Campaigners have warned that some GPs and other NHS doctors are undermining a policy to stop homeopathic treatments. NHS England has announced a ban on commissioning them, yet in London and the South West family doctors continue to prescribe them, and some NHS hospitals deliver them, costing up to £6 million a year, it has been reported.
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A “culture of apathy” in care homes means residents are not treated as individuals, the watchdog Healthwatch has concluded. The BDA has called on ministers, health commissioners and care home owners to act on its conclusions, which show that elderly residents do not always have access to basic care, including with their oral health.
A new automatic toothbrush, which it is claimed takes only 10 seconds to clean patients’ teeth and remove plaque is due to be launched later this year. The Amabrush, which looks like a bristly mouth guard, can dispense toothpaste and vibrates to clean every tooth, according to its creators. It does not appear, however, if there are any scientific studies to verify the claims.
Researchers have say that they have now developed a new material to better protect sensitive teeth, using green tea polyphenols. A team of scientists, led by Dr. Cui Huang, of Wuhan University in China, have tried to explore alternatives to conventional therapies. The study has been published in the journal ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces.
The Government’s controversial Making Tax Digital (MTD) plan will not affect dental practices until at least 2020. The good news comes after the government seemed to buckle under pressure and removed MTD from the 2017 Finance Bill as many groups, including NASDAL (National Association of Specialist Dental Accountants and Lawyers) had made representations about the timeframes involved.
The BDA has accused the Scottish Government of backtracking on its manifesto pledges and shutting off access to the health professions to those on modest incomes, following significant cuts in support to dental students. The BDA has also responded to their announcement of pay awards for 2017/18.
Read more: BDA condemns Scottish Government over students’ grants and pay awards
The BDA claims that the Welsh Government's creative accounting does not equal new investment. This has been disputed by Health Secretary Vaughan Gething who said the £1.3m was new money and part of wider funding to improve the service in Wales. The Cardiff and Vale health board will receive £450,000 and Aneurin Bevan £300,000 to create 10,000 extra NHS places to meet "a growing need".
Read more: BDA condemns Welsh Government over clawback money
New research shows that periodontal disease places older women at a heightened risk of several types of cancer, such as oesophageal cancer, breast cancer, and gallbladder cancer, especially in mature women. Jean Wactawski-Wende, from the New York University at Buffalo, who led the research team has, for the first time, investigated the association between gum disease and several types of cancer in women.
Read more: Older women with perio disease have higher risk of cancer
TheUK Supreme Court has ruled that the government was acting unlawfully and unconstitutionally when it introduced Employment Tribunal fees in 2013 for claims such as unfair dismissal, equal pay and redundancy. The charges of up to £1,200 led to a 70% drop in the number of tribunals in England and Wales and were condemned as impeding access to justice.
Read more: Employment tribunal fees unlawful says Supreme Court