There is a serious lack of information about what dental professionals actually do. Whatever the question might be about: hours, working under Private or NHS systems, delivering maintenance, or high ticket reconstructions, there is a lack of solid data.
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As previously reported by GDPUK (linked here) a Coroner has strongly criticised the GDC following their investigation into the death of a dentist. As a result, she wrote a ‘Report to prevent future deaths.’
Read more: Dentist Suicides: GDC Reply to Coroner: Masterclass in Deflection and Evasion
The recent budget relies on economic growth that is by no means certain. The dental recovery plan also takes for granted future ‘wins’ for the dental economy. One of the major sources of extra capacity is to be achieved by squeezing regular attenders out of NHS dental practice diaries. This should then make spaces available for those with emergencies and those who have been unable to secure appointments, in turn reducing the pressure on both MP’s postbags and A&E departments.
The National Association of Specialist Dental Accountants and Lawyers (NASDAL) publish annual benchmarking statistics that provide a unique picture of the dental market. Their latest figures have now been released for the period 2022- 2023.
As has been widely reported, Northern Ireland faces a ban on the use of dental amalgam from January 2025.
Read more: Amalgam And Northern Ireland: BDA Opposes Clean Break
Dame Andrea Leadsom, the Minister responsible for Primary Health including dentistry, has admitted that the Dental Recovery Plan’s (DRP) hope of delivering an extra 2.5 million appointments "has a high likelihood of not being reliable".
Read more: Health Committee Part Two: Leadsom Has An 'Abbott Moment'
With each week more similarities emerge between the shocking behaviour of the Post Office towards its sub postmasters, and the shocking behaviour of the GDC towards its registrants. A Coroner who has investigated the death of a dentist, has now produced a report that in any organisation with a shred of decency, should have resulted in the immediate investigation and suspension of personnel.
Read more: Coroner Demands GDC Action After Registrant Suicide
The great and the good of the dental profession returned to Westminster yesterday (19th March) with some stark feedback for the Health and Social Care Committee: the government’s Dental Recovery Plan (DRP) simply doesn’t cut it.
GDPUK’s Guy Tuggle watches the proceedings as dentistry returns to Parliament
Read more: Dental Reform: Profession Delivers Damning Verdict On "Polyfilla Plan"
Forget the queues, forget the DIY dentistry epidemic, and forget the hospital admissions. The NHS has a bold plan to fix the dental access crisis: Circulate a list of practices that have not updated their entry on the NHS website lately.