risky working in dental surgery

Denta

Hi I have been furloughed from the dental practice where I work since March due to the fact that I am 70 years of age and my husband is 84 with Parkinsons. It is unsafe for me to go into the practice at the moment  - my GP agrees. What happens to me now that my furlough is coming to an end? Can I get SSP instead? Don't ask me to retire - I have given 54 years to the profession and have enormous skills to offer the patients especially to patients who are dental phobic . Grateful for any advice thanks

bradders1983

You arent ill though, "shielding" finished weeks ago and you are choosing not to go in, I cant even see how you would qualify for SSP to be honest. 
Have you spoken to your workplace to exprees your concerns? Have they made the required minimum changes?

gettingtheresometime

Apologies if I've confused you with another poster but have you posted about this before? 

Aranyani

If we don't get a vaccine for another year, and it then takes 6 months to get it rolled out, and you can't/won't do your usual job for all that time, it seems as though you'll have retired by default really.  You can't expect your employer to pay you for not coming in, people need dental care that has been neglected since March so they will have to hire someone to replace you.

strawb_shortcake

Having been to the dentist in the last couple of weeks I can honestly say their hygiene levels and precautions were absolutely the best I've seen anywhere, likewise with my Daughters orthodontic appointments. 
I appreciate you are passionate about your job, but how long do you think it's reasonable for them to keep your job open for? 
As others have said even with a vaccine it's not going to be instantaneous and we have no idea how long it would take to roll out fully. 

Presumably you are getting your state pension so you have some money coming in? 
Another option would be partial retirement. 

@gettingtheresometime yes they have, seem to remember there was a Son asking a similar question about their Mum??

Mrsn

gettingtheresometime said:

Apologies if I've confused you with another poster but have you posted about this before? 

The poster or certainly the question does seem recognisable from a previous post.

gettingtheresometime

@Mrsn & @annabanana82 I checked after I posted and yes the OP had

elsien

Do you have any health conditions yourself that make it riskier for you to go into work, and have the practice risk assessed for you. A family member is a dentist and they are taking very stringent precautions - it’s probably safer in that respect than being sneezed at in a shop. 

Your husband’s age and health isn’t relevant to your employment and I’m not sure your GP is qualified to risk assess a workplace they’re not familiar with. 

normanna

You will need to go back now or find another job.  There is no reason to pay you SSP as you are not ill.  The dentist will need someone to be assisting in the practice soon.

QuackQuackOops

Denta said:

Hi I have been furloughed from the dental practice where I work since March due to the fact that I am 70 years of age and my husband is 84 with Parkinsons. It is unsafe for me to go into the practice at the moment  - my GP agrees. What happens to me now that my furlough is coming to an end? Can I get SSP instead? Don't ask me to retire - I have given 54 years to the profession and have enormous skills to offer the patients especially to patients who are dental phobic . Grateful for any advice thanks

There is nothing to fear. 
Better still.....let someone younger have the job.