New BSPD president sets out her mission
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- Published: Monday, 11 November 2019 07:45
- Written by News Editor
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The unmet dental needs of children with craniofacial deformities are a priority for Sarah McKaig, the incoming President of British Society of Paediatric Dentistry (BSPD). In the year ahead she plans to raise awareness of the need for a national care pathway in the management of this cohort of children, a group she supports routinely in her working life.
It’s the custom for the incoming President to tour BSPD’s branches and deliver a lecture on a topic they feel passionate about. Mrs McKaig will outline the care pathway that has been developed for children with craniofacial deformities at Birmingham Children’s Hospital. She will also take the opportunity to get feedback on services in different regions so she can ascertain unmet need around the country.
Mrs McKaig works in Birmingham, dividing her hours between Birmingham Dental Hospital and Birmingham Children’s Hospital, where she has developed expertise in the multidisciplinary care of medically compromised children. Children are referred from different parts of the country to benefit from the expertise that has been developed across medicine and dentistry in this field.
She explains: “In Birmingham we have a very good relationship with medical and surgical colleagues. I am part of the West Midlands supra regional craniofacial unit at Birmingham Children’s Hospital. The team are very supportive of the specialty and of our trainees who attend the clinic.
“It is thanks to our maxillofacial colleagues that my time is funded to work as part of their team but currently I am the only paediatric dentist within the four supra regional centres who is funded to do this work. I am pressing for the care pathway for children with craniofacial deformities that we have developed to be extended and to be recognised and funded. It would be similar to the one that has been successfully developed for cleft patients.”
Mrs McKaig added: “Working across two trusts, Birmingham Women’s and Children’s NHS Foundation Trust and Birmingham Community NHS foundation Trust I am fortunate I have been able to support many children. Each patient is different and each has a significant impact on me and how I approach future patients. There are lots of children I have seen as a Consultant in Paediatric Dentistry that I reflect on and hope that I have made a difference.”
Mrs McKaig took over as President at the end of the BSPD conference and is already lined up to speak in Newcastle, London, Manchester and West coast of Scotland. She will continue to represent BSPD at the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health and be the dental liaison trainer for BSPD on Child Protection Response and Recognition.
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