After challenging NHS Area Teams’ refusal to reimburse business (non-domestic) rates to practices who paid in instalments, the BDA has now received confirmation from NHS England that it agrees with the Association’s interpretation of the legislation and many of these practices are, in fact, entitled to reimbursement.

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Read more: BDA wins business rates reimbursement argument

Both the British Dental Association (BDA) and the Faculty of General Dental Practice (UK) have welcomed last night’s Channel 4 ‘Sugar Rush’ programme in which Jamie Oliver highlighted the shocking impact of excess sugar in our diets. Mick Armstrong of the BDA said: “Britain is addicted to sugar, and we are all paying the price”. Dean of FGDP Mick Horton said: “It is wonderful to see Jamie Oliver put his head above the parapet again for the sake of the nation’s health, but he cannot do it alone.”

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Read more: BDA and FGDP support Jamie Oliver’s ‘Sugar Rush’ programme

BBC Northern Ireland has exposed the case of a man convicted of illegal teeth whitening who is still running a clinic in Belfast. Samuel Irvine-Madine was convicted in April of illegally impersonating a dental practitioner and carrying out teeth whitening and was fined £500. Despite this the BBC has discovered he has continued to treat hundreds of people since then at the HD Smile Clinic on the Shankill Road.

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Read more: Illegal Belfast whitener continues his business

Evlynne Gilvarry, Chief Executive and Registrar of the General Dental Council, has outlined some key changes taking place at the GDC in the publication PoliticsHome, which is read by many MPs, civil servants and opinion formers. She concludes that they are aware of the challenges of the past and have actively confronted them. “Our performance is improving and the programme of change is already yielding significant results”.

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Read more: GDC Chief Executive writes for PoliticsHome

The Health and Social Care Information Centre (www.hscic.gov.uk) has published its  survey into motivation and morale among dentists. About half of dentists have good motivation, but only a quarter have good morale. There are strong variations in the different countries of the UK, between principals and associates. Hours worked and extent of NHS practice are also indicators of motivation and morale.

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Read more: Dentists well motivated but have low morale