It is just over a month since the outgoing CDO officially announced their departure to spend more time with her directorships. Despite having told NHS National Medical Director - Sir Stephen Powis, of her intention last year, it may be a while before we know who her permanent replacement will be.
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Anyone reading a newspaper, watching the news, or glancing at social media will know that the UK has huge problems with access to dental care. GDPUK now only rarely writes about practices closing, leaving the NHS, or ‘dental desert stories,’ as our readers have seen so many already.
Amidst all the speculation surrounding how the NHS might respond to mounting concern about the consequences of clawback on practices, a letter (dated 19th June) from Ali Sparke, ‘Director for Pharmacy, Optometry, Dentistry and the NHS Standard Contract NHS England’ removed all doubt.
The Annual Conference of Local Dental Committees has at its centre a series of motions proposed by the various LDC’s. Once proposed there is an opportunity to debate them, and then a vote is taken. Members of the General Dental Practice Committee, the professions negotiating team, attend, and it is expected that they will take note of conference decisions.
Read more: LDC Conference Manages Expectations for NHS Dentistry
The GDC once again have serious questions to answer, as yet another case shows serious failings in their Fitness to Practice (FtP) processes.
The Health & Social Care Committee Inquiry into NHS Dentistry hosted a ‘roundtable’ earlier in June, when it heard evidence from real or would-be patients who have been turned away from the service in their moment of need plus patient organisations.
Boris Johnson’s controversial resignation honours list has dominated the news, and looks set to overshadow a more conventional set of announcements. King Charles III’s first birthday honours list has now been published, and as expected includes a wide range of figures from education, healthcare, the arts, and public service.
Ewen McColl, Director of Clinical Dentistry and Deputy Head of School at Peninsula Dental School* (PDS), has been elected Chair of The Association of Dental Hospitals.
Read more: Dental Hospitals Association Elects Ewen McColl To Chair
Previous years have seen ministers address the Annual Conference of Local Dental Committees, but not this year. Both the current Under-Secretary of State, Neil O’Brien, as well as one of his predecessors, declined an invitation to speak to the Conference.