Welcome to our latest blog on advertising on the GDPUK site. Below are some questions, facts and thoughts for you to consider.

• Would you like the opportunity to reach thousands of Dentists every day? If the answer is yes, we average 3,000 visits a day to the site.

• GDPUK is viewed as a form of social media for Dentists, with many seeing the medium as the hub of UK Dentistry, can you afford to miss out?

"GDPUK is an invaluable resource for any dentist from newly qualified to retirement. The advice, both clinical and non-clinical, is second to none and it a great place to share ideas." Ian Dunn, 2012

• GDPUK has 3,000 visitors a day to the site, everyday of the year. To put it in context, the Dental Showcase had 4000 dentists visit over 3 days in 2013!

• We work with many of the leading dental trade businesses, they recognise GDPUK as central to their marketing strategys.

”The advent of the internet and social media have turned marketing opportunities on their head. We feel GDPUK’s utilisation of web forums for the dental industry, blended with industry comment, are the way the modern dental professional interacts with their peers and learns about the products and services that could be of use to them.” Fay Higgin, TePe UK 2013

• Our site have been running online marketing campaigns for over 10 years, we have expericence and the knowledge on what makes a successful campaign for our clients, please get in touch to learn more

• Helps your budget work harder when marketing to Dentists. Reach your target audience on their network at exactly the point when dentists are actively seeking advice / guidance to make an important decision for their practice or career.

• We can help grow your business in a number of ways; banner ads, product news, press releases, brand awareness, product launches, full accountability of results, run surveys and data collections.

• In a 2013 GDPUK survey, we found that on average our members spend around £48,000 on dental sundries or supplies every year. (from 200 participants)

Get in touch to find out how we can work together.

Advertising on GDPUK.com starts from £300 + vat. Space available in March.

For further information email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 0161 270 0453

www.gdpuk.com/web

We look forward to working together soon!

For most people, the concept of an urban e-topia, a futuristic paradise where everything is streamlined, simplified and perfected by technology, has only ever been the subject of sci-fi novels. But if we take the time to look closer, glimpses of a modern, ideal society much improved by technology can be seen at this very moment.

From bringing down crime through the use of geographic information systems to diagnosing lung diseases bedside with biomarker analysis tools,[i] technology currently works in unseen ways to improve many aspects of modern urban living.

In healthcare, the emergence of commonly used terms such as eHealth and mHealth (or mobile health) signify how technology has changed the way we manage our physical wellbeing, especially in developed countries where internet and mobile usage are now as common as plumbing and heating.

One measurable way in which eHealth and mHealth improves the quality of healthcare is through enhanced appointment accessibility through online booking sites and applications.

Ready access to necessary health services has been known to impact the overall physical, emotional and mental status of a patient. Naturally, accessible healthcare improves the prevention of disease and disability, the detection and treatment of health concerns, and the overall quality of life.[ii]

In a Californian study, children who had easy access to healthcare scored about 8 percentage points higher on a quality of life survey than children who reported want in care — a difference that the researchers described as ‘clinically important’.[iii]

In Cheshire East, a pilot platform allows elderly patients to book and schedule their care requirements with multiple providers through a centralised system. So far this has been estimated to cut about 20% in staff time, and reduce the cost of delivering elderly care services.[iv]

Aside from making it easier to book and receive primary care, eHealth and mHealth also helps patients make informed decisions about the quality of service they choose.

Because the level of primary care they receive can greatly affect their physical wellbeing, healthcare consumers rely on information about potential service providers more than consumers in other sectors do.[v]

In the desire for what is perceived as credible and easily digestible knowledge, word of mouth recommendations by friends and relatives and e-word of mouth (eWOM) via online reviews serve as major sources of information.[vi]

Not only is eWOM a good business driver for practices who keep their patients happy, it can also serve as a great motivator for practices to continually improve their quality of care and ensure that patients receive the best possible service at all times.

Another way in which technology improves the provision of primary care is by significantly cutting wasted time and money that DNAs bring about. Missed appointments, which are estimated to cost the NHS millions of pounds annually,[vii] can now be greatly reduced with automatic text and email reminders sent to patients.

A good example of the efficacy of this technological system is Barts Hospital and the London Hospital NHS Trust, which saved nearly £1m in 2011 by using an automatic appointment reminder text service.[viii]

Taking all these points into consideration, it’s clear that an effective technological platform that provides easy booking, access to information and appointment reminders – such as Zesty – can greatly benefit both patients and care providers alike.

With services such these, we may soon reach a kind of healthcare e-topia – where anyone with internet access can take better control of their health and improve their quality of life in the simplest, most direct way possible.

Simply email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or visit www.zesty.co.uk or call 0203 287 5416 for more details of our Free Trial

[v] Robinowitz DL, Dudley RA. Public reporting of provider performance: can its impact be made greater? Annu Rev Public Health. 2006;27:517-36. Review. PubMed PMID: 16533128.

Obtaining valid consent from patients prior to any treatment is fundamental to the proper provision of dental care. It is not only ethical, but also a legal requirement of all dental professionals around the world. Failure to obtain informed patient consent can leave a clinician vulnerable to criticism on a number of accounts, not least those of assault and/or negligence – which can lead to criminal charges, civil actions or disciplinary proceedings, therefore affecting the professional’s reputation, confidence and possibly even their ability to practise.

For consent to be valid it must be informed, competent and voluntary. The patient must be given all the relevant information about proposed treatments, as well as the opportunity to ask questions of their dental professional. Even with all of this, the patient retains the right to withdraw their consent at any time during treatment, so it is essential that accurate and thorough records be kept throughout the entire process.

This seems to be an area that many modern professionals find indistinct and somewhat worrisome. After all, if the patient can change their mind at any point during the process, is there really such a thing as ‘consent’? How do clinicians prove that they were given the information they needed to make an informed decision?

The key here is to document the patient’s permission to continue with treatment, at each stage of the treatment plan. Robust note-taking should record conversations between the professional and patient including any patient concerns or questions and how these were addressed, and then a signature should be obtained to provide evidence of the patient’s consent to begin. Providing written treatment plans are paramount to the process, and additional communication tools such as videos, animations and further written explanations can be an effective way of portraying the benefits and risks of treatments.

That said however, no practitioner wants to spend half their day filling out the paperwork to evidence their patients’ consents. So how can it be documented effectively yet conveniently?

During the recent BDTA Dental Showcase, the developers of the SafeSeen Touch offered a solution. Discussing delegates’ concerns and deliberating over the various rules and regulations in this area of the profession, the team demonstrated how the tablet could help.

Designed to enable patients to read through their treatment plan and update their medication list or personal details, the SafeSeen Touch also enables patients to provide an e-signature for effective and valid consent. In addition, the compact and easy-to-use device contains practice checklists, sign off protocols, training and update requirements, helping to determine the practice’s compliance in all areas of CQC.

So if patient consent is an element that worries you at any time, know that there are ways of avoiding potential problems. Particularly in light of the recent rise in patient complaints made to the GDC, it has never been so important to protect yourself from potential negligence litigation. Ensure valid consent from all your patients, and enjoy the peace of mind it brings.

For more information, please visit www.safeseentouch.co.uk, call 0845 576 2833 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Finding a suitable contractor can be hugely beneficial when building or refurbishing a dental practice. 

If you are looking to build a brand new dental practice, or refurbish and refresh your existing business, you will have an idea of the sheer amount of work such a project involves.

Particularly when starting from scratch, feasibility studies are paramount to ensure the economic viability of your project, while architectural drawings may be required to demonstrate structural and building methods, elevations and drainage. Planning permission also needs to be granted by the Local Authority in order for any structural or sometimes even cosmetic work to begin, and there are some very strict rules and regulations that must be adhered to.

Particularly if you are running or working in a practice full-time already, such a project can demand a huge amount of your time, money and effort, and so enlisting the help and support of a contractor can make the difference between success and failure.

It is important however, that you work with a contractor who has all the relevant expertise and experience.  An in-depth understanding of the building regulations is of course paramount, along with knowledge of planning permission, listed buildings, disabled access and a healthy respect for the environment.

You would also expect your contractor to ensure that all work is carried out using JCT (Joint Contracts Tribunal) contracts, as these are recommended and approved by several organisations like the Royal Institute of British Architects and the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, and they ensure correct documentation to benefit and assure all parties. There have been recent changes to the JCT contract regarding payments made to contractors that are onerous if you get it wrong – a good project manager will advise you on the details of this.

Thorough and up-to-date knowledge specifically of the dental industry is also crucial in order to ensue all the CQC and HTM 01-5 outcomes are complied with. Such contractors will be able to advise on aspects such as efficient use of space and most suitable equipment, all the while ensuring designs allow for optimum workflow.

Providing architectural design services specifically within the dental industry is Roger Gullidge Design. From concept feasibility studies, to planning permissions, building regulations and project management, the team offers a wealth of expertise to ensure the efficient success of your build or refurbishment.

So whether your project involves building a brand new surgery or refurbishing an  existing dental environment, it pays to get help from a professional contractor with specialised knowledge of the industry. They can not only help you avoid the common pitfalls and problems with property development, but they can also give you peace of mind, knowing that nothing will be overlooked.

Roger Gullidge Design is a specialist design and project management consultancy specialising in the dental sector. Call 01278 784442 for more details or visit: www.rogergullidgedesign.com