Fact file:
Name: Donna Jackson
Job: Dentist
Born: London
Lives: Chester
Education: Holy Trinity Convent and the University of Liverpool
Family: Married with two adult children
I work in a job I have a great passion for, dentistry, and have been lucky to have been at the same practice for 26 years which has allowed me to know generations of the same families and to work with great colleagues.
Three days of the week I work in general practice. No day is the same as another, as in general practice you will see all ages and types of people from babies to folk in their nineties and beyond.
One of the most satisfying parts of the job is taking someone through the journey of being petrified of seeing the dentist with many dental and other health problems, through to having a happy and healthy regular attender.
Dentistry is a constantly evolving profession and on the days I am not in practice I spend a lot of time on courses to learn new techniques and keep up to date. I also, occasionally, do some locum work for colleagues, have been the vice chair of a phase one ethics committee giving approval to drugs to be tested the first time in man and provide talks for groups on various subjects to raise money for Burmadent, a charity that provides dentistry for people in Burma who have little or no access to dentistry.
More recently I have been asked to be a consultant in producing guidance for colleagues treating people with dementia.
One of my other delights is providing careers talks and advice to the next generation of would be dentists at local schools, and as our practice trains newly qualified dentists it is always interesting to hear and learn from younger colleagues.
My other great passion is music. I have always played various musical instruments but in my late thirties my daughter started to learn brass and I was asked if I would like to try playing a trombone. I quickly became besotted by the instrument and now play bass trombone in the City of Chester Brass Band.
I have played at the Commonwealth games closing ceremony, on the Graham Norton show, on Japanese TV and in hundreds of places I would never have gone to otherwise. Music is a great stress reliever, when you play you concentrate on nothing else.
In the summer time, though, I am more likely to be found in a tent, in the middle of nowhere, cooking breakfast for 130 people at folkcamp. A bunch of us stay in tents in a field, living and cooking communally, and play, sing and dance folk music for a week or so. It’s a fantastic family holiday with fresh air, music, good friends and no phones.
What do you wear to do your job? Uniform very strictly regulated, enclosed clogs, boilable scrubs normally in bright colours, no jewellery on hands except wedding ring, magnifying loupes (special glasses) and mask/visor.
What is the favourite part of your job? Getting to know people, continuous learning and playing with new equipment/materials.
What is the least favourite part of your job? The immense stress and strains put on you by burdensome regulation and fear of litigation endemic in UK dentistry.
A dentist in the UK is more likely to be sued than in any other part of the world, including the US.
UK dentistry is 300 times more regulated than anywhere else in the world, with the mountain of paperwork, inspections and notes that entails.
In the last year, two colleagues I respected went to the wall and quite a few others left the profession unable to pay the price this level of scrutiny and litigation involves any longer. Also the lack of priority dental services have in the UK. Dental decay is the number one reason for children to be admitted to hospital.
What would be your dream job if you weren’t doing what you do now? An archaeologist but I haven’t the stamina for digging I used to have.
How do you relax when you are not working? Music followed by a bit more music.
What is your favourite film? Singin’ in the Rain. Impossible to watch without feeling happier at the end.
What is your favourite book? Wild Swans by Jung Chang. The true story of three generations of women through one of China’s most turbulent times.
What is your favourite song? Need Your Love So Bad by Fleetwood Mac. Perfect blues singing and guitar playing by Peter Green.
If a film was made of your life, who would you like to play you? Gospel singer Ruby Turner as the film would have to be a musical and it would be the only time I could have a Rolls Royce gospel voice that I covet.
Have you had your 15 minutes of fame yet? I always feel fame is a two-edged sword and there are many unpleasant ways to become famous.
I’ve been on TV and in the papers so that is quite sufficient.
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