The House of Commons Health Committee, Chair Dr Sarah Wollaston MP, is to hold an accountability hearing with the General Dental Council (GDC) on Tuesday 3 March 2015 at 2.30pm.
They will also be holding a one off evidence session on Tuesday 24 February 2015 to examine children’s oral health in England.
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A team of dental nurses and dentists gave up time during the Christmas festivities to provide free dental treatment to the homeless. From 23-29 December, the group provided treatment around London inside four mobile surgery units lent by various community dental services, using sterilisation equipment provided by Henry Schein.
The Competition and Markets Authority has served an enforcement order on Henry Schein in relation to their completed acquisition of certain assets and business information of Plandent Limited, while it investigates this. Until a decision is made both companies must operate as separate businesses.
Read more: Henry Schein acquisition of Plandent blocked for now
Liberal Democrat Health Minister Norman Lamb has called on the Conservatives and Labour to match his commitment to invest an extra £8bn a year in the NHS by 2020. He has written to Jeremy Hunt and Andy Burnham calling on them to commit to meet the financial needs of the NHS as set out by Simon Stevens, the Chief Executive of NHS England in his Five Year Forward View.
Read more: Lib Dems call on all parties to match NHS spending
In a letter from Evlynne Gilvarry Chief Executive of the General Dental Council (GDC) to Peter Ward Chief Executive of the British Dental Association (BDA) she acknowledges that ‘there was a procedural error in the ARF level consultation’. But she says they ‘will use the additional funds to forge (sic) further improvements in our performance.’ She ends by looking forward ‘to working with you and your colleagues constructively’ in 2015.
Which? has launched a new campaign: Clean Up Dental Costs. They have found that people could be paying more than they need to, because some dentists aren’t upfront about prices or clear about what treatment patients are entitled to on the NHS. Which? executive director, Richard Lloyd, said: “We are calling on the NHS and the regulators to clean up dental costs and make sure the existing rules are put into practice consistently.”
Read more: Which? campaign: Action needed to clean up dental costs