Results of inspections by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) show that  88 per cent of practices were meeting all the government standards. The 12 per cent not meeting at least one standard were required to produce an action plan telling the CQC how they were going to improve. They did not find any serious concerns which would have led them to take more urgent action.

The operator of a Sheffield dental practice has been fined for safety failings after a receptionist fell more than three metres through a roof light while spending her lunch break on the flat roof of the surgery. Integrated Dental Holdings (IDH) was found guilty of breaching the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and was fined   £18,500 with costs of £71,632.79.

John Renshaw has launched a new venture – the ‘A Team’ to help dentists subjected to substantial demands for the return of NHS funds.  The A TEAM will give professional support to the ordinary dentist who can call on to help when facing this kind of challenge. The A TEAM will be made up of accountants, solicitors and dental advisers who will focus on dealing with the rogue element among the PCTs in England who appear to be aiming to reduce their budget shortfalls by robbing the dental members of their primary care workforce.

David Behan CBE, the Department’s Director General of Social Care, Local Government and Care Partnerships, has announced his departure to take up the role of Chief Executive at the Care Quality Commission (CQC). David is expected to take up his new role in July, when he replaces Cynthia Bower.

The Welsh Government has been urged not to follow the lead of New York City and stop the sale of large soft drinks. Welsh Conservative AM Darren Millar urged policymakers not to follow their example. He said: “This amounts to nothing more than a Tizer Taliban and any suggestion of similar proposals in Wales should be rejected out of hand.”