The Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Dentistry, Sir Paul Beresford MP, has tabled four questions to the Health Secretary regarding the proposed ARF hike by the General Dental Council. Unfortunately, as Parliament has risen for the summer, there is not likely to be an answer to these questions before autumn.
No comments
The Government should set up a ‘transformation fund’ to drive a seismic shift in general practice – to deliver better care for patients, enabling people to take more responsibility for their own health and utilise modern technology to access services remotely, according to a major new report, commissioned by the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP).
Read more: General practice in need of modernisation and investment – RCGP report
Research led by Prof Martin Thornhill of University of Sheffield shows some increase in cases of infective endocarditis and a reduction in prescriptions for antibiotics following NICE guidance to dentists that prophylaxis should not be given before invasive dental procedures in patients at risk.
Read more: Rise in endocarditis follows changes to antibiotic guidance
The British Dental Health Foundation (BDHF) has reminded diabetics to be aware of the signs and symptoms for mouth cancer. The reminder comes as research has identified people suffering with diabetes are at ‘significantly' greater risk of developing head and neck cancer. The study discovered that people with diabetes are almost 50 per cent more likely to develop the disease compared to those without diabetes.
A Special Conference of Local Dental Committees (LDCs) has been called to debate the effects of the present General Dental Council and the way this body regulates the dental profession in the UK. The date has been set for Friday December 5, LDC Officials Day.
LDCs will debate a single motion about the failings of the GDC at a venue in central London.
The General Dental Council (GDC) is reminding dental professionals to be proactive in assuring themselves that the verifiable continuing professional development (CPD) they undertake has adequate quality controls in place. This follows the GDC's recent publication of an advice sheet on Quality Controls for Verifiable CPD.
Andrew Lockhart-Mirams, has been elected as Chairman of the NASDAL Lawyers Group. Ray Goodman is the retiring Chairman of the group. Andrew commented: “Ray and I will continue to work closely together and I look forward to continuing to raise the standard of advice and support that NASDAL lawyers provide to dentists.”
Nick de Bois, Conservative MP for Enfield North, asked what representations he had had from the BDA about the ‘recent practices’ of the GDC. Minister Daniel Poulter outlined the contacts he and colleagues had had with the Association.
The poorest people in society have eight fewer teeth by their seventies than the richest, one of the biggest studies of its type ever undertaken has revealed. Lead author, Professor Jimmy Steele: “It’s probably not a big surprise that poorer people have worse dental health than the richest, but the surprise is just how big the differences can be and how it affects people.”