Michael Watson
Latest Stories
Number of female dentists up by 44.2% since the start of the NHS contract
The Health and Social Care Information Centre (www.hscic.gov.uk) has published its annual NHS Dental Statistics for England. This covers patients…
Dentistry
It may be wrong, but is it illegal?
NHS England needs more powers to dictate what care is delivered and how, according to Michael Watson. Last week my…
Dentistry
Stopping the GDC
Healthcare regulators, including the GDC, need a radical overhaul of how they operate, Michael Watson believes. Last week the Professional…
Dentistry
What’s wrong with UDAs?
NHS England needs to tell dentists exactly what it wants for its UDAs, Michael Watson believes. What’s wrong with UDAs…
Dentistry
What the shooting of Cecil the lion can teach dentists
Michael Watson covers the recent story about a dentist killing Cecil the lion in Zimbabwe. Perhaps if the lion hadn’t…
Dentistry
Children’s teeth in the media
Michael Watson discusses the way children’s teeth have been portrayed recently in the media. Last week dentistry hit the headlines…
Dentistry
‘Trust dentists and let them get on and do their jobs’
Michael Watson reports from the Westminster Health Forum in his latest blog. Once a year I am sent an invitation…
Dentistry
NHS appointments ‘frustratingly difficult’ to get according to Which?
Michael Watson responds to Which? claims that NHS dentists are not offering NHS appointments. Its undercover researchers called 500 dental surgeries advertising…
Dentistry
A trip down memory lane
Last week I paid a visit to the town where I was born and brought up, Caterham in Surrey. It…
Dentistry
The Queen’s Speech
It was said of King Charles II that he ‘never said a foolish thing, nor ever did a wise one’.…
Dentistry
Monitoring NHS dentistry
Following the release of the NHS Confidence Monitor – an independent survey commissioned by Practice Plan to monitor the profession’s…
Dentistry
Unfolding the political landscape
For those of us who follow the comings and goings of the ‘Westminster Village’, the making of a new (all…
Dentistry
New appointments at the Department of Health
Following last week’s general election, the new team at the Department of Health has been announced; all are Conservatives. The…
Dentistry
The Government’s outlook for dentistry
I read Kevin Lewis’ blog last week on the Dentistry website about the permutations of the Government in the event…
Dentistry
The dental foundation training dilemma
To work in the NHS as a dentist you need to have been on a performer’s list. To be admitted…
Young Dentist
Michael Watson questions what NHS England is up to
The rather abrupt departure of Barry Cockcroft as chief dental officer (CDO) for England and the delay in announcing his…
Dentistry
Private dentistry is ‘here to stay’
Recently there has been some more positive news about private dentistry. First the National Association of Specialist Dental Accountants and…
Private Practice
Michael Watson reports on the new chair of the GDPC
Henrik Overgaard-Nielsen will be the 17th chairman of the General Dental Practice Committee (GDPC) that I have known in the 30…
Dentistry
Michael Watson reviews the dental contract rise of 1.34%
Last week, whilst the profession and the dental press were busy listening to and digesting the General Dental Council’s appearance…
Dentistry