A new toolkit from Public Health England will enable local authorities to make effective long-term investments in prevention. It will calculate potential returns on investment on children’s oral health initiatives over five and ten year periods including supervised tooth brushing, fluoride varnish, and provision of toothbrushes by post.
No comments
Changes to the GDC’s fitness to practise process came into force on Nov 1. Case Examiners will now carry out the decision making functions currently performed by the Investigating Committee. Jonathan Green, Director of Fitness to Practise at the GDC, said: “Introducing Case Examiners will benefit patients, the public and dental professionals and improve the efficiency of the GDC’s fitness to practise process.
Uber drivers have won a crucial legal battle in London after a tribunal ruled they are “workers” who are entitled to the minimum wage and holiday pay. The company claimed that they were independent and not employed by any company. The decision, which will be appealed, could have an impact on others such as dental associates who are self-employed.
Read more: Uber drivers’ decision could impact on dental associate contracts
The chair of the Commons Health Select Committee, Dr Sarah Wollaston MP, has written to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in advance of the Autumn Statement due to be delivered on Nov 23. She says that her Committee has concerns that the Government does not recognise the severe financial pressures under which the NHS is working.
England looks set to reach five million type 2 diabetes diagnoses by 2020 – five years earlier than previously thought – prompting dental hygienists to call on health ministers to ‘take dentistry seriously’. Michaela O’Neill, president of the British Society of Dental Hygiene & Therapy, says these shocking figures should serve as a warning to the government who must now invest time, money and energy into raising awareness of the importance of dental hygiene.
Read more: Type 2 diabetes ‘timebomb’ prompts call on government to ‘take dentistry seriously’
Professor Jimmy Steele was awarded the John Tomes Medal at this year's BDA/BDJ Winter Lecture at the British Dental Association on 19 October 2016. The award was made to the Head of School and Professor of Oral Health Research at the University of Newcastle, in recognition of his immense contribution to the profession, through his work on dental contract reform, as well as in his daily role.