The Faculty of General Dental Practice UK (FGDP(UK)) has welcomed a proposed 13.5% reduction in the annual fees dental surgeries pay to the Care Quality Commission (CQC). The CQC, which regulates health and social care providers in England - including over 10,000 dental practices - is moving to a system of setting fees on a full-cost-recovery basis, and has opened a consultation on its proposed fees for 2017/18.
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Following Hull City Council receiving a draft feasibility report which indicates it is technically possible to fluoridate community water supplies in Hull at the recommended levels, the Hull City Council is looking at the possibility of introducing water fluoridation. After a meeting of the Scrutiny Committee in November, a decision will be made on whether to proceed with fluoridation, if so a full public consultation will take place. The Local Dental Committee has been working with local and national bodies to introduce the measure. They said: “We need some help if we are to reduce the dental health burden in Hull and reduce dental health inequalities in our City.”
Read more: Hull City Council moves towards water fluoridation
David Davies, Conservative MP for Monmouth, has said mandatory teeth checks would reassure people the UK was not being exploited. But the BDA responded saying that said such checks would be unethical and that dental radiographs cannot accurately determine whether someone is under the age of 18 or not.
After rapidly opposing this idea, the British Dental Association (BDA) has since welcomed news that the Home Office has followed its advice - and ruled out unethical and ineffective x-rays to establish the age of child asylum seekers.
The latest CQC report shows dental services in England topping the league in providing high quality care. Of the dental practices inspected in 2015/16, the CQC found that 100% met the tests for ‘caring’ and treating people with compassion, kindness, dignity and respect; and 99% were found to be ‘responsive’ to their patients’ needs and preferences and ‘effective’ in achieving good health outcomes.
The BDA has said prescribing antibiotics without ever seeing patients in a face-to-face consultation is indefensible, following a BBC investigation revealing a boom in online pharmacies selling antibiotics like “sweeties”. The Association joined leading medical organisations to express concern that antibiotics are being prescribed to patients online often with no medical checks, and against NICE guidelines.
Read more: Online pharmacies dispensing antibiotics like sweeties says BDA
The FGDP(UK) says high sugar milk-based drinks should not be exempt from the government’s planned sugar tax. Responding to a Treasury consultation on the tax’s implementation, the Faculty argues that despite the nutritional benefits of milk, the large amount of added sugar in flavoured milk drinks means they are “likely to carry far greater disbenefits than benefits to children’s health”.