Recently there was an issue about information for members regarding the CQC registration process, where the BDA chose to market a CD Rom at £75 for members, the fee was much more for non-members and had the potential to raise significant revenue. The discussion took place about the support that members could expect from their “trade union” and if such compliance with CQC and assisting members to stay within the law was a core service. In the end a decision was taken to offer this service free to members on the website, but this will end on the 31^stMarch.

Of course the membership of the BDA is made up of many different types of dentist from practice owner to performers and salaried and secondary care colleagues. Would it be right for one type of member benefitting from what some perceive as advanced membership support being cross subsidised by the rest of the membership? Such an argument was made over the CQC CD Rom issue.

All these issues relate to how a company can balance its trade union activity with the financial management of a company that places onerous and legal responsibilities on the directors of the company which is the responsible function of the PEC.

The BDA have suggested changes to its constitution and consultation will start fairly soon on this matter to change to a position where the PEC is directly elected and so complies with Trade Union law. It is expected the Rep Body will ratify such changes in time for the Triennium Elections due next year. Clearly running a company with 80 plus members of the PEC, which is the makeup of the Rep Body, can only be a temporary interim measure.

Now might be the time to question if the BDA should maintain a Trade Union responsibility at all.

The GDPC is the Committee given autonomous power by the Rep Body to deal with Trade Union activity for general practice dentistry and we have the dichotomy of membership of GDPC being elected by all primary care contract performers and cross representation from other Committees and not necessarily BDA members.