It has been reported in the recent press that a number of dentists may be being pursued by HMRC as well as celebrities, financiers and those from the world of sport including Sir Alex Ferguson and Sven Goran Erikkson, for up to 20 times their original investment in a film industry tax avoidance scheme.
No commentsRead more: Total Eclipse: film partnership might ruin dentists
Investigators at Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, report they have new evidence that a bacterium known to cause chronic inflammatory periodontal infections also triggers the inflammatory autoimmune response characteristic of chronic, joint-destroying rheumatoid arthritis. The new findings have important implications for prevention and treatment of this condition, say the researchers.
Read more: Link found between periodontal disease and rheumatoid arthritis
The BMA has issued guidance to inform GPs of their obligations to patients either requesting emergency dental treatment or asking for an NHS prescription for drugs recommended by private or NHS dentists. GPs and practice teams should make themselves aware of in hours and out-of-hours dental services available locally to manage urgent and emergency dental conditions, it says.
After a year of inspections, CQC has found that most dental practices are safe. Their judgements following inspections showed that the vast majority spread across CQC’s four regions in England are meeting the five key questions and providing safe, effective, caring, and responsive care and are well-led.
Read more: CQC’s new approach to dental regulation shows positive findings
NHS England has agreed that the two month rule will be not applicable across all contracts for financial year 2016/2017 only. Following pressure from the BDA they have recognised that this is necessary because of ‘delays in attaching existing dental performers to dental contracts.’ The performance of Capita has also been raised in the House of Commons.
Tony Kilcoyne has been elected as a UK-wide member of the BDA’s Principal Executive Committee. Others elected were East Midlands and Central - Alison Lockyer, Greater London - Russ Ladwa, South East - Victor Chan and Scotland - Derek Harper.