Tony Jacobs chairs LDC Conference
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- Published: Sunday, 15 June 2014 23:03
- Written by News Editor
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Tony Jacobs took the chair at the 63rd Annual Conference of Local Dental Committees held in Manchester on June 13. In addition to motions, John Milne, Chair of GDPC, Barry Cockcroft, Chief Dental Officer, Eddie Crouch and Alisdair McKendrick initiated debates. The conference was preceded by dinner the previous evening.
The conference opened with an update from the General Dental Practice Committee (GDPC) chair, John Milne. He said: “The pilots were introduced in 2011, so we’re disappointed that progress has been so slow. The government needs to get a move on with designing the prototypes. These should build on the pilots that have advanced the preventive approach and where we are seeing improvements in patients’ oral health. Meanwhile, I urge dentists to give their feedback to the DH engagement exercise designed to ascertain from dentists what they think of the planned prototypes and to make these as useful as possible.”
John Milne and Barry Cockcroft (CDO) initiated a discussion on contract reform. In reply to a question from the floor the CDO confirmed that there was nothing in the contract reform process which threatened lifetime contracts. During the debates concern was expressed about a cut in contract values as a result of the introduction of the dental quality and outcomes framework.
Barry Cockcroft and Eddie Crouch introduced a discussion on dentists with enhanced skills. This was also a topic that gave rise to criticism in debates.
During debates on the motions serious concerns were raised on collection of the statutory LDC levy.
Alisdair McKendrick initiated a debate on the controversial proposition that orthodontics had no place in NHS dentistry.
At the conclusion of the meeting Jonathan Randall of Herts LDC was installed in the chair for 2014/2015. Earlier in the meeting Nick Stolls (Norfolk LDC) had been elected to chair the conference in 2016. Two new (and younger) members were elected to the Agenda Committee which organises the conference - Leah Farrell of Towcester, Northants, and Shareena Ilyas of north west London.
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