Dental Protection has responded in detail to the GDC’s recent consultation on its proposals to increase the Annual Retention Fee (ARF) by 64%. Dental Protection fundamentally disagrees with the GDC’s flawed starting position. It says the GDC sees no potential for improving what has become an increasingly dysfunctional and unnecessarily costly system.
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The General Dental Council (GDC) is seeking to appoint a new Appointments Committee comprising a lay chair and three members (1 lay and two dental professionals). The GDC is keen to attract candidates who understand regulatory processes and have the knowledge, skills and experience to ensure the appointment of high calibre statutory committee members.
The British Dental Association (BDA) has submitted ‘damning’ evidence to the General Dental Council’s (GDC) fee rise consultation. It challenges the GDC’s financial case for demanding a massive increase in the annual retention fee (ARF). Mick Armstrong, Chair of the BDA Principal Executive Committee (PEC), said: “The GDC now face a simple choice: step back from this flawed fee rise, or face a legal challenge. We are confident in our arguments, and ready to take any and all action necessary to stop it”.
Video message from Mick Armstrong can be seen here.
Read more: BDA tells GDC: ‘Step back or face legal challenge’
The British Dental Association (BDA) has received notice that the Government is backing down on its proposed £2,000 pay cut for foundation dentists in England. Mick Armstrong, Chair of the British Dental Association PEC described the decision as ‘a victory for young dentists and for common sense’. He said: "The Department of Health should not be balancing the books off the back of young dentists.”
Read more: Government backs down on foundation dentist pay cut
Of the 23,723 dentists who "performed" in NHS general dental services in the last year, 19,310 were associates; only 18.6% of dentists held a contract with the NHS, according to figures from the Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC). The data also showed that 46% of the workforce were female and amongst the under-45s women were in the majority.
Read more: More associates and more women in dental practice
Just over 29.9 million adult and child patients in England saw an NHS dentist in the 24 months to June 2014, according to the Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC). However although the total number and percentage of adults seen by June 2014 is higher than in 2006, the percentage of the child population seen has fallen by almost one percentage point.
Retired dentist, Baroness Gardner of Parkes raised the issue of peri-implantitis, which she described as an important and growing health problem in the House of Lords. in replying, Minister of Health Earl Howe said that a working group had been set up to develop ‘clear and consistent’ guidance on treatment planning prior to the placement of implants.
The General Dental Council (GDC) has successfully prosecuted a man for illegal tooth whitening, for practising dentistry when unregistered and unqualified. Mr Nathan Holliday was fined £5000 and ordered to pay a £120 victim surcharge at Sheffield Magistrates Court on July 24. Delivering the verdict the magistrates remarked that they found the case to be “a particularly serious one given the presence of significant aggravating features.”
A brand new Dental School – the UK’s first new dental school and hospital to open in nearly 40 years – has officially opened its doors. Embedded within £78 million Royal London Dental Hospital, it houses the most modern and technologically advanced dental facilities in the UK following more than a decade of planning and work.