Mick Armstrong speaks out over culture of fear
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- Published: Monday, 27 July 2015 07:36
- Written by News Editor
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Opening the Westminster Health Forum event, BDA Chair Mick Armstrong said that dentists must be allowed to get on and do their jobs without the shadow of oppressive regulation and the current culture of fear. Speaking at the same seminar chief executive, Evlynne Gilvarry, defended the record of General Dental Council and called for legislative reform.
Mick Armstrong said: “We are working in an uneasy atmosphere of enforced compliance, with limited support, limited understanding and even less empathy. One more akin to a punitive penal code than a healthcare system.” He called on Government to: “Trust us, and accept and recognise, even celebrate, the good work we do….don’t repeatedly attack the dental budget, but invest in it. Make us a valued part of whole person care. Make us positive professionals once again: enable us to do the best for our patients.”
Evlynne Gilvarry, who was listened to in silence and not questioned by delegates, said the GDC needed legislative reform. The legal system under which they operated was designed for a different age. However there would be no primary legislation before next summer at the earliest. However they hoped to have a ‘Section 60’ order sooner to enable them to appoint ‘case examiners’. She also said that the GDC would be ‘continuing to make improvements’ and working with others to such as the CQC and Faculties.
Also in that section John Milne, newly installed as CQC Senior Dental Adviser, gave an overview of his job and how the CQC was changing for the better.
In the sections on the NHS and contract reform, two themes emerged strongly. Central to reform were improved access and the preventive approach. Two other issues were subject of short talks: the care of children and the challenges of an aging population.
Finally the two chairs gave delegates some food for thought on the Government’s view of NHS dentistry. Lord Colwyn said that, although the UDA system was universally hated by dentists, the Government believed it had delivered good results. Justin Rose, chief executive of Oasis Healthcare, said that it was difficult for dentistry to get its voice heard, especially when the Government was content with how it was performing.
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