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  2. About us
  3. Our structure
  4. Representative committees
  5. General Dental Practice
  6. General Dental Practice Committee

The GDPC is the official representative body for GDPs. This means it negotiates with the Government, the NHS and other stakeholders on behalf of dentists working in general practice and is recognised by the Government as the official representative body in negotiations and consultations. 

The GDPC reflects the mixed economy of dental practice and promotes the interests of all GDPs; associates and practice owners, those working in private, mixed or NHS practise, working for a corporate or a traditional practice, and those who are specialist practitioners in primary care.

The GDPC typically meets three times a year. It will also hold additional meetings in exceptional circumstances.

Our priorities 

  • Contract reform: Negotiating a prevention-focused, capitation-based contract
  • Funding and pay: Delivering investment in NHS dentistry to address a decade of cuts and ensuring NHS dentists are fairly paid
  • Recruitment and retention: Addressing the crisis in NHS recruitment and retention through urgent action from Government.

 Our team 

Chair

Shiv Pabary MBE

Shiv qualified in 1985 from Newcastle Dental School. He is a GDP and has been a provider and owner of several NHS practices in the North-East. He has been the GDPC representative for Newcastle, North Tyneside and Northumberland since 1996. He obtained a Bachelor of Law degree (LLB Hons) in 1995. Shiv is also employed as an Associate Clinical Lecturer, a Clinical Dental Adviser, and a Postgraduate Dental Tutor within Health Education England. He was awarded an MBE in the Queens Honours List in 2009 for services to NHS dentistry locally.
Shiv Parabary 650X450
Vice Chair

Vijay Sudra

Vijay has worked in general dental practice for over 30 years, all of that time in the NHS, as an associate to begin with and then as a practice owner for 25 years.  Working in the NHS, Vijay is fully aware of the daily problems faced by his colleagues who cannot, or choose not to, deliver private care to suppsort their practices.  He has been actively involved with his LDC practically all his professional life. On GDPC, he will always make strong representation for colleagues, based on his experience, involvement and knowledge. He has been GDPC Vice Chair since 2019
Vijay Sudra
vice chair

Joe Hendron

Get involved and get in touch 

There are 72 directly elected members of the Committee, three members from the LDC Conference, a representative of the Conference of Vocational Training Advisers and several seats for other organisations.

The Chair and Vice-Chair of the BDA's Principal Executive Committee are also non-voting members of the Committee.

 Members are elected for three-year terms. Seats can become available post-election, and by-elections are then held - if you would like to stand, please see if there is a current seat available in your area.

If you would like further information regarding the GDPC please email the Policy Officer for General Dental Practitioners, Nuzha Dissi, [email protected].

Membership list: 2025-2028 Triennium