If abuse is suspected who should be informed?

• A. Public health England.
• B. Safeguarding lead or follow local procedures.
• C. Only the patient.
• D. The police only.

Answer: (B)

Suspected abuse in a dental setting requires escalating to the safeguarding lead and following local procedures. This ensures the right professional assesses risk, coordinates any referrals to social services or other authorities, and puts the patient’s safety first. The safeguarding lead is the designated point of contact who knows the practice policy and local thresholds for action, so they can initiate the appropriate steps quickly and keep accurate, timely records.

Public Health England handles population health information, not the immediate safeguarding workflow, so it isn’t the correct channel for reporting concerns. Informing only the patient doesn’t address the risk to others or trigger the necessary safeguarding processes, and involving the police alone isn’t typically the first step unless the safeguarding lead directs it in a specific, urgent scenario. In practice, following local safeguarding procedures through the designated lead ensures consistent, appropriate action and protection for the patient.