Dundee dental students to use isolation pods to aid practical learning
Dental students in Dundee are using isolation pods to aid practical learning during the pandemic.
Typically, dental students spend a significant amount of time developing clinical skills by undertaking practical sessions, workshops and placements, particularly in their final years of study. Due to Covid-19, many students have missed out on months of practical learning. To help students catch up and enable them to return to their studies safely, dental schools and NHS trusts have purchased self-contained isolation units.
There are already 14 units in place at Dundee Dental Hospital and NHS Tayside has recently acquired 20 additional isolation pods. The units have been modified to create a safe environment for dental students. The design, which was pioneered by Starn Group, is usually utilised for creating safe spaces for undertaking hot work in hazardous environments. The Starn Group has adapted the technology to cater to dental students, providing a Covid-safe setting for students and patients.
Eve Daniell, a fifth-year dental student at Dundee Dental Hospital, said that she feels very fortunate to be one of few students across the UK who have been able to continue their studies thanks to the technology utilised in the specially-designed pods. SafeClinic technology has not only allowed students to continue developing their practical skills, but it offers a versatile training solution for universities, dental schools and hospitals, which may be used more widely in the future. Speaking about the development, Eve said that she can see it becoming the norm in dental practices.
Isolation pods have also been set up at University Hospital Wishaw and University Hospital Hairmyres.
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