NHS

Fair treatment of complaints rejected by the GDC

John Makin says there needs to be fairer treatment of complaints not investigated by the GDC. Readers of my previous…

Blog

Millions of patients unable to get an NHS dental appointment

Millions of NHS patients are struggling to access dentistry, an investigation by The Times has found. The investigation uncovered that 24 local authorities in England aren’t…

Dentistry

Is the Government limiting access to NHS dentistry?

It might not be long before the Government starts recommending annual check ups for those with good oral health, Michael…

Blog

You could not make this up

With the news Jeremy Hunt will now create an NHS workforce plan, Alun Rees questions what he’s been doing up…

Blog

One in five Brits visit the dentist only when there’s a problem with their teeth

Almost one in five (18%) Brits only visit the dentist when they think they have a problem with their teeth.…

Oral health

Lost dentures costing the NHS £1 million

Around 9,500 dentures are lost in NHS hospitals around England every year, costing the NHS about £1 million. That’s according to a…

Dentistry

What can the NHS provide under the latest Budget?

With the latest budget leaving little available for NHS dentistry, what effect would spending cuts have on treatments, Michael Watson…

Blog

Are ethical dentists underclaiming on the NHS?

The ambiguous wording of the NHS contract could leave many dentists underclaiming to err on the side of caution, Neel Kothari…

Blog

Jimmy Steele’s legacy in dentistry

Michael Watson discusses the impact Jimmy Steele had on dentistry, after the news of his premature passing broke last week. Last week we…

Blog

Pre-emptive strikes

Fraudulent claims by ‘imaginary’ patients aren’t the fault of NHS dentists, Kevin Lewis says. Climate change may be making it…

Blog

Dental fraud due to ‘discredited contract’

Figures published by the new NHS Counter Fraud Authority point to chaos within the dental contract system, the BDA has…

Dentistry

Are the claims about dental fraud accurate?

Are the claims of dental fraud amounting to £120.7 million by the NHS Counter Fraud Authority accurate, Michael Watson questions.…

Blog

More children admitted to hospital for tooth decay than broken arms

More children under 10 are admitted to hospital as a result of tooth decay than those needing care for broken…

Oral health

Quota of NHS dental treatments

The 2006 dental contract removes any incentive to take on new patients, Michael Watson says. The departing medical director of…

Blog

Rising to the complaints challenge

John Makin talks through the dos and don’ts of patient complaint handling. NHS complaints about dental treatment in England have…

Blog

BDIA Showcase – a generational gap

Is the future of dentistry optimistic or all doom and gloom, Michael Watson questions after this year’s BDIA Showcase. Last…

Blog

Shedding new light on contract reform

Nigel Jones discusses Sara Hurley’s recent briefing into the workings of NHS dentistry with Eddie Crouch and Paul Worskett. Earlier…

Dentistry

GDC appoints clinical dental advisers to FtP team

The GDC has appointed four new clinical dental advisers and a senior dental adviser to join its fitness to practise…

Dentistry

Rise in fines for incorrect claiming on exemption of NHS fees

Ensure your patients understand the rules about NHS exemptions to avoid future complaints, the Dental Defence Union (DDU) says. The…

Dentistry