Major inconsistencies in commissioning across the 42 ICB‘s in England confirm that the NHS is anything but a national service when it comes to its approach to dentistry.
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The prevalence of fluoride in toothpastes means that the benefits of adding fluoride to the domestic water supply may have been diluted.
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The British Dental Association (BDA) has expressed alarm at a batch of new statistics which show that 97% of ‘new patients‘ seeking an NHS dentist are unable to secure an appointment.
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A recent court case leading to a ‘Director of dental services‘ being fined has shown dentistry‘s double regulation in action. Karim Guirguis, also known as Kareem Guirguis, director of DE Clinics UK Limited (trading as The Dental Experts), was ordered to pay £9,614 and issued a 12-month Community Order.
A check up with patients that seem unable to sit still, and are reluctant to open or close their mouth is difficult enough. Add on staff complaining about the patients that have tracked in mud onto the floor and left reception looking like a farmyard, and things get worse.
Former CQC boss Ian Trenholm made a sudden exit in June, with the announcement made only days before his actual departure. There was a distinct lack of appreciation expressed for his time in office.
Many GDPs have a pretty dim view of the dental claims companies, in particular one that is well known for its impressive ratio of legal costs claimed, to actual damages received by patients.
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An annual joint whistleblowing report is produced by the nine health and social care professional regulators, including the GDC. The latest report covering the period ending 31 March 2024 has now been published. The GDC use the GOV.UK definition: ‘You‘re a whistleblower if you‘re a worker and you report certain types of wrongdoing.
The 43 Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) appear to have adopted 43 different approaches to commissioning in the fragmented world of NHS dentistry. Appearances matter, and ICB‘s will be very conscious of the optics of how they are seen to manage dental access.