DT News - UK - Military dentist follows Cockcroft as Chief Dental Officer

Dental Tribune International

Tue. 5 May 2015

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LONDON, UK: After two months of searching, the National Health Service (NHS) has appointed Sara Hurley from the Royal Centre for Defence Medicine in Birmingham as new Chief Dental Officer (CDO) for England. She is the second woman to occupy the government advisory post after Dame Margaret Seward was appointed CDO in 2000.

Hurley follows Dr Barry Cockcroft, who retired in February after holding the position for almost a decade. She received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Bristol, and holds an MSc in Dental Public Health from University College London, as well as a King’s College London MA in Defence Studies. Appointed as a Queen’s Honorary Dental Surgeon last year, she has also served as Chief Dental Officer for the Royal Army, among other posts.

In her recent position at Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham, she has worked with the NHS to assure access to and quality of health care for injured military personnel.

In her new role, Hurley will work in partnership with other directorates, domain leads and other clinical leaders in regional and local area teams to improve outcomes for patients, and champion the role of dentists and dentistry within the health system, the NHS said in a note. Hurley commented that as CDO she will be working collaboratively across the breadth of the dental health care profession to develop ideas that will contribute to achieving quality health outcomes and better oral health for all.

Several dental associations in the UK have responded positively to the appointment. “This is the time for new beginnings, fresh eyes and renewed relationships, and we intend to approach her appointment in that spirit,” Chair of the British Dental Association’s Principal Executive Committee Mick Armstrong said. “Building an effective working relationship is in the best interests of both our patients and our profession, and genuine engagement will be reciprocated.”

“In a country where marked inequalities in children’s oral health persist, we look forward to working with her on the long overdue care pathway for children’s dentistry. Our commissioning group is ready and waiting to progress this vital piece of work,” British Society of Paediatric Dentistry spokesperson Claire Stevens commented. “We are looking forward to a long and productive working relationship with Sara.”

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