DT News - UK - Take dental system out of hands of politicians, professionals demand

Dental Tribune International

Thu. 5 January 2017

save

LONDON, UK: In a letter to the Daily Telegraph this week, over 1,000 dental professionals have called for regaining control of NHS-provided dentistry from politicians. The system has worsened to such an extent that it cannot properly provide even basic services for half the population each year, the signees claim.

“The incompetence is reflected by the increasingly frequent hospitalisation of children with rotten teeth, the expansion of dental charities providing emergency dental care in England, and the failure of dental NHS 111, as recently reported on ITV Good Morning Britain—all compounded by watered-down obesity and sugar-tax policies,” the letter stated.

“It’s time to stop tolerating excuses and start preventing like we mean it,” it also said.

The letter was signed by over 1,000 dental professionals throughout Britain, including GDPUK founder and dentist Dr Tony Jacobs. It is the fourth year that the group has gone public regarding the deficiencies in the nation’s dental care system.

In a reply to the letter, the British Dental Association (BDA) said that, while it shares the concerns raised about the failings of the system, the actual problem is ministerial indifference.
“We need to see politicians more engaged on oral health and NHS dentistry, not any further removed,” BDA Principal Executive Committee Chair Mick Armstrong stated in a comment published in response to the letter.

To post a reply please login or register

BDA demands relaxation of requirements after contract system failures

LONDON, UK: In February, the NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) launched a new dental contract management system called Compass. Since then, practices...

Launch of e-commerce platform for dental professionals announced

Philips has announced it will be moving its online store for Dental Professional customers to a new in-house e-commerce platform. The company hopes the ...

Effect of COVID-19 on dental professionals in the UK

COVID-19 has had a significant impact on our professional life, yet the aftermath of the pandemic and its consequences for our future are still unclear. ...

One third of UK dental professionals report disrespectful behaviour from colleagues

LONDON, UK: A recent survey conducted by Dental Protection—a leading protection organisation for doctors, dentists and other healthcare ...

GDC invites dental professionals to share their views on continuing professional development

LONDON, UK: The General Dental Council (GDC) has opened a public consultation that invites UK-based dental professionals to share their ideas, comments and ...

The practice of self‑compassion among dental professionals

Kindness to oneself and self-love are concepts that are often spoken about in the context of looking after oneself and supporting personal well-being. ...

Surge of New Year Honours for dental professionals

LONDON, UK: A number of prominent names have once again made it onto the 2018 New Year Honours list, including the first British astronaut, Helen Sharman, ...

Study emphasises role of dental professionals in screening patients for chronic disease

LIVERPOOL/PLYMOUTH, UK: The connection between oral health and chronic disease has been increasingly supported by substantial evidence, revealing shared ...

Survey shows 40% of UK dental students consider dropping out

LONDON, UK: Various organisations have undertaken to evaluate the quality of life of UK dental students during recent years, and particularly as students ...

EU health experts demand taxation of unhealthy food

LONDON, UK/BERLIN, Germany: This week, a UK and a German health society have demanded the introduction of health-related food duties. In order to tackle ...

Education

Live webinar
Tue. 30 April 2024
6:00 pm UTC (London)