The CQC has published plans for inflation-busting fee rises for dentists which would see GDPs face a 13% increase in fees – over £100 for the average provider – from April 2019, while GPs will see their fees unchanged. The BDA says this represents a wholly disproportionate burden, particularly on smaller practices and is calling on GDPs in England to respond to the consultation.
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Group Captain Mark Richardson, Vice-Dean of the Faculty of General Dental Practice UK, has been appointed Queen’s Honorary Dental Surgeon (QHDS). On his new appointments, Group Captain Richardson commented: “I feel very honoured and humbled to have been appointed QHDS, and to have been chosen to be the Chief Dental Officer of the RAF. This represents the pinnacle of my military career.”
Tackling antimicrobial resistance needs to be firmly established as a ’top five policy priority’ for the Government in order to help prevent the virtual loss of worldwide modern medicine say the Health and Social Care Committee in its report. Its chair, Dr Sarah Wollaston MP, says: "In six months we want to see tangible progress on implementing practical policies.”
Read more: Committee warns about dangers of antibiotic resistance
The Times reports that exposure to air pollution has been linked to a raised risk of developing oral cancer in the first study of its kind. Higher levels of small particles in air pollution were linked to a 43% greater chance of having the disease diagnosed, it found. Campaigners said that the study, published online in the Journal of Investigative Medicine, underlined the urgent need to tackle air pollution.
A Dental Protection survey of over 1,100 dentist members reveals that nine out of ten (89%) are increasingly fearful of being sued by patients. Of those, three quarters (74%) feel that the fear of being sued impacts on the way they practise. Raj Rattan, Dental Director at Dental Protection said: “It is worrying that three out of four full time GDPs fear being sued by patients and understandably this will undoubtedly impact on the way they practise and add to already high stress levels”.
Nine in ten dental practices are offering safe, effective, caring and responsive care and treatment, the CQC says in its latest State of Care assessment. Inspections by them found practices were giving patients evidence-based advice on improving oral health and where practice teams have used innovative ways to target children and prevent dental disease.
Read more: CQC says dental practices are offering safe and effective treatment