left it as the mistake was more correct.... I actually meant to type sizeable .

And I have.

NHS Podiatrist
Our patients are of the view that only our own death should stop us working. . Or "You should be at home ....but finish my treatment first "

We do wear gloves , aprons , there are eye visors and masks too,

But if I am sniffly , I have to go into another room, heftily blow my nose , wash hands, fresh gloves ......until next time to blow my nose.
Or just sniff (which is what most of the patients do )

When we had extreme weather earlier this year the office were cancelling home visits (mainly to cover booked clinics) some staff couldn't get to work, roads were dreadful.

Patient on the phone said " Well can't they just drive more carefully and slowly"

@70isaLimitNotaTarget

“Our patients are of the view that only our own death should stop us working. hmm. Or "You should be at home ....but finish my treatment first "

^ this. With bells on.

Hope you feel better soon OP its shit you had to miss your meal with your children

I'm a dentist and I really can't afford to take a day off every time I had a cold. I think it's a lose lose situation really people complain if you have a cold complain if you cancel. I'm all booked up now bar emergencies till mid Feb pretty much so it's really difficult when your ill because no one's going to be happy about appointments rearranged for 2 months time! I know which of my parents are immunocompromised so I could cancel those if necessary.

There's a bit of a culture at my work at the moment of soldiering on, it being pathetic to take a day off. The other week someone came in with a fucking sickness bug and took us all down! It's really getting to me because personally I think we shouldn't come in and treat people if we are too ill. Luckily sickness bug person wasn't in contact with patients but then it meant everyone else had to take time off. I told a nurse home because she came in with a dodgy tummy yes.

I am slightly concerned about the hygienist doing the root filling . Also whilst a hygienist isn't normally urgent treatment it's still important treatment, just as important as other dental treatment. No reason why youd be happy to see a dentist but not a hygienist whose ill unless your having pain.

I think you did the right thing having the day off, hopefully your feeling better by Christmas!

I think you should call in sick. A few patient might be irked but they can rebook - much better than giving someone a stinking cold or worse f immunocompromised. Also if you make a mistake because you are not feeling up to the job, you are still professionally liable.
Regarding your employer being annoyed at the loss of fee paying clients, they have the option to rebook. If they catch a rotten cold or you make a mistake and cause harm they may choose to never come back and a customer is lost for good.