Every week a different person working in the NHS takes on the Twitter handle of @NHScurator. This week it’s Claire Stevens President of the British Society of Paediatric Dentistry (BSPD) and Consultant in Manchester takes on this role, promoting #DCby1. Go to https://twitter.com/nhs to see what she has to say.
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Two women have been cleared of illegally carrying out tooth whitening at a beauty salon in Scotland. In the first case shop owner Cheryl Dickson was cleared of illegal dentistry work after offering teeth whitening. The second was a case of mistaken identity when charges against Sharon Frew were dropped at the Sheriff’s Court.
The BDA is concerned about the 9,500 dentures that are lost each year in NHS hospitals. The figures come from a BDJ study which investigated the loss of dentures in hospital trusts in Kent, Surrey and Sussex over a five-year period and the cost of replacing these. Of the 11 trusts that provided data, a total of 695 dentures were lost. Seven of the trusts reported that it cost £357,672 to replace these.
The BDA has published a survey of its GDP members which indicates that almost 58% of dentists who responded are planning on turning away from NHS dentistry in the next 5 years. GDPC chair, Henrik Overgaard-Nielsen said: “Practices across the UK are already reporting major recruitment problems. This is a crisis made in Westminster, and Westminster must respond.”
Read more: Over half of NHS young dentists heading for the exit says BDA
Practice Plan has published its latest NHS Confidence Monitor survey and, for the first time, private dentists have been approached for comment too. The focus for this survey switched from the profession’s confidence in the future of NHS dentistry to their happiness levels working within it. The results show a deep gulf between the happiness levels of NHS dentists compared to private dentists.
Read more: Dentists in NHS are much less happy than those in private practice
A mydentist practice in Taunton, Somerset is to close due to ‘high running costs’. The practice team has written to patients telling them it will no longer offer NHS or private dental services after the end of October. NHS England says the practice recently handed in its NHS contract and dental provision in the area is being reviewed.
Read more: Corporate closes practice due to ‘high running costs’