Sir, Paul Hood was a dental classmate of mine in Queen's University and I was very saddened to hear of his death (Dentist suicides; BDJ 2013; 215: 593–594).

There were 26 people in our year at Queen's University Dental School. Paul was one who committed suicide in December and two months ago another colleague, also our year, committed suicide. Both have pointed to pressures from the dental boards and, in N. Ireland, pressures from the RQIA and Dental Probity. This, I think you would agree, is quite a high proportion, two out of 26.

Over the last ten years in N. Ireland there have been a number of dental suicides. As yet, I am not aware of any 'minister of state for health opening any enquiry into the dental board, BSO or probity department here in N. Ireland' and starting to make them take accountability for their actions.

Perhaps the BDA could take action on this here in Northern Ireland.

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