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Updates from week commencing 1 May 2023

Read all the updates that took place throughout this week.

Friday 5 May 2023

13:41


BDJ: Oral surgery referrals, vulcanised rubber, and suicide prevention

The latest BDJ issue explores oral surgery referrals, vulcanised rubber, and suicide prevention.

Articles include:




10:39


Scotland: CSLDC conference addressing NHS dentistry crisis

On April 21 the Conference of Scottish local Dental Committees (CSLDC) held its annual event in Stirling. The face-to-face event was chaired by Lindsay Milton and was attended by over 75 delegates.

In centre stage were motions on the crisis facing NHS dentistry in Scotland. Delegates passed motions calling for the delivery of NHS dentistry to be reformed in a way that supports both patients and the profession, following the pandemic. Due to the real terms pay cuts over the past decade, significant debate was given to its sustainability and the current remuneration package.

During the event, Lindsay Milton, Chair of Conference concluded his term in office by passing the position to Christina Ferry.




Thursday 4 May 2023

14:12


Managing sleep conditions through dentistry

Over 1.5 million people in the UK are estimated to suffer from sleep disordered breathing, like Obstructive Sleep Apnoea.

Dentistry’s role in helping patients with such disorders is vital and assessing patients’ airways should be part of dentists’ protocol at check-ups. 

If you suspect a sleep disorder, refer your patients for a sleep test as Sleep Apnoea can set off an inflammatory process in the whole body. This causes a metabolic process increasing the chances of patients developing metabolic diseases like type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases.

If you are interested in specialising in the discipline, reach out to the British Society of Dental Sleep Medicine (BSDSM) and enrol as a member. Support your patients in feeling good, not just looking good.




11:48


Choosing your career path


Finding your path when leaving dental school for the next stage of training can be difficult, as your dental degree opens the doors for a great number of career opportunities.


As the time of finishing your studies moves closer, many students will question what their future will look like. Your Dental Foundation Training year is the ideal time to be unsure. You will have the opportunity to learn what your professional goals are and the best path to achieve them.


We aim to support members through every step of their professional journey, students, and postgraduates alike. If you are interested in becoming a member find out more or call us to join over the phone.




10:04


England: Reality check on PM’s spin

Yesterday Durham MP Mary Kelly Foy told the Prime Minister about her constituent, Ray, who couldn’t get on the books with an NHS dentist. 

His oral cancer was only picked up when he went private. Sadly, the response from the PM was pure spin.

Independent fact checkers have been over this time and again. There’s no new funding - the £3b NHS budget has barely moved in a decade, and patients are paying more, while Ministers pay less. There are no new dentists - fewer dentists are working in the NHS in England today than in 2017/18. And there’s no new contract - A few tweaks to a system dubbed 'unfit for purpose' do not equal 'reform'.

It's time for honesty and ambition from this government. 

We are ready to meet with the PM at any time. Last summer he said action on the access crisis would be a top priority, from day 1 in Downing Street. For our patients' sake we need him to keep that promise.




Wednesday 3 May 2023

17:19


Northern Ireland: Reimbursement of GDS clinical waste scheme


Health & Social Care in Northern Ireland (HSCNI) have issued a reminder to dentists to submit their clinical waste form by Friday 5 May 2023 as the Strategic Planning and Performance Group are unable to accurately calculate practice reimbursement amounts without it.

 

This is in response to the offer for reimbursement of clinical waste costs for the period 1 October 2022 – 31 March 2023. As before, the reimbursement value will be based on the most recent patient registration figures as recorded by the Business Services Organisation plus an equivalent registration figure for referral only specialist/part-specialist practices. 

 

If you are a referral only specialist practice or have a referral only specialist dentist working in your practice, HSCNI would be grateful if you could complete the declaration of specialist sessions form which will demonstrate the number of sessions undertaken at your practice per specialist dentist per week treating referral only patients under Health Service arrangements. If you need any further assistance or forms email: GDS.Correspondence@hscni.net and include your surgery number at the start of the subject field.

 


 

17:04


Take part in wellbeing survey


The UK Dental Team Mental Health Research and Implementation Group is inviting you to take part in a survey to evaluate the current status of mental health and wellbeing of dental teams across the United Kingdom.


Your response will inform the future provision of mental health and wellbeing support and training for dental teams and will be shared with policy, service, and education leaders in dentistry across the UK.


Participate in this five-minute anonymous survey to share your views and experiences by 31 May.

You do not have to be a BDA member to take part in this survey.

 


 

13:00


Stronger together: John Milne appointed new BDA President

On Thursday 3 May, we are delighted to welcome John Milne MBE as the 136th President of the BDA. The ceremony takes place at our London office, where previous President, Professor Liz Kay, welcomed John into his role, alongside BDA representatives and dentists from local branches and sections.

John has wide experience with representing the profession at local, regional, and national levels, to ensure dentists’ voices are heard. He believes we have a unique role in improving patients’ lives, through preventing and treating disease, cosmetic improvements, and tackling oral health inequalities. 

This is the latest stage in his extensive history as a dental leader tackling oral health inequalities and provides him a national platform for his passion championing the profession.  




09:48


England: Queues return to NHS practices

In scenes we haven’t witnessed for a generation, over 300 people queued from the crack of dawn yesterday to try and get on the books at a Kings Lynn dental practice. 

It blows out of the water the messages from ministers and officials that this service is on the road to recovery.

Day in day out we’re ensuring the crisis facing this service is leading debate in parliament and the press. Our patients desperately require urgent change. 




Tuesday 2 May 2023

16:12


England: Share the facts on the #Taxonteeth 

We’re delighted to see such a strong response from patients and practitioners on our bid to lift the lid on the latest NHS charge hike. 

Members can share these messages on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram or download a poster and display it in their practice. 

  This latest record-breaking increase won’t put a penny into this service and will only hurt the patients who need us most. 




11:04


England: Government can’t sit on sidelines 

New research shows 6.5m children have missed out on annual NHS check-ups in the last year. It underlines the need for real urgency and action from government.  

Even before COVID, decay was the number one reason for hospital admissions among young children. Now deep inequalities are set to widen, with over 15m NHS appointments for children lost since lockdown in England alone. 

We are continuing to make the case for change in the press and in parliament. Our youngest patients deserve better. 



 

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