Another week, and another parliamentary debate about dentistry. This time in the House of Lords and simply headed in Hansard as “NHS Dental Contract”.
No commentsRead more: Lords Dental Debate, Minister Explains - It Isn’t About The Money
The GDC is eager to present itself as a modern and responsive regulator. Lately the council has become a regular commissioner of research. Some, such as its pair of studies into the impact of Covid-19 on the dental profession, might be considered somewhat removed to its core duty of maintaining the registers, and in so doing, protecting the public.
Read more: GDC Wriggle Over Registrant Mental Health And FtP
As dentistry has returned to pre-pandemic activity levels, the number of patients complaining has also recorded an increase.
Read more: “Get Support Early” Advises DDU - Complaints Rising
Governments have for many years liked to re-announce proposals or projects. This is based upon the hope that they will spend the money once, but gain several positive headlines.
Read more: Blink And You Missed It. The "New Dental Contract" Has Arrived
In the competition for a dentist’s attention, pension provision is up against the kaleidoscope of day-to-day practice, maintaining clinical and ethical knowledge, keeping on the right side of regulators, and paying this month’s bills. The complexity of the NHS pension schemes and the intricacies of private pension plans, do not make them any easier to grasp.
Discussions about the safety of vaping remain open to the question of what users would be doing, if they did not have the option to vape.
Read more: New Research Shows Link Between Vaping and Caries Risk
The recent Practice Plan Webinar looking at the latest NHS England (NHSE) dental contract changes did not make easy viewing for those practices hoping to continue delivering NHS dentistry.
Recent changes to the Fitness to Practice (FTP) process have now been put into operation by the GDC.
Read more: GDC Alters FTP Aiming To Reach Conclusions Sooner
It is not just dentists who struggle to agree on a single treatment plan for the same patient. Recent developments, and a well-publicised case regarding worker status of dental associates, has produced a wide variety of opinions.
Read more: Worker Status. Storm In A Tea Cup Or The End For Associates?