The General Dental Council has reminded dental care professionals to declare their Continuing Professional Development activity by the 28 August 2012. GDC registrants have been sent a declaration form asking them to submit the number of hours they have completed. Full details on is website www.gdc-uk.org

Research by Bupa has revealed that more than half of Brits believe that the quality of a person’s teeth has a major impact on a person’s career or romantic life. Three in five people (63 per cent) believe having bad teeth can prevent someone from finding a partner while over half (52%) believe having nice teeth can help someone get a better job.

Derek Watson has been reinstated in his role of Chief Executive of the DPA following the aborted takeover of the organisation by CODE Ltd. 

The DPA office is open and membership services continue as before, following a four month hiatus.

Results of inspections by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) show that  88 per cent of practices were meeting all the government standards. The 12 per cent not meeting at least one standard were required to produce an action plan telling the CQC how they were going to improve. They did not find any serious concerns which would have led them to take more urgent action.

The operator of a Sheffield dental practice has been fined for safety failings after a receptionist fell more than three metres through a roof light while spending her lunch break on the flat roof of the surgery. Integrated Dental Holdings (IDH) was found guilty of breaching the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and was fined   £18,500 with costs of £71,632.79.

John Renshaw has launched a new venture – the ‘A Team’ to help dentists subjected to substantial demands for the return of NHS funds.  The A TEAM will give professional support to the ordinary dentist who can call on to help when facing this kind of challenge. The A TEAM will be made up of accountants, solicitors and dental advisers who will focus on dealing with the rogue element among the PCTs in England who appear to be aiming to reduce their budget shortfalls by robbing the dental members of their primary care workforce.

David Behan CBE, the Department’s Director General of Social Care, Local Government and Care Partnerships, has announced his departure to take up the role of Chief Executive at the Care Quality Commission (CQC). David is expected to take up his new role in July, when he replaces Cynthia Bower.