Change is on the way. Dental Protection’s 2015 Annual Review, titled ‘Change’, will soon be sent to its 66,000 members. Kevin Lewis Dental Director said: “This year’s Annual Review encourages the reader to pause in the face of so much change, and to consider what it all means and how it is affecting our professional lives.”
No commentsRead more: Pause and consider is message from Dental Protection
The Dental Complaints Service (DCS) 2014 Annual Review gives an overview of the caseload handled by the DCS in the past year, as well as some interesting case studies where the early dispute resolution service has helped resolve a complaint. Head of Service at the DCS, Hazel Adams, said: “We’re now in our ninth year and we’re continuing to adapt and improve the service that we deliver.”
Read more: Dental Complaints Service received 8,000 calls in 2014
The British Dental Association (BDA) and the British Dental Industry Association (BDIA) announced at the BDA Conference that they have agreed a new ‘Strategic Partnership’ allowing both organisations to work more closely over the coming months and years. The Partnership aims to deliver a comprehensive business solution for the profession and the industry through activities such as both the BDA’s Conference in the spring and BDIA Showcase in the autumn of each year.
Read more: BDA and BDIA announce new ‘Strategic Partnership’
The British Dental Association (BDA) has responded to David Cameron’s first landmark speech on health, saying that the failure to include dentistry in Health debate was hurting patients and taxpayers. PEC chairman, Mick Armstrong said: "Successive governments have failed to even consider 'oral health' as a part of the 'health' agenda. This government must not make the same mistake”.
Read more: BDA condemns PM’s failure to include dentistry in speech
The General Dental Council (GDC) has confirmed that 'safeguarding children and young people' and 'safeguarding vulnerable adults' are to be included as recommended continuing professional development (CPD) topics for dental professionals. The aim is to increase awareness about these important topics so that all dental professionals feel confident and equipped to raise any concerns about abuse or neglect of vulnerable people.
The Rt Hon Alistair Burt MP has been given responsibility for primary care at the Department of Health. This incorporates dentistry and ophthalmic responsibilities and includes GP contract reform, Out of Hours reform, pharmacy and primary care commissioning policy. He entered Parliament for the first time in 1983 (as MP for Bury North until 1997) and is now the Conservative MP for north east Bedfordshire.
Read more: Ministerial responsibility for dentistry announced